Secondary school materials
Some students apply to us after an extended break from conventional education, and we value the insights and experiences of students returning to higher education.
At the same time, we need to evaluate students against a common baseline of preparation for a rigorous MIT education. Even though you may have been away from school for a while, we expect to see the results of your standardized tests, transcript, evaluations from teachers, and other supportive materials that would assist us in getting to know you. This includes the secondary school materials required of all transfer applicants.
Letters of support
We often recommend that non-traditional applicants take some courses at a community college or in a non-degree program to brush up on their classroom experience and get some recent teacher evaluations. While we do require evaluations from educators, supplemental recommendations from your employers or mentors can provide useful information, especially if teacher evaluations are difficult to obtain. The decision about what letters of support to send for review is left up to the individual non-traditional applicant to suit their unique circumstances.