How to Write the MIT Essays

Your answer to prompt #1 should include clear reason(s) for why the field of study you select from the drop down menu appeals to you, as well as how it connects to your personal, academic, and professional pursuits. Include specific examples of courses or related academic opportunities (e.g., study abroad programs, field work opportunities, senior projects, internships, etc.) offered by MIT that are of interest to you and explain how they will enrich your study. Finally, research relevant MIT student organizations that will similarly help you achieve your goals. You should seek to engage with the specific examples you choose in a creative manner rather than simply listing them out. Ultimately, your answer should demonstrate that you want to pursue a particular area of study specifically at MIT—not just at any college. Given that the word count is limited, you should be concise in your explanation. Also, note that MIT does not necessarily offer every field of study listed as a major (or even minor), so be sure to connect your interests to a relevant course of study if the connection is not immediately evident.

Linguistics (from dropdown menu)

As an avid language learner and prospective ESL teacher, I am excited to explore the intersection between language acquisition and cognition at MIT. By taking Linguistics courses such as Laboratory in Psycholinguistics, as well as conducting research at the Scheller Teacher Education Program, I hope to enrich my understanding of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and its real-life applications while also learning about relevant pedagogical practices. Given MIT’s strong theoretical and practical foundations in psycholinguistics and STEP’s focus on research-driven educational tools, I’m confident that studying Linguistics at MIT will prepare me to develop effective ESL resources for my future students.

This is an opportunity to add depth to your application—while MIT wants to see your dedicated pursuit of your subject of interest, they also want to know that you are a balanced and dynamic individual. Your creativity and “pleasure” activities can demonstrate how you will bring a fresh perspective and invigorating way of thinking to your intended field.

That being said, the activity you choose to write about does not necessarily have to relate to your academic or professional pursuits, although you can certainly choose to write about a related activity if applicable. Most importantly, you should demonstrate and engage with a specific quality or value that characterizes you through the activity rather than just describing the activity itself. This can range from what motivates you to how you’ve personally grown from the activity to how you problem-solve. Be creative in your response, as this prompt offers you the opportunity to demonstrate a different side of who you are outside of the classroom!

Like many people, I started out as a quarantine baker. In the past two years, however, my passion has turned into what my mom dubs “science experiments.”

I’m most proud of my banana chia trail mix bread, which has transformed from a simple chocolate chip banana bread into a Frankenstein-looking creation (that thankfully still tastes great). To account for my mom’s diabetes, I’ve had to constantly ruminate over how to tweak the recipe. How can I replace the chocolate chips? Will coconut sugar affect taste? Is gluten-free flour less likely to spike blood sugar?

As I’ve hypothesized my way through these trials and errors, I’ve racked up our grocery bills buying almost every ingredient available at the store. Despite my mom’s consternation, when I present her with my newest experiment and see the smile on her face as she digs in to her heart’s content, it’s worth it.

As a STEM institution, MIT is seeking to admit applicants who think outside the box and dare to take risks, both in and out of the classroom. After all, unconventional thinking often makes for the best problem-solving. This prompt offers you the opportunity to demonstrate the ways you exhibit the qualities MIT looks for in applicants, including “risk-taking” and “intensity, curiosity, and excitement,” among others. You can read more about what MIT looks for here. In answering this prompt, write about an endeavor you undertook that falls outside of traditional academic pursuits or extracurricular activities. This is also a chance to shed light on your goals and aspirations—how have you already worked towards and achieved some of your goals? In what ways are you currently working towards others?

“I talked to the headmaster- he said I can stay if I want to. And I want to.”

My counselor paused.

When I decided to spend the summer in northern Nigeria teaching English to elementary school children, I’d also gotten special permission to write my senior thesis about the pedagogy of second language acquisition instead of on the biology research project I devoted most of my junior year to. A change in plans, but one my school reluctantly accepted on the grounds that I still complete and submit my research paper by the new year; they wanted to support my shifting interests.

Extending my stay by 9-months and delaying my graduation was not part of the agreed upon plan, but I knew I’d learn more about my newfound interest in linguistics immersed in a new culture and learning a new language than back home. My host sister devoted hours and hours to teaching me new vocabulary words and conjugations each night; lessons I mirrored in English in the classroom the next day.

