The Waitlist, 2010

May 13, 2010

For the fifth consecutive year, we will admit students from our waitlist. Within the next few days, we plan to admit approximately 60 students from the waitlist.

When our waitlist decisions are finalized, we will notify the admitted students, informing them that they have been admitted from the waitlist. Financial aid will follow up shortly thereafter with aid packages. Admitted students can then choose to accept our offer (it is an understood part of admissions that some people will shuffle around during the waitlist period; you will lose your deposit at the other school, but it is a standard practice to consider accepting a waitlist offer) or decline it.

We will be maintaining the waitlist for another few weeks, while the enrolling class takes its shape. Last year we admitted 78 students from the waitlist in a 3-round process, and previous years were very similar. We'll know more about how this year looks in a few weeks.

The waitlist committee has been working hard since May 1 to determine how many students, if any, could be admitted from the waitlist, while in parallel working to make admissions decisions. The waitlist admissions process will continue until we fully determine who will and will not be admitted, at which point we will notify students. I don't yet know what day we will notify students. We'll keep you up-to-date.

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

Cool Toys III: Toy Story 3 in 3D

Posted by: Armin on May 13, 2010

Thanks so much for the update Dave!

Posted by: Elias on May 13, 2010

Unless it's some horrible joke (email headers all check out), I'M IN! WOOHOO! See you all at MIT!

Posted by: Alex Willisson '14 on May 13, 2010

Just got a call from a real live human being, it's confirmed! WOO(while true; do echo O; done)OOOOOT!

Posted by: Alex Willisson '14 on May 13, 2010

thanks for the update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey, Alex!!!!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!!!!

yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

idk if you remember me from the waitlist blog comments... but i remember you and your kindness to me!!

thanks again for that!!!

well, i got in too!!!!!!!!!!! and i can't wait to meet you!!!

take care!!!!!!

and congrats again!!!!!

Posted by: Mary on May 13, 2010

Dave, are admissions notifications provided on a rolling basis? Or is there one day for them?

Posted by: Elias on May 13, 2010

do you know how long we get to decide after we get notified?

Posted by: 0 on May 13, 2010

@Mary: Yep, I remember. Great to hear! Thanks & congrats to you!

@Elias: I expect so. The post says "Within the next few days, we plan to admit..." instead of "We're sending out acceptances now", and how they said something about a 3-round process for last year. Also, they'll need to fill the spots of anyone who turns MIT down afterwards.

Posted by: Alex Willisson '14 on May 13, 2010

I haven't heard anything yet. Uh oh...

Posted by: Dillon Amburgey on May 13, 2010

Hmmm - well, thanks Alex. And congrats! Hopefully I'll be joining you [in the next few days].

I wonder if they're notifying one person at a time?

Posted by: Elias on May 13, 2010

Sounds good! Any chance you can tell us how many prospective applicants remain on the waitlist?

Posted by: Ben on May 13, 2010

Looks like I didn't make it the first round. I'm still hanging in there, though.

Posted by: Dillon Amburgey on May 13, 2010

Good luck to all you '14 waitlist-ers!
Congrats to those who were accepted!

Posted by: genius ('18) on May 13, 2010

Oh! I have another question. How many people are admitted per admission cycle?

Posted by: Ben on May 13, 2010

Congratulations for those admitted!
Those of us still waiting, lets hope for the best.

Posted by: Calvin Kao on May 13, 2010

I GOT IN! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!111111111

Guys still waiting: relax, hang tight, and say a prayer.
God knows you're all in mine. We know how it feels to have to wait xp.

Posted by: Dan '14 on May 13, 2010

is there any disadvantage to waiting until May 27 to reply 'yes'? im only 99.9% sure im going

Posted by: Eeeeeek on May 13, 2010

is there any disadvantage to waiting until May 27 to reply 'yes'? im only 99.9% sure im going

Posted by: Eeeeeek on May 13, 2010

Hi everyone! Congratulations to the new admits!! Can't wait to meet you!

