Please note:

The MIT Welcome Center and Admissions Office will be closed for winter break December 23 through January 4. We will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026.

MIT blogger Elizabeth C. '13

Writing the MIT Application Essays by Elizabeth Choe '13

Hurgh. I know.

The secret is… there’s not really a secret. Just some tips.
0:18 A lil’ bit about me
0:36 Why you DON’T need to stress out
1:21 What “being yourself” means
3:47 The “what do you do for fun?” essay
4:37 The “what do you want to study?” essay
5:17 The “how do you improve the lives of others?” essay
6:38 The “describe your world” essay
8:38 The “challenge you’ve overcome” essay
10:17 Just breeeeeathe
Some of my favorite blog posts about the MIT essays: