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Update: MIT Admissions Process

On March 12th, 2019, federal prosecutors announced indictments against more than 50 people allegedly involved in a fraudulent scheme to gain admission to a number of universities.

While MIT has not been implicated, we know the notice of this indictment has raised concerns about college admissions at institutions across the country at precisely the time that most decisions, including ours, are being announced. So we are taking this opportunity to describe our process.

Our admissions process relies on a rigorous assessment, we provide fair access for talented students of all backgrounds, and we make decisions based on merit. Before any applicant is accepted to MIT, that person’s application passes through many distinct reviews and is evaluated by several different committees composed of professional admissions staff and faculty reviewers.

This process is designed to safeguard against undue influence of any one individual’s biases, preferences, or familiarity with a given application. Further, we consider each application in a holistic manner.

Applicant test scores are part of the overall application, but high scores alone will not get anyone into MIT. Similarly, no single activity will secure admission. We consider the applicant’s full academic record and experiences.

Our athletic teams do not get ’slots,’ and athletes are subject to the same timing, standards, and admissions process as other applicants. The same is true for legacies, donors, or other categories of applicants.

Also, we have no quotas by school, state, region, socioeconomic background or other classification, and we are fortunate to be able to consider all applicants without regard for their ability to pay for an MIT education.

At MIT we are deeply committed to the principles that guide our merit-based admissions process, the rigorous standards that undergird it, and the integrity required to safeguard both.

Stu Schmill
Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Services