MIT -- Not Just About STEM

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, better known as MIT, is renowned for being a STEM school. However, it is more than just STEM.  MIT’s mission 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.

MIT's Great Dome (Building 10)

MIT Academics

MIT's motto is "Mens et Manus," or "Mind and Hand," which reflects its commitment to combining rigorous academics with practical applications.  Students should expect a combination of learning through lectures and learning through research or practice.  MIT’s classes move quickly; it’s not a place for students who struggled in high school classes.  Students should come prepared to drink from a firehose!

One of the maker spaces on MIT's campus

While the pace of academics at MIT is fast, MIT provides supports for students.  MIT does not initially give grades to freshmen.  In addition, MIT offers resources for students who need help.

Students must take a broad core curriculum, called the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement, which goes beyond STEM courses. The HASS distribution requirement requires students to take at least one course in each of the following areas: arts, humanities, and social science.  Students are also required to have a HASS concentration and to take a HASS elective class.  MIT wants all of its students to have some breadth and depth in the HASS courses.

MIT has five schools and one college:

·      Engineering

·      Science

·      Humanities, arts, social sciences

·      Sloan School of Management

·      Architecture & planning

·      Schwarzman College of Computing

Stata Center aka Building 32

MIT has a student-to-teacher ratio of 3:1.  Seventy percent of the classes have fewer than 20 students.  Students who are particularly interested in taking small classes can participate in a living and learning community.

MIT Admissions

Students seeking admission to MIT should display more than just strong interest and achievement in math and science.  One MIT admissions officer indicated that she loved to admit students who have a strong interest in the humanities as well as STEM.  I have a former student I helped who was admitted to MIT.  When I reviewed his course choices, I told him that I thought MIT would really like him.  While his personal statement referenced his strong interest in STEM, his senior-year courses included three Advanced Placement courses in the social sciences.  He is attending MIT.

In addition to academic ability, MIT is likely to consider personal factors when making admission decisions.  MIT is likely to favor students who demonstrate:

·      Making the world a better place

·      A collaborative and cooperative spirit

·      Initiative

·      Risk-taking

·      Hands-on creativity (both thinking and DOING)

·      Intensity, curiosity & excitement

Students will not likely be able to display all of those factors in an application, but ideally they would display a couple.

High school course selection for MIT candidates should ideally include

·      Calculus, which serves as a foundation at MIT

·      A combination of biology, chemistry, and physics

·      Advanced courses in humanities, arts, and social sciences.

The Green Building by IM Pei

MIT indicates that its admission standards are similar between Early Action and Regular Decision.  If an application is not ready by the early due date, the student should wait to submit it for Regular Decision.

Students at Harvard and MIT can take one class per term at the other institution.  These two highly selective schools are within walking distance.  MIT students often opt to take a class at Harvard before they graduate.

MIT Applications

MIT is among the few schools that uses its own application rather than the Common App.  Here are the components:

• Activities.  On its application, MIT asks for the four activities that are the most important to the student, including a brief description.

• Preferred field of study.  MIT wants to know what interests you.

• Grades and standardized test scores.  You didn’t think MIT would skip over these, did you?

• Recommendations.  One should be from math or science, and another from the humanities or social science.

• Self-reported courses

• Short essays with MIT’s own essay prompts.  MIT indicates that it typically does not change the essay prompts much from one year to the next.  For 2024-25, the essay prompts were as follows:

  • 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?

• Slide Room. Presenting creative portfolios in “Slide Room” is an option.

Interviews are considered when making admission decisions.  They are not merely an opportunity to inform applicants about MIT.

Stratton Student Center

MIT Students

MIT has about  4,500 undergraduates and 7,300 graduate students.  MIT has announced plans to reduce the number of graduate students in 2025, likely because of cuts in federal research spending.

MIT has protections in place so that the graduate students do not consume all of the resources at MIT.  For instance, MIT reserves funds for undergraduate research.  About 90 percent of undergraduate students participate in research.  The research positions are often paid positions.  The research positions are not always within a student’s major.

Remember MIT students are studious.  Students at MIT might opt for studying over attending a football game, even if the team performs well.

MIT students tend to be more collaborative than competitive in nature.  MIT students frequently work in teams.  MIT students like to talk, so feel free to ask a question if you are stumped.

You do not need to be a STEM major at MIT, but you should be comfortable in a STEM-heavy environment.

MIT Values

MIT’s values, which is reflected in its student body, include:

·      Excellence & curiosity

·      Openness & respect

·      Belonging & community

MIT Housing

MIT does not offer any dorms that are strictly for first-year students.  MIT wants the upperclassmen to meet and mentor new students.  Freshmen are required to live on campus, and 90 percent of undergraduate students reside on campus.

The dorms at MIT can vary significantly from one another, so students should research dorms before making any housing decisions.  Among the unusual housing options is a cat dorm.  Great if you love cats; however, consider living elsewhere if you are allergic.

MIT Affordability

The cost of attending MIT is $89,340 in 2025–2026, but don’t let that scare you if you qualify for need-based financial aid.  MIT meets 100% of financial need, even for international students.  MIT participates in QuestBridge, an application process for talented students with a high level of financial need.  Fifty-eight percent of students receive financial aid, and their average cost is $12 K/year.  

Educ8Fit Consulting

I work with students and families on the college and graduate school admission process. I help them navigate such complexities as merit aid and international admissions.  Please contact Educ8Fit Consulting at either Jim@Educ8Fit.com or College Admission Counseling | Educ8fit Consulting | United States, contact for a free 30-minute consultation.