@ Alex

We usually confine our horrible jokes to math, physics and haiku

@ Elias

This is round one. Depending on how many students accept the offer (plus other admissions-related goings on), there may be a round two. We'll let you know as soon as we know.

@ Ben

The exact number varies depending on quite a few factors.

@ Eeeeeeek

You have until the decision date to let us know. We prefer you let us know as soon as possible, just so we can get through the waitlist process and make any adjustments we need to, but we get that it's an important decision (besides, it would be rude of us to complain after we kept you waiting)

Posted by: MIT Admissions - Dave on May 13, 2010

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the update! Does this mean that the 60 expected admitted students were decided on and notified today? From the e-mail the rest of us received today, it sounded like only a fraction of that group was decided on, while the rest of the 60 will be notified later.

Thanks!

Posted by: Anxious on May 13, 2010

@ Dan'14
I'm happy for you.

Posted by: 0 on May 14, 2010

Hi all!
Thank you Dave for the update.
Unfortunately I didn't get any response so far.
What is the last date to get an answer from you guys? (so I can mentally preper myself:)

Posted by: Zack on May 14, 2010

Thanks for the update, really.

I'm also still waiting... So as 'Anxious' asked - have 60 students been admitted yet?
I know I can't do anything at this time but just want to know if there are any chances to get in. I can't think about anything else this week ;].

Congratulations to admitted!

@ Dan: I'll keep praying, definitely

Posted by: Hania on May 14, 2010

@ Anxious

Yes, we've notified the first group from the waitlist.

@ Zack

If you didn't get an email (or at least the one you were hoping for) just hang in there. We'll let you know about a possible round two as soon as we hear from the waitlist admits.

Posted by: MIT Admissions - Dave on May 14, 2010

this is awesome! I GOT IN!!!!

Posted by: Reyyan '14 on May 14, 2010

I believe in miracles...

Best of luck to all of you!!:)

Posted by: Faisal on May 14, 2010

I had two exams today, in the break in between I decided to check my emails. I screamed, hyperventilated and almost had a heart attack. Then tried to catch my breath and explain to all the people who were watching... This is so surreal, I totally gave up on getting in from the waitlist.

Posted by: Gina '14 on May 14, 2010

Dave -- if you admitted the original 60, does that mean that some rejections went out too? Or was it just a wave of acceptances?

Posted by: Elias on May 14, 2010

Don't think they rejected anyone yesterday - everyone who wasn't admitted got an email saying that more news will be announced towards the end of next week.

Posted by: CS '14hopeful on May 14, 2010

Hey! Does anyone know when the NBM is coming out?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 15, 2010

YAYYY! I got in tooo!! I am so excited but nervous at the same time! Congrats to all that got in and good luck for all those who are still waiting. I hope to see you all there next year! =)!

Posted by: AnuhyaG on May 15, 2010

@ Dave
If someone applies for transfer again, will his/her documents of last year be reserved?
Hmmm, like do I have to send SAT scores again? Can I write about something interesting instead of conflict with the majority this time? (Will you consider old documents again...please)

Applying through a complementary approach, or should I try harder to be myself, grrrrrrrr

Posted by: Armin on May 15, 2010

Wait-listed people don't deserve to be admitted.

Posted by: Anom on May 15, 2010

How are we notified? E-mail?

Posted by: Jackie on May 15, 2010

Hi Dave,
Will transfer students also have an opportunity to be put on the waitlist? I'm still keeping a glimmer of hope...

Posted by: Hopeful Transfer on May 15, 2010

okkk, so it seems like a fair few ppl have already been accepted! The odds of getting in are getting slimmer :|

I guess we just have to be patient for a little while longer my fellow waitlisters!

I'd just like to find out as soon as possible so i can start preparing for the start of semester in sept/oct.

Hang in there everyone!
and congrats to those who have been admitted!!!

Posted by: anxious_trini on May 16, 2010

@Anom
That's crap. There are far more qualified students than there are spots in the class.

