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FAQs

How to answer why you want to go to MIT? ›

This question is another opportunity for you to demonstrate excitement and eagerness to attend MIT! You can talk about all kinds of aspects of college that interest or excite you: particular classes or professors, clubs, community life, etc. However, be sure to keep your answer appropriate.

When figuring out how to get into MIT, know that there are no minimum MIT GPA requirements. However, 97% of MIT Class of 2025 admitted students graduated in the top 10% of their classes, so your GPA must be high in order to compete.

According to the acceptance rate, it's harder to get into Harvard than at MIT. The acceptance rate at Harvard is 3.6%, whereas MIT's acceptance rate is 4.8%. These numbers reflect just how competitive it is to get into these schools. With such low acceptance rates, they admit only a tiny fraction of applicants.

The acceptance rate at MIT is 4%.

For every 100 applicants, only 4 are admitted. This means the school is extremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation.

Founded to accelerate the nation's industrial revolution, MIT is profoundly American. With ingenuity and drive, our graduates have invented fundamental technologies, launched new industries, and created millions of American jobs.

Your grades and test scores are highly important, but they are not definitive as far as your ability to get accepted 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.

Farrell Wu in MIT. Photo courtesy of Wu. Filipino math genius Farrell Eldrian Wu once again earned high praise after graduating at the top university in the United States and receiving a perfect grade point average (GPA) of 5.0.

There's no minimum required GPA; however, competitive applicants typically have a 3.5 GPA or above, and mostly As in math and science courses. Ideal preparation includes—at the very least—one year each of college-level calculus and calculus-based physics.

In conclusion, gaining admission to MIT with a 3.7 GPA is challenging but not impossible.

Caltech is particularly strong in physics and astronomy as well as other science subjects, making it a good choice for students interested in pursuing those fields. MIT offers a broader range of academic programs, including architecture and more majors in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

What is the hardest major in 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.

In fact, MIT is globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. While it doesn't fall under the Ivy League umbrella due to historical reasons, it's equally renowned and highly respected in many disciplines. Hope this clears things up!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the top private universities in Cambridge, United States. It is ranked #1 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

Students prefer MIT over IIT for higher studies because of its higher global ranking and acceptance rate, as well as the variety of courses it offers. MIT is considered the best university in the world and provides a more hands-on approach to teaching.

Testing requirement

We do not require the ACT writing section or the SAT optional essay. We accept both the paper and digital SAT. While MIT does not require the ACT writing section or SAT optional essay, MIT does value writing and communication highly.

At MIT, we revel in a culture of learning by doing. In 30 departments across five schools and one college, our students combine analytical rigor with curiosity, playful imagination, and an appetite for solving the hardest problems in service to society.

Try to give detailed, thoughtful reasons, by mentioning the department's approach to your subject, or if it has particularly strong facilities for the course. Don't mention things like the nightlife or costs, and don't say anything that indicates you didn't really put much thought into your decision.

"MIT is a place whose work matters deeply to the entire world — and so working at MIT has special meaning. It is a privilege to contribute to the Institute's efforts to address some of humanity's most challenging and intractable problems."

Your extracurriculars are also a key part of your MIT application. The best way to stand out with your extracurriculars is to emphasize your passion and leadership skills. You can do this by pursuing extracurriculars in a field related to your future major, sticking with them, and achieving leadership roles in them.