First-year applicants: Deadlines & requirements

The application

The first-year application is open in the MIT application portal.

The MIT application portal is where you’ll manage all required components of your application:

The form sections, including biographical and personal information, essays, activities, and academics
Standardized test scores: SAT or ACT
- English proficiency exams are strongly recommended for certain non-native English speakers
Two teacher letters of recommendation submitted by your teachers — we recommend one from a math or science teacher and one from a humanities, social science, or language teacher
Secondary School Report (SSR) with transcript submitted by your school counselor/official
$75 application fee (or fee waiver)

After submitting your application, the portal is also where you can manage your recommenders, update test scores, submit the February Updates & Notes (FUN) Form if applicable, and see your admission decision.

Creative portfolios in SlideRoom are available for researchers, performing artists, visual artists, and makers to submit optional supplemental materials, due by the application cycle deadline. We are unable to accept supplemental portfolio materials submitted outside of SlideRoom, such as through mail.

Interviews are offered whenever possible, and are coordinated using your application email address.

Please note: You’re only allowed to apply once per entry year in either the Early Action (EA) or the Regular Action (RA) cycle.

Key dates

Early Action (EA)

EA applications are due November 1 and admission decisions are released in mid-December. Financial aid applications for EA applicants are due November 30.

Deadline	Application Component
November 1	MIT first-year application form and fee (or waiver) Optional: Creative portfolios
November 1*	Two teacher letters of recommendation Secondary School Report (SSR) with transcript Optional: School counselor letter of recommendation; school profile; supplemental letter of recommendation
November testing date	Standardized tests: SAT or ACT If applicable: English proficiency exam
Mid-February	For admitted and deferred students: February Updates & Notes (FUN) Form with midyear grades (if available)
May 1	For admitted students: Enrollment decision reply form

Regular Action (RA)

RA applications are due January 4 and admission decisions are released in mid-March. Financial aid applications for RA applicants are due February 15.

Deadline	Application Component
January 4	MIT first-year application form and fee (or waiver) Optional: Creative portfolios
January 4*	Two teacher letters of recommendation Secondary School Report (SSR) with transcript Optional: School counselor letter of recommendation; school profile; supplemental letter of recommendation
December testing date	Standardized tests: SAT or ACT If applicable: English proficiency exam
Mid-February	For admitted students: February Updates & Notes (FUN) Form with midyear grades (if available)
May 1	For admitted students: Enrollment decision reply form

* Please note: You should add your recommenders and submit your application by the deadline; you don’t have to wait for your recommenders to submit their materials first. We ask recommenders to submit by the deadline as well, but materials that arrive later are still accepted and attached to your application.