Now, back in the U.S., I am armed with firsthand knowledge of linguistics, sure of my intended course of study at MIT, and itching to understand my experience through an academic lens.

With this prompt, you are encouraged to describe a challenge (whether physical or mental) that you overcame in collaboration with others. Note that MIT looks for a “collaborative and cooperative spirit” in potential students, offering the following explanation: “Many of the problem sets (our affectionate term for homework) at MIT are designed to be worked on in groups, and cross-department labs are very common. MIT is known for its interdisciplinary research—passionate people working across their differences to tackle big questions and challenges together. If you enjoy working alone all the time, that’s completely valid, but you might not be particularly happy at MIT.” This question is designed to help the admissions committee understand how you work with others, whether to solve problems or to enact positive change in your community. Be careful to be neither too humble nor too arrogant in your response to this question—while you should focus on your unique role in the group dynamic, avoid casting yourself as the hero or sole champion of the solution. Ideally, your response to this question should combine an anecdote with introspection and reflection. Most importantly, explain how your previous experience will allow you to better collaborate as a member of the MIT community.

At 10 AM sharp every Sunday, I eagerly wait for my Cantonese language exchange partner Allen to enter the Zoom room. Across the 13-hour time difference between New York and Hong Kong, we’ve met weekly for almost three years and discussed anything and everything that comes to mind, from parental expectations to our deepest fears.

In the beginning, I used to dread Sundays. As a U.S.-born heritage speaker of Cantonese, I knew I was making mistakes left and right every time I opened my mouth. As Allen and I continued to meet, however, my clumsy missteps were all met with a smile and a gentle correction. Saying an incorrect word changed from something I was fearful of to something that I appreciated—and sometimes even found fun. In the end, what better way to learn a language than to make mistakes? (Nothing is more mortifying, yet simultaneously motivating, than confusing window for brothel and proceeding to say that you want to re-paint your brothel.)

Whether in my weekly language exchange or in my interactions with the diverse community of MIT Engineers, I hope to continue openly communicating with others regardless of our different backgrounds, powering through any potential “mistakes,” misunderstandings, or awkward situations with the determination to use them all as learning experiences.

College is a time of growth and transition that comes with growing pains and challenges that students don’t foresee. MIT admissions officers want to see that you can face the unexpected with a teachable spirit and willingness to learn from the obstacles you face. As you answer this prompt, be sure to demonstrate your resilience, self-reflection, and initiative—the goal is to show that you take an active role in navigating challenges and looking back introspectively to develop as a person through them. Ultimately, you should describe the problem you overcame, how you reacted to the situation/challenge, what you learned from it, and how you will apply your learnings to your future endeavors (whether personal, academic, professional, or all of the above). Ideally, you should choose something that is uncommon and is not cliche—try to come up with an experience that is unique to you! Finally, strive to connect the experience to how you will contribute to the MIT community.

“Me llamo Ella y estoy en mi tercer año de secundaria.”

This sentence haunted me for weeks.

I decided to take Spanish as an elective; however, it was with no shortage of embarrassment that I introduced myself as a junior—amongst 20+ freshmen.

Every look of surprise became yet another hit to my self-esteem. Why is she taking Spanish 1? Is she that bad at Spanish? In my worst moments, I even considered dropping the class.

I knew, however, that I couldn’t let my anxieties eclipse the rewards I would glean from learning a new language—I just had to own it. We were all conjugating ir and haber incorrectly anyway. What mattered most was that I was still trying. Who cared if I was older by a few years?

Now, whenever I volunteer as an English tutor for adult immigrants through Bridges, my goal is to encourage my students by sharing my experience of feeling like I was lagging behind my peers. Although our motivations for language learning aren’t necessarily the same, we share the belief that trying to learn a new language is no less rewarding just because you’re a little older—and a little wiser—than the rest.

Much like the additional information section on the Common App, this prompt allows you the space to share anything you have not had the opportunity to write about in the other components of your application. Perhaps you wish to provide an explanation for a gap in your academic endeavors or anomaly on your transcript resulting from illness or other family obligations, or you want to provide more information about one of your accomplishments or activities. You can refer to our guide on how to write the Common App Additional Information section for tips on how to tackle this optional prompt.