Gaining admission to MIT is a dream of many bright students in the world. But understanding MIT's admission requirements is crucial. Knowing its admission requirements will help you a lot.

MIT is well-known worldwide because it ranked as the best university back in 2017. It also got a reputation for being the college of the first choice of many applicants. The reason behind it is the technology and science programs it offers. It's a place where technology and science evolve to reach the potential for greatness.

But it does make you think: how to get into MIT and be a part of it? Yes, you can do that with this guide, which will tell you about the MIT admission requirements and what it takes. 

What is MIT looking for in you?

The first step toward applying for MIT is knowing firsthand if you got what you want in a student. You can't expect to enter this Institute and not understand what MIT wants in each student. After all, if Harvard and other elite colleges can point out what they wish to, MIT has to do it too. 

That's why they lay it out for all prospective students to let them know more about the factors in their process. But if you're not in the mood to click the link, here's a few of them to get you all pumped up:

• MIT's Mission

It's one crucial factor MIT lists above all else. They want students who agree with their mission statement. If you're curious about it, they have it written right here. Here's it is: "The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century".

The Institute commits to generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge and working with others to bring experience to bear the world's significant challenges.  MIT dedicated itself to provide education with challenging academic study and discovery excitement. With this, a diverse campus community's support and intellectual stimulation.

They seek to develop ability and passion in each member for working in a wise, creative, and virtual way." To get this factor, you need to commit to this mission right to the core. It means if you're not 100% with this one, you don't have what it takes to be part of MIT. 

• Collaborative and Cooperative Spirit

Another factor MIT wants is to see students be comfortable working with others. It's because many of the things you'll be doing in college need teamwork and collaboration. So if you're the kind who cooperates with others and gets into work with some help, you've got the spirit they want. 

• Initiative

Are you the kind of person who sees the opportunity and will have the guts to go for it with reason and dignity? Then you're in luck because MIT looks for students with the initiative. 

MIT can be pretty handy with researching those who don't know about it. Thus, you're a student who wants to try something that has never happened before at MIT. And enjoy a few resources only they can provide; you got the initiative in you.

• Risk-taking

This factor is something many colleges don't often like to see, but at MIT, you're free to do this. They'll even say failure is a way for people to learn life lessons. So if you don't mind going through trials and errors, they'll like that. It's also another way for them to say taking risks will get you to places you never thought possible. 

• Hands-on Creativity

While other colleges talk about being diverse and creative on a small scale, MIT can get into the bulk of it. They'll like students who don't mind getting their hands dirty to try something out. It's where theories get tested against the reality of the real world. 

Do you know those times when you could spend some good old times being in some lab? And then, having fun experiments, which leads to crazy things? MIT wants that kind of craziness within you. There are many other factors in the link we've cited above. But the gist of all this is MIT wants a student who isn't only all talk but is the one who talks and backs up with the walk. If you got all these factors in place, then you're ready to get it on with the next step.

Be that person who isn't part of the hive. 

Even with the factors laid out on what MIT is looking for, it still doesn't paint the whole picture. A closer view of their mission shows that you have to be the kind of person who isn't average. You need to be the person who forges a path for individuality. 

MIT wants students who are different than the crowd, brilliant, who thinks outside the box. Don't follow everyone else's way if you're going to get into MIT—create your own. MIT students are the ones who have the excitement to learn and innovate. They're not interested in the recognition; they're motivated by discovery and intellectual stimulation. MIT students don't fit into any particular profile, except they're all very talented." In short: You can consider that being different is one of the admission requirements of MIT. 

Develop the spike from within

It makes you ask yourself: how can you be the student that MIT wants without losing yourself? You can do that by developing the spike. But, What spike means? According to PrepScholar here, a spike "is what sets you apart from all other applicants. It goes against the spirit of only being well-rounded. 

By nature of being unique, you have to do something that stands out in a meaningful way." An excellent way to say it is you're going to become the person who'll be on top of the world in the area. It's where you'll be spectacular in something that everybody will have to stop and look at you well. To achieve this level, you have to reach the status of someone like Elon Musk. Yes, one mention of his name, and you already know what he's achieved in this world. If he can achieve what he did with his ideas and innovation to make millions, who says you can't do that? 

To develop the spike, choose one area of interest that you know you're good at and could extend it to the max. 

