Guys, how hard is it to get into MIT?

I'm going to a canadian university next year to do my undergraduate program. I plan to take graduate studies after that. How hard is it to get into MIT to do graduate studies?

I'm going to a canadian university next year to do my undergraduate program. I plan to take graduate studies after that. How hard is it to get into MIT to do graduate studies?

citizen-zero

Let me put it to you this way:

All good graduate programs have acceptance rates below 15%, usually in the 8-10% range. This is because grad programs are rarely big enough to accomodate more than 12-24 students, and there are only about 2-8 openings per year. Now apply MIT's ultra-selective standards to that already ridiculous baseline and you have a good idea of how difficult it is.

Also, what kind of program are you planning to go into? MS, Ph.D., etc? And what field (computer science, aerospace engineering, etc.)? This makes a massive difference in terms of how hard it will be to get into which school, and what kind of stats you're going to need.

I found this. It's from two years ago and is about undergrads rather than the graduate program, but they had an acceptance rate of only 12%. And get this: 49% of applicants were valedictorians, yet they still only took in a tenth of the students who applied.

I found this. It's from two years ago and is about undergrads rather than the graduate program, but they had an acceptance rate of only 12%. And get this: 49% of applicants were valedictorians, yet they still only took in a tenth of the students who applied.

Oleg_Huzwog

If you're on Gamespot OT......you won't get in. :cry: Seriously you should be studying now. Duckman5

Nah, the trick to getting into MIT's grad programs (or any other ultra-selective university's grad programs) isn't studying your ass off. If you have to do that then you won't get in. The trick is to be so ****ing smart that you only have to study occasionally.

Let me put it to you this way:

All good graduate programs have acceptance rates below 15%, usually in the 8-10% range. This is because grad programs are rarely big enough to accomodate more than 12-24 students, and there are only about 2-8 openings per year. Now apply MIT's ultra-selective standards to that already ridiculous baseline and you have a good idea of how difficult it is.

Also, what kind of program are you planning to go into? MS, Ph.D., etc? And what field (computer science, aerospace engineering, etc.)? This makes a massive difference in terms of how hard it will be to get into which school, and what kind of stats you're going to need.

gameguy6700

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]

Let me put it to you this way:

All good graduate programs have acceptance rates below 15%, usually in the 8-10% range. This is because grad programs are rarely big enough to accomodate more than 12-24 students, and there are only about 2-8 openings per year. Now apply MIT's ultra-selective standards to that already ridiculous baseline and you have a good idea of how difficult it is.

Also, what kind of program are you planning to go into? MS, Ph.D., etc? And what field (computer science, aerospace engineering, etc.)? This makes a massive difference in terms of how hard it will be to get into which school, and what kind of stats you're going to need.

citizen-zero

I'm not too well versed on computer science, but I believe I've heard from some place before that the computer science program is one of the most competitive programs at MIT. Also, Ph.D. programs are usually harder to get into than MS programs, so you've set quite the goal for yourself there.

Again, while I don't know much about the computer science field, it's probably safe to say that you're going to need a 3.7+ GPA, three very good letters of recommendation, great GRE scores (including near perfect math section scores), and an impressive research background (at least a poster presentation and one year of research experience, preferably 2+ years of research experience, multiple poster presentations, and a thesis. Ideally you would have at least one publication).

[QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

I found this. It's from two years ago and is about undergrads rather than the graduate program, but they had an acceptance rate of only 12%. And get this: 49% of applicants were valedictorians, yet they still only took in a tenth of the students who applied.

FragStains

I chuckled.

I'm going to a canadian university next year to do my undergraduate program. I plan to take graduate studies after that. How hard is it to get into MIT to do graduate studies?

citizen-zero

I'm sorry, but if you have to ask that, then you can't get in.

you have 12% chance of getting in

Try a number of schools when you are applying for grad school instead of focusing on just one, there are a great number of good schools out there with great CS programs, you don't have to get into MIT to have a bright future... although that would help immensely