Q&A for EA Deferred and Regular Action students by Kris Guay

*Update as of 2015: Early action is available to both domestic and international students.

Hi everyone,

The Office of Admissions is mostly closed for the holidays and not accepting emails or answering phone calls. Many of us who read applications are taking a little break and resting up in preparation for all of your RA applications! We will be back on Monday, January 6.

However, I know that those of you who were deferred or those of you still finishing up your RA applications in time for the January 1 deadline may still have a few questions. So let’s see if I can answer some of the most common questions we get every year.

For Deferred Students

I was deferred. I will never get in RA, right?

We will look at your application again and consider it in the context of the Regular Action period. In previous years, anywhere from 150-300 students were admitted in RA. It could be more or less this year; it depends on how the pool looks. But if you've been deferred you are now officially a member of the RA pool.

Should I send in extra materials?

You only need to send in your February Updates and Notes report, which will be available on MyMIT in January. On this report, you can provide us with your updated grades (your semester grades are very important, so keep working hard!) We will also include a text box for any other updates you'd like to provide (new awards, changes to your activities, etc…)  We will accept updates in other formats, including mail and email, but the Admissions Committee will primarily look to this report for your updates.

Should I send in a whole new version of my application, or all new essays?

No. You do not need to "improve" your application, or redo/edit/modify part or all of your application. You were deferred because your application was already strong enough to make you a contender in the Regular Action round. Let your application stand.

What about new test scores?

If you are taking additional tests in December or January, you can include MIT as a score recipient and we will consider any new scores.

Can I call admissions to find out why I was deferred?

If you call in, we will not be able to tell you "the reason" why you were deferred, or "what needs to be improved," simply because things are much more complex than just one reason why you were deferred. In fact, there will likely be nothing at all missing or needing improvement in your application.

For RA students

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is January 1. This means you can click "submit" on your application any time on January 1 or before, but try not to wait until the last minute!

What happens if some of my school forms come in past the deadline?

It is perfectly fine if, through no fault of your own, your school forms (e.g. teacher recommendations, secondary school report, transcript) come in after the January 1 deadline. We are much more understanding of and flexible with late documents from schools than with late documents from the applicant.

I’m taking tests in January, will these count?

January is the last testing date that can be seen by the Admissions Committee (February will not be seen). If you will be taking the January test, just be sure to designate MIT to receive the scores. Please do not rush report your scores. We require either SAT Reasoning Test or ACT Plus Writing (or TOEFL). We also require 2 SAT Subject Tests (one in math, one in science). We only use the scores that make you look best, and we do abide by Score Choice.

Is it too late to schedule an interview?

The deadline to request an interview was December 10th, and has now passed. While highly recommended, the interview is not a required part of the application (and students whose interviews have been waived are at no disadvantage). You are welcome to request an interview from your Educational Counselor (EC) after the deadline, but do not expect that your request will be granted. If you have already interviewed with your EC, or have scheduled your interview for the near future, you are all set. Don’t worry if your interview report has not yet appeared on your MyMIT Tracking. The deadline for ECs to submit their reports has not yet arrived. If you wish, you may now fill out the conducted interview form and we will be sure to get the interview report.

I sent things in on time, but I don’t see it on MyMIT tracking. What do I do?

The Records Office is working hard, but please recognize that processing can take 2 weeks. You do not need to worry at this time about documents that are not showing on MyMIT. Do not send a second copy of any document at this time. Also, you do not need to call MIT Admissions at this time to check on any such documents (there is a time for this later).

Will using a fee waiver affect my application?

We are happy to accept fee waivers for any student (foreign or domestic) who needs one. Using a fee waiver will not negatively impact your admission. You may use the SAT Fee Waiver, the NACAC Fee Waiver, or a letter from a school official detailing your situation. We will accept other fee waiver forms as well.

I forgot something and I want to update my application, how do I do that?

If you need to update your application after you submit it, the best way is the February Updates and Notes form.  On the last section of both Parts One and Two, there is a link that will allow you to preview your application as a PDF. This PDF is exactly how the admissions committee will see your application. Application tracking is available on MyMIT after you submit your Part 1. For this reason, I recommend submitting your Part 1 sooner rather than later, so that you can track your documents.

I hope this is helpful. Best wishes as you finish and submit the application!

And happy holidays!