Posted by: Dave '14 on May 16, 2010

@ Dave'14

Yep, watch Prof. Sadoway's first lecture, lots of ppl are sitting on the ground. I wonder why MIT student body is 10000 only, with fewer undergraduates than graduates!

P.S: There are certainly enough spots, they are short on sitting chairs

Posted by: Armin on May 16, 2010

^_^ Awesome for you guys!!! It must feel like Christmas (or pick your parallel holiday) in May!!! Good luck.

PS I know why there are too few chairs--because they keep ending up on top of buildings and things, lol.

Posted by: Amethyst on May 16, 2010

Hi! Should I still post new and exciting things about my awards etc. while on the waitlist? Is it too late??

Posted by: waiting on May 16, 2010

Regarding @Anom: "Wait-listed people don't deserve to be admitted"

What a load of hooey! Some of my interviewees that were wait listed could have walked on water - they were that special. AND, one of them just got accepted off the wait list. To all of you still on it - do not give up hope. Enjoy the ride the next four years - whether at MIT or not. There is always grad school if not undergrad.
I sincerely hope that @Anom is not affliated wtih MIT; his/her attitude is not what MIT is about.

Posted by: EC Barbara on May 17, 2010

Should I send the admission office an up-to-date official transcript from my college? (I'm a wait listed)

Posted by: Tsahi on May 17, 2010

Since getting off of waitlist depending on admitted student decisions, it may be the hardest for Engineering waitlistees to get off, right? I read waitlist blogs in the past years and mostly girls got off waitlist which I think it is no coincident that girls of non-engineering disciplines accepted other school’s offer and vacated their spots.

From what I learned, MIT Engineering is certainly the number one, Harvard is #30 and Yale #39 which means whoever are admitted to MIT and waitlisted at Harvard or Yale Engineering are most likely going to stay with MIT even when they get off of Harvard or Yale waitlist. Is this correct? Or FinAid package plays a bigger role?

Posted by: 0 on May 17, 2010

Congrats to all of you who got in! Just never forget how blessed you are and make the most of it. I was just informed the other day that my admission was highly unlikely. (Not in so many words, but the meaning was the same)

So go to MIT and use that education to make the world better, don't waste it!

Posted by: Melissa on May 17, 2010

@Melissa
Dear Melissa, sorry to hear that, but some things should occur in one way and not the other. Keep being positive, help others, and I'm sure that life will find its way to pay you back twice!
Thank you for sharing us
A wait listed.

Posted by: 0 on May 17, 2010

Thank you for the update. I really appreciate how open you are with this process.

Posted by: Abhimat on May 17, 2010

Hey everyone, got off the waitlist Thursday, I was just wondering if us ex-waitlistees will be recieving the acceptance tube/cylinder? Thatd be awesome =]

If not, do we receive ANYTHING in the mail? Or is it all online via email?

Posted by: Daniel '14 on May 17, 2010

@ Elias

We're still in addition, not subtraction mode.

@ Jackie

We'll send you an email, followed by a snail mail packet.

@ Armin

Prof. Sadoway's Solid State Chemistry is the most popular class on campus (and for good reason), hence the squatters. Most classes are considerably smaller, I promise. The limit to the class size is housing, since we guarantee 4-year, on-campus housing for all students.

@ Anonymous

The waitlist changes each year, and it would probably take an MIT grad to come up with a predictive algorithm (we have several and they do an astounding job, but there's always flux

The kind of student we look to admit from the list depends on so many ever-shifting parameters that it's best to hang on and, as antithetical as this is, try not to think too much about it. The selection committee is working full-time to finish the process so we can remove the uncertainty. Hang in there!

@ Melissa

If you're inferring from our email I assure you that decisions have not been made. We're just as curious as you are to see who will be in the final Class of 2014.

@ Daniel '14

Sorry, "just" the RA packets that everyone gets.

Posted by: MIT Admissions - Dave on May 18, 2010

Yikes, that's got to be tough. Much better to be waitlisted than rejected, I suppose.