Maintain excellence with other areas of interest

When developing your spike in one area, you need to maintain excellence with others too. Because you can't go into MIT and think you're only good for one thing. It would be best if you had a few things up your sleeves. For example, if you're spending time with eight areas of interest, it's best to keep 3 or 4 of them. You can improve the remaining fields by yourself through scheduling and goal-setting. Once you get in sync with the areas while developing the spike, MIT will be glad to see you're doing other things.

Pick the course at MIT that syncs well with you.

Once you're familiar with the spike and other areas of interest, now you need to pick the best course at MIT for you. You'll see the courses offered here to focus on technology, science, and engineering. And if your goal is to become great in one of those fields, you got it right here. But few know MIT offers other courses too.  You'll surprise to see they offer a course in architecture, management, and many others. Thus, MIT is a little diverse when it comes to course offerings. 

MIT admission Requirements

Found the course that speaks to you? Good! You'll now need to know the criteria that you'll need to prep up. While most elite colleges have straightforward ways of admission, MIT is not so. 

How it's different? Take a look at this and ask yourself if you can even do that. It's also known that MIT doesn't use Common Application like other colleges. That's why College Vine has a nifty guide here to show you more details on the requirements. 

They also note the conditions that aren't even mentioned but will come in handy in the long run. As a way to prepare, here's a list of the requirements MIT has listed out on their website:

• Part 1: Biographical Information

• Part 2: Essays, activities, and academics

• Evaluation A: Math or science teacher

• Evaluation B: Humanities, social science, or language teacher

• Secondary School Report (SSR), including high school transcript

• Standardized tests: SAT or ACT; and two SAT Subject Tests

• February Updates & Notes Form (including midyear grades)

Want to know your chances at MIT? Calculate your chances right now.

Got all that? Then you're ready for the next step. 

Required scores at MIT:

MIT's requirements are the results from the SAT or ACTs you'll need to take. It may not be much for you, but students need to work hard to get accepted for the necessary scores. So what scores do you need to make MIT consider you?

MIT SAT Requirements:

The average SAT score of MIT students is 1540. The average score gets calculated with the college's 25th percentile and 75th percentile. The 25th percentile and 75th percentile of MIT are 1510 and 1570, respectively.

The SAT score shows how difficult it is to get into this college. The above-average may consider as a good SAT score. But, it would be best if you focused on scoring above the 75th percentile. It creates more chances for admission.

MIT ACT Requirements:

The average ACT score of MIT students is 35. The 25th percentile and 75th percentile of MIT are 34 and 36, respectively. Thus, the same as the SAT, it is better to aim for the 75th percentile, a perfect 36.

MIT GPA Requirements:

When it comes to GPA, you need a score of 4.2 a GPA scale of 5. It is a very competitive score which most achieves by toppers. By this, we can say that MIT wants you to be the topper of your class.

Score a significant number on the required tests

Now that you're aware of the scores you need to get from SAT and ACT, your next move is getting those scores. But how? You'll need to study well and do the tests like nobody else. 

It would be best if you forged a path of discipline and determination. It'll be quite the journey, so remember these things:

• Practice the tests: 

A great athlete practices their moves to become better. Like them, You must adopt that mindset when it comes to the test. That's why you have to practice this test to prepare. Condition yourself to know what the tests are like and feel like you're taking the actual thing.

• Prepare with the apps:

In the old days, preparing for the tests was something you didn't want to do. Can you find the time for the books? If Not, then the app versions are available. It means you can apply what you've done in your practices and ace them with a smile.

• Expand your mind: 

While you're getting prepared for the test, why not expand your mind too? It helps in getting your neurons up and running. You can try watching some documentaries, read books, take part in extracurricular activities. And explore other aspects of the areas of interest that'll have you look so awesome. 

• Go to class:

Even when the app versions help you prepare, it still pays to be part of a class. In class, you will find other applicants who have the same goal as you. Plus, you'll also learn from the people who took on the tests and came out alive.

MIT Acceptance Rate

You may think MIT's admission requirements will be a challenge, and for sure, it is. And for that, the acceptance rate will be something to keep in mind at all times. As TopTier Admissions shows here: 

As the data shows, acceptance rates from 2012 were as high as 11.60%. Later, it started declining over the years until it reached 7.3% this year. 

What does this mean for you? You'll have to step up your game because only a few get accepted, with many applicants applying. Hence, if you're aiming to be part of this Institute, know these acceptance rates and remember them as you move on. 

