The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a world-renowned reputation for innovation in the fields of science and technology, boasting an elite cache of alumni such as former chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke and U.S. astronaut Buzz Aldrin, formidable faculty such as linguistics expert Noam Chomsky and machine learning pioneer Daniela Rus, and as fans of Good Will Hunting will note, one mathematically-gifted janitor who looks a whole lot like Matt Damon.

Students at this R1 Research Institute are lavished with nearly one billion dollars in research funding, most of which comes straight from federal departments such as Health and Human Services and NASA. An emphasis on research and scientific discovery prevails in the core curriculum, termed the General Institute Requirements, a pedagogy similar to that of Columbia University, consisting of requirements in the fields of science, laboratory work, liberal arts, communication, and physical education. This curriculum informs 50% of the courses a student will take during their undergraduate years. But that’s not all! In order to graduate, students must also complete a 100-yard swimming test (but don’t worry, they allow do-overs!).

The rigorous coursework is no cakewalk, so it’s no surprise MIT is known for a student body of 4,500 undergraduates and 7,400 postgraduates who work hard, but some may be surprised to learn that they party even harder. Greek life and cultural affinity housing are both facets of campus social life, while MIT parties have a reputation for drawing the likes of their neighboring peers at Harvard (where, incidentally, MIT students may cross-register for classes). The campus is situated in the platonic ideal of a college town, Cambridge, MA, so after a long night of fun, MIT students can watch the sunrise over the Charles River as the Boston skyline wakes up for another day.

Established in 1861, MIT was modeled after German research universities and was commissioned in the Back Bay area of Boston as designated by the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. During its early years, MIT was known as “Boston Tech,” and struggled with its shifting academic focus from theoretical to vocational science, its cramped location in claustrophobic Boston, and its competition with nearby Harvard. In the early years of the 20th century, an anonymous donor bankrolled the creation of MIT’s neoclassical campus, designed by William W. Bosworth, on the other side of the Charles, and the fledgling university’s reputation improved. 

However, even once it had the look and breathing room of an elite university, MIT still struggled to find its place within the Academy. Everything changed when the Institute became the largest wartime research and development contractor for the U.S. government during WWII. While innovations in military technology defined MIT for the decades to follow, countercultural activism in the 1970s precipitated an expansion of research opportunities and academic priorities beyond defense. Today, the MIT brand is synonymous with the cutting edge of AI, robotics, linguistics, and physics.

MIT draws the best and brightest young minds, and its admissions process is correspondingly competitive. For the Class of 2029, MIT received 29,282 undergraduate applications and admitted 1,325, for an acceptance rate of 4.52%, making it more competitive than most Ivies. Their admissions process exemplifies the ethos: students who demonstrate a specialized talent, supported by extensive extracurricular pursuits in their chosen field, are the ones who find success.

They also reward students who demonstrate initiative. As their admissions site puts it: “opportunities are abundant at MIT, but they must be seized.” Access to MIT’s abundant resources and funding is a privilege and a responsibility, so prospective students must show that they can handle it before they even arrive. This admissions ideology produces a student body that is quirky, passionate, and hardworking. Students who pursue their interests to no end, who are excited to share the fruits of their curiosity with their peers, and who desire to make the world a better place through their passion will find a home at MIT.

What are Massachusetts Institute of Technology looking for?

The match between you and MIT

Ask any admissions officer at MIT, and they will tell you that while grades and scores are important in understanding your academic preparedness for MIT, it’s really the match between applicant and the Institute that drives our selection process.

Here are the key components:

Alignment with MIT’s mission

MIT’s mission is to use science, technology, and other areas of scholarship to make the world better. Our community values excellence, openness, and fearless curiosity. Remember that there are many ways to make an impact—we’re not looking for applicants to have cured all infectious diseases in the world by the time they’re 15. Tutoring a single kid in math changes the world. Advocating for change when something doesn’t seem fair changes the world. There are thousands of examples. And no matter what you study at MIT, from economics to engineering, all undergraduate students will take foundational classes in math and science.

Collaborative and cooperative spirit

The core of the MIT community is collaboration and cooperation; you can see it all over the Institute. Many of the problem sets (our affectionate term for homework) at MIT are designed to be worked on in groups, and cross-department labs are very common. MIT is known for its interdisciplinary research—passionate people working across their differences to tackle big questions and challenges together. If you enjoy working alone all the time, that’s completely valid, but you might not be particularly happy at MIT.

Initiative

Opportunities are abundant at MIT—from research projects to makerspaces, and seed money to interesting lectures—and it’s up to each student to choose a path that will be the most academically and personally fulfilling to them. If you’re comfortable taking initiative to pursue exciting opportunities around you, take challenging coursework, or contribute to your family or community, you’ll be ready to take advantage of MIT’s unparalleled resources.

Risk-taking

The most creative and successful people—and MIT is loaded with them—know that risk-taking can lead to failure as often as it can lead to success. MIT students take all kinds of thoughtful risks, whether that’s registering for a challenging lab class, starting a company, or joining a club they’ve never tried before. Even when they fail, there are structural supports to catch them, and they learn resilience. We want to admit applicants who are not only planning to succeed but who are also not afraid to fail—and who know how to build a support system to keep them afloat during tough times.

Hands-on creativity

MIT is an active, hands-on place. Innovation is risky and messy! Getting your metaphorical or literal hands dirty and trying something new is often the best way to achieve success. Students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems here; MIT’s Latin motto means “Mind and Hand.” In other words, you shouldn’t just enjoy thinking about problems, you should be excited about doing something to help solve them.

Intensity, curiosity, and excitement

MIT students are intensely interested in their classes, clubs, and communities. Collectively, their dedication sustains traditions like the MIT Mystery Hunt and wins National Championships; individually, each student learns to make time for the things they care about. We don’t expect applicants to do a million things. Choose quality over quantity. Some applicants may still be exploring their interests and that’s okay! Put your heart into a few things that you truly care about right now (we’re not particularly picky as to what) and share your enthusiasm with us.

The ability to prioritize balance

Despite what you may have heard, MIT is NOT all about work. MIT students find fulfillment, energy, and rest in many different activities outside of their academic pursuits. Finding a balance between work and play is incredibly important at MIT and in life, both to be successful and live well. You might find joy through activities like athletics, the arts, community leadership, personal projects, or caring for others in your family. Our application’s essay question, “Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.” is not a trick question. Answer it honestly!

The character of the MIT community

Our community is comprised of thoughtful people from a wide variety of backgrounds and worldviews who take care of each other and lift each other up; they inspire each other to work and dream beyond their potential. Students regularly work alongside faculty and staff to shape MIT policies and further our mission to make the world a better place. Applicants who are a good fit for MIT are trailblazers—they challenge themselves and, in the most meaningful cases, forge a new path not only for themselves but for others around them. We’re looking to admit people who feel responsible to the communities they’re a part of and will help sustain the heart of MIT’s.

Admissions Statistics

ADMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Additional essay questions of the application.

- What field of study appeals to you the most right now? (Note: Applicants select from a drop-down list.) Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.

- We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

- While some reach their goals following well-trodden paths, others blaze their own trails achieving the unexpected. In what ways have you done something different than what was expected in your educational journey?

- MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds together to collaborate, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to lending a helping hand. Describe one way you have collaborated with others to learn from them, with them, or contribute to your community together.

- How did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn’t expect? What did you learn from it?