Posted by: Travis Whitaker on May 18, 2010

I read in the Tech that the class of 2014 is going to be huge -- so big that there is going to be overcrowding and MacGregor's lounges are going to be converted to doubles. Is this true? If so, why is MIT admitting even more kids off the waitlist?

Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2010

@ Anonymous

The TECH repeated some bad information: the class of 2014 size will be ~1,070.

Correction

Posted by: MIT Admissions - Dave on May 19, 2010

Dave,

Thanks for your quick responses! MIT is the best regarding interaction with applicants.
(There are more than one Anonymous here. I didn't post the class size question

and am gathering info. for future applications.) Thanks again.

Posted by: 0 on May 19, 2010

I'm guessing that the next round of waitlisted admissions will go out today or Friday, since the last round of e-mails came out last Thursday. So, good luck to everyone.

Posted by: Nathaniel Wickham on May 20, 2010

Did any accepted's receive anything in the mail yet?? I still have not.

Posted by: Asterisk on May 20, 2010

You didn't answer my question: "in case I have a new official transcript from my school (with better gpa) how can I send it to you?" (I'm a wait listed)

Posted by: 0 on May 20, 2010

@ Asterisk

Hrm, you should definitely have it by now. Email me and I'll look into it.

@ Anonymous

Right now I'd say just email your updated grades/GPA to admissions-at-mit.edu. If we need an official transcript we'll get in touch.

Posted by: MIT Admissions - Dave on May 20, 2010

Do you know at this point if/when the next round might occur?

Posted by: Anon on May 20, 2010

My neighbor came to personally drop it off and congratulate me this evening. I guess it got mixed up. Oh USPS..........

Posted by: Asterisk on May 20, 2010

When are they announcing the next round? I was hoping tonight because it's been a week since the last round of emails went out... I've been checking my email every five minutes

also, will this round be the last chance to get in? or will they admit more again next week?

Posted by: Grant on May 20, 2010

@Grant: Haha, me the same, I planned not to go sleep that night (I'm in quite different time zone, in Europe)

Now I think it was good that I slept, because there is still nothing: no 'yes', no 'no'.
Can't stop think about it this week..
I'm afraid it's the last chance, unless someone decides not to go.

But I'm glad I was waitlisted. Now I understand what does mean: 'impossible is nothing'

And because of that, I decided to apply to MIT next year, then as a transfer, until I get in

Posted by: Hania on May 21, 2010

^

Good Luck. Transfer is more competitive, yet trying for MIT gives you strength. Keep dreaming big...

I applied for transfer this year and I'm going to apply again until I get in.

Posted by: Armin on May 21, 2010

@ ALL

Hey everyone! I still don't have any decision about if or when we might go to the waitlist for a second round, but given the comments I wanted to tell you that there won't be any announcements about the waitlist today. So please don't spend all night staring at your email. Go out and have fun!

Posted by: MIT Admissions - Dave on May 21, 2010

Thanks for the update. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy my evening now - without worrying. Good luck to everyone.

Posted by: Nathaniel Wickham on May 21, 2010

Thank you, Dave!
So I'll go jogging right now, don't worry

@ Armin: Thanks! You're right - dreaming big really gives strength. I remember many of your comments and you're one of the most amazing people writing here. I'll keep fingers crossed for you, too

re-captcha: 'the bravery'!

Posted by: Hania on May 21, 2010

Thanks for the updates, Dave. I'm really glad you guys are so open about the waitlist process, it gives us hope.

I sent some additional information in reply to the May 13 update. Is there any way to know if this will be taken into account when the next fortunate elements in the array of waitlistees are proverbially popped? I haven't gotten an email back yet (though admittedly it was only sent on Thursday!)...

I leave on Monday for a week of Outdoor School, teaching 4th graders about the Oregon Trail. Can I survive 5 days without technology? Only time will tell... I hope to see an exciting email from MIT when I get back! Good luck to my fellow hopefuls, stay strong :D

Posted by: Jacob on May 22, 2010

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MIT Admissions

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Dave McOwen