What personal qualities does MIT look for?

Asked by: Stone Wiegand  |  Last update: August 11, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (67 votes)

Here are the key components:
  • Alignment with MIT's mission. ...
  • Collaborative and cooperative spirit. ...
  • Initiative. ...
  • Risk-taking. ...
  • Hands-on creativity. ...
  • Intensity, curiosity, and excitement. ...
  • The character of the MIT community. ...
  • The ability to prioritize balance.

What kind of person goes to MIT?

You will still need to have top grades and test scores. However, MIT also searches for applicants who are innovative, creative, and who enjoy working with teams of others to solve problems.

What increases your chances of getting into MIT?

Take Rigorous Courses and Receive High Grades

A combination of rigorous courses and high grades will help increase your chances of getting into MIT. Take honors classes when you can (especially in math and science courses), and attempt to receive all A's (or equivalent).

How does MIT decide who to accept?

The selection process at MIT is student centered: each application is evaluated within its unique context. No school, state, or regional quotas are applied, and we do not consider legacy/alumni relations in our process.

What does MIT look for in essays?

The 5 required essays cover a range of topics that you've likely already been thinking about throughout your college process: your intended major, a favorite hobby, an unexpected aspect of your educational journey, your collaboration skills, and managing a challenge.

What does MIT look for? | CollegePass

32 related questions found

What kind of person is MIT looking for?

And, while we look for students who show qualities that would make them a good match for MIT – academically talented students interested in an analytical-based, hands-on education, who have shown true engagement, initiative, curiosity, and community mindedness – there is no one specific profile of student that we are ...

How much does MIT care about essays?

MIT weighs essays as heavily as they do rigor, GPA, test scores, letters of recommendation, and more. Your essays are essential to your MIT application.

What type of student does MIT want?

Risk-taking. MIT wants to admit people who are not only planning to succeed but who are also not afraid to fail. When people take risks in life, they learn resilience—because risk leads to failure as often as it leads to success.

What is the hardest college to get into?

Harvard University

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.

What is harder, MIT or Harvard?

In terms of standardized test scores, MIT students have slightly higher averages, with an SAT score of 1520 and an ACT score of 35, compared with Harvard's averages of 1480 and 35. Overall, these slight differences are nominal, meaning that both schools are extremely hard to get into.

What is the hardest degree to get at MIT?

Every major at MIT is academically rigorous and will push students to expand their academic horizons so they can graduate with new knowledge and a deepened understanding of their field of study. With that being said, engineering majors are often thought to be amongst the most challenging at MIT.

How to stand out for MIT?

To get into MIT, you'll need near-perfect grades and SAT or ACT scores, solid extracurricular activity involvement demonstrating a commitment to community and leadership, and essays that help you stand out from other applicants. This doesn't sound like a walk in the park, but fear not, future innovators.

Do girls have a better chance of getting into MIT?

When looking at historical data, female applicants haven't been at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts. In fact, the percentage of female students at MIT has been steadily increasing in recent years. For example, in the Class of 2025, 47% of admitted students were women.

What is the most popular degree at MIT?

The most popular majors at Massachusetts Institute of Technology include: Computer Science; Mechanical Engineering; Mathematics, General; Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Physics, General; Cognitive Science, General; Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General; Bioengineering and ...

Does MIT care about extracurriculars?

Yes, MIT cares about extracurriculars. They look for students who are passionate, take initiative, and demonstrate leadership and creativity through their activities, alongside their academic achievements.

What is the #1 university in the world?

Harvard University

United States|Cambridge (U.S.)

Is it harder to get into Stanford or MIT?

Admissions. MIT and Stanford both have acceptance rates right around 4%. Technically, for 2020-2022, Stanford's acceptance rate was 3.95% while MIT's was 3.96%, which are essentially exactly the same. That means both schools are very competitive.

What is the easiest Ivy League school to get into?

Cornell is considered the "easiest" Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate. While statistically speaking, it's easier to get into Cornell, it's still challenging.

What character does MIT look for?

The character of the MIT community

Students regularly work alongside faculty and staff to shape MIT policies and further our mission to make the world a better place. We're looking to admit people who feel responsible to their communities and will help sustain the heart of MIT's.

What is MIT rival school?

The college rivalry between the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stems from the colleges' reputations as the top science and engineering schools in the United States.

Does MIT care about first gen?

MIT is proud of its commitment to First Generation students. First Generation students, those whose parents do not have college degrees, comprise 16% of the MIT student population, approximately 800 students in total (undergraduate and graduate).

How much homework do MIT students get?

How much homework are students given? MITES Semester students can expect to spend 15-20 hours per week on asynchronous assignments.

Does MIT read your Common App essay?

MIT Application Note: MIT uses its own application portal. Therefore, students don't have to submit the Common App personal statement.

Does MIT look at senior year grades?

Do I have to submit my final grades? Most students apply to college at the beginning of their last year of high school, so final grades aren't available. Only admitted students are required to submit their final grades.…