Get your application up and running with excellence

Now that you're aware of MIT's current situation, it's time to give your application a boost. You will not apply like any ordinary student. The application should be like a diverse and opportunistic applicant. An applicant who lives and breathes the values MIT wants to see. So how do you go about it? Here are the ways:

Be spectacular with the essays

When applying for MIT, you need to answer five essay questions. They only need a few words and won't have you write a whole page about them. 

But before you think they're nothing, you need to be very selective and specific on how you'll use words. It means you need to give answers that'll show who you are with a bit of spark in them. In simple terms, be the person that shows them you're the one to be part of MIT. So if you have to give them a story that will make them think of other individuals' great stories, then do that. 

• Address your strengths with enthusiasm and confidence

As you are making your profile tidy, be keen on addressing your strengths with confidence. MIT looks for the kind of student who can use their skills in ways that many don't often do. So it would help if you showed them you're that student. It's excellent to tailor your strengths, along with your mission of what you can do with education.

• Be familiar with them through their website.

You may think MIT's website doesn't say a lot in the design, but actually, they got a good set of resources to use. They also explain a lot of things that make up much of their Institute as a whole. 

That's why when you're applying with them, be sure to know who MIT is. And let them know you have familiarity in a way that'll make them feel like a good old friend in your life.

• Talk with the experts.

When you're nearing completion with your application, chat with the experts. You can ask them how well their application aligned with MIT's admission requirements. Having a second opinion and seeing what you missed out on will help you perfect your application. 

Know more about MIT's admission process

When it comes to processing applications, MIT has quite a system to get it done. Unlike most colleges, MIT is happy to give everyone an idea of how they even make the admissions as laid out here.

As "After you click the submit button, it's easy to feel like your application has entered a black hole," says MIT. So what happens between when you apply and when you receive your decision? Once your application is complete, senior admissions officers will be the first readers. Who will consider your application within its proper context? Other admissions officers will check robust applications. They will summarize them for the Admissions Committee.

Later, along with your entire application, it will then go to the selection committee. Here many groups of other admissions staff and faculty members will weigh in. At least a dozen people will discuss and debate an application before placing it in the admit pile." Yes, quite a process that your application will go through, correct? Then add the blog posts that give everyone an idea of how the admissions faculty feel about the process. It can also be a way for admission to show how they feel when making selections. Take it from Michael Ming Yang, the director of admissions, who wrote in the blog post "Bleary-eyed" in 2011. 

He said that as they do the process by reading many applications, he and other faculties get attached. But then, at some point, it'll be a tough decision to make when they have to admit one student and reject another. He also stated that "I knew there would be a joy for some, but for many more, there would be heartache. There would be times I'd take a step back and reflect upon how everything seemed so ridiculous. 

For so many of the students we weren't admitting, was there anything wrong with them? Could they have done anything better or different? No. That was the cold, hard truth.  But there wasn't enough room in the class. All were fantastic in its ways, but we had to make tough choices." In a way, Michael and the rest of the MIT admissions staff want to show that the selection process isn't easy. 

Even rejecting a prospective student can break their hearts, too. So don't go thinking they can go about their day and smile about it. Only saying no to an applicant can already be as hard as breaking up with a partner. 

Submit everything, cross your fingers, and hope for the best

Once you've got it all under wraps, make that submission, cross your fingers, and hope for the best. It's not a guarantee you'll get right in, and it'll take time. But know that you did all that you can, and you'll need to wait and see what MIT thinks about you. 

Not Accepted? 

You've waited for some time and finally got the response! You look at the results and find out MIT did not accept you.  It gets you all down and out, feeling sadness fill you up. Does it mean everything lost? No, because there is an alternative option you can try if you're still determined to be part of MIT. It's not a usual option, but if you still want to try, here it is: 

Alternative Option: Attend a different college and transfer to MIT later

You can try applying for a different college and transferring to MIT later. Admission requirements are here, so you should keep them in mind getting elsewhere. Yet, don't get hopes too high because MIT's transfer acceptance rate has now is 4.28%. It's lower than the acceptance rates shown above, so it's going to be a formidable challenge. But at the same time, you can make fair use of your journey at the other college. So that when you're ready to make the transfer, you can do everything we've listed here. 

Let MIT know that you still got what they're looking for, and you only went to a different place to redefine it for them.

Conclusion:

MIT is one of the top-ranked universities that encourage innovation, risk-taking, initiative. It's no wonder many applicants do their best to get here and see what it's all about. It's no walk in the park to get acceptance here. But if you're determined to be MIT's most exceptional students, then you got what it takes to be with them!