Admissions To:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
If you are looking for a list of empty platitudes spouted off by MIT admission officers about how all they want is authenticity in applicants, you came to the wrong place.
If you want the hard truth about what it takes to get into MIT, you came to the right place.
Typical Admitted Student Profile:
GPA:
4.0 unweighted or top of class
Test Scores:
SAT: 1570–1600
ACT: 35–36
Course Rigor:
Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, AP Physics C (both), AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, Cybersecurity or CS electives
Research:
SSP, Regeneron STS, ISEF, MIT PRIMES, RSI, multi yearlong lab internships at universities
Competitive Achievements:
AIME/USA(J)MO qualifier, Physics Olympiad, USABO semifinalist/finalist, FIRST Robotics, competitive programming contests (e.g., USACO Gold/Platinum)
Quantifiable Local Impact / Leadership:
Launching STEM outreach programs, leading robotics teams, organizing coding bootcamps for underserved communities, founding math circles
If you have this profile, working with us is your best bet to get into MIT. If you want to attend MIT, whether you will be starting your freshman year soon or have just started your freshman or sophomore year, contact us, and we'll guide you in acquiring a similarly competitive profile that will get you into MIT.
Cosmic has helped close to a dozen students apply to MIT and knows their application and admissions process inside and out. We are proud of our MIT admits and are looking forward to making you the next one on our list of MIT admits.
They have a non-binding, non-restrictive, early action option (EA), which we encourage applicants to apply for. The reason we encourage this, despite MIT not releasing EA acceptance rates, is because if they don't decide to accept you the first time, there is a chance you can get deferred, and your application can be evaluated again. It is like choosing to flip a coin twice rather than once so you can increase your chances of obtaining at least one heads.
MIT, like almost every elite college, is looking for students who have a singular passion that they have dedicated a lot of time and energy into honing over the years, and who have proven themselves able to academically and socially elevate the experiences of other students on campus. The former would be demonstrated by consistently conducting research in a single field and placing competitively in academic competitions. It would be indicated by taking the most rigorous classes you could, including classes at 4-year college, that are related to your interest.
The latter would be achieved through showcasing that you have made a concerted effort to make a tangible positive impact in your local community or high school. Such impact could include helping elderly business owners integrate contemporary technology into their business, or creating a club at your school which demonstrably and tangibly impacts the lives of a large number of students. Oh, and they love people who score highly on standardized tests, 1500+/35+.
Some things to note about the MIT admissions process: they prefer students who can create things with their hands. They are not friendly to those who strive to be pen-and-paper mathematicians and physicists alone. To be competitive for MIT, it is key that you showcase that you can build robots, apps, or tools with your hands. This preference is epitomized by the Maker Portfolio part of their application, where you get to nerd out about physical items that you engineered with precision and care.
Source:
https://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/what-we-look-for/#:~:text=%23%20Hands
Another aspect of the MIT admissions process is that they don't take into account legacy, and there is no statistical correlation between the amount spent on donations by parents and their child's acceptance rate. MIT admissions are the gold standard when it comes to meritocracy.
Sources:
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/production.tcf.org/app/uploads/2016/03/08201915/2010-09-15-chapter_5.pdf
https://mitadmissions.org/help/faq/legacy/#:~:text=MIT%20doesn%27t%20consider%20legacy%20or,blog%20Just%20to%20Be%20Clear
MIT also has a unique way of doing interviews. They are evaluative interviews where interviewees are encouraged to share a physical artifact, such as a robot they built or some tangible deliverable, to use as an icebreaker. The interviews are also very intellectual. They aren't technical interviews, but expect to talk about your academic passion at a very high and borderline philosophical level. Thus, preparation for them is highly recommended.
One more MIT admissions quirk is that they want a letter of recommendation from one STEM teacher and one humanities teacher. This does not mean that they value well-rounded students. Rather, they are assessing if you have a holistic understanding of STEM. As much as STEM students hate to admit it, STEM and the humanities are intertwined. Philosophy and history are deeply connected with scientific progress. MIT wants students who understand how history facilitates science and who have an appreciation of the philosophical dimensions of scientific progress and discoveries. That is why they are asking for a humanities teacher recommendation. So if you want to optimize your MIT application, make sure to nerd out to your junior year humanities teacher of choice about STEM, and study some Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn.
Their acceptance rate for the class of 2029 was 4.52%.
When MIT’s 2025-2026 essay prompts are revealed. We’ll give you in depth coverage of how to respond to them, and fill out the Maker Portfolio, so you can maximize your chances of getting into MIT. To see our recommendations for tackling their 2024-2025 supplemental essay, see our blog post: Acing MIT’s 2024-2025 Supplemental Essays.
We will also include a breakdown of their latest Common Data Set when it is released, so you understand the nitty-gritty of who gets into MIT.
So stay tuned!
If you want to learn how we can help you get into MIT, or any college for that matter, schedule a complimentary consultation with an admissions expert today.
Here is a list of MIT traditions you can cite in your essays and mention in your interview during an opportune time:
Pass/No Record for First-Years:
A distinctive MIT grading tradition is the Pass/No Record policy for first-semester freshmen. First-year students receive only “Pass” or “No Record” grades, easing their transition to MIT’s rigor. This decades-old policy (recently modified but still in spirit) remains a beloved academic custom that embodies MIT’s supportive approach to learning.
Intense “PSET” Culture:
The weekly problem set (“pset”) is an MIT ritual. Nearly every class assigns challenging psets due each week – students often tackle them in groups, late-night in labs or dorm lounges. It’s said an MIT education is like “drinking from a firehose,” and the tradition of collaborative all-nighters on tough psets is a defining part of the learning culture.
MIT Integration Bee:
An annual academic showdown, the Integration Bee is a live calculus contest held every January during the Independent Activities Period (IAP). It’s a yearly tradition (running for over 40 years now) where students compete to solve integrals fastest on stage, cheered on by classmates. The event, open to all MIT students, has become a beloved academic spectacle (crowning each year’s “Grand Integrator”).
Undergraduate Research Tradition:
MIT’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), while an official program, is also a tradition deeply ingrained in student life. Since 1969, UROP has encouraged undergrads to join labs and pursue research with faculty. Today the vast majority of students participate in UROPs, reflecting a cultural expectation that hands-on research is part of an MIT education. This tradition of learning-by-doing has been emulated by universities worldwide.
Pranks and Hacks:
“Hacking” Culture:
The practice of hacking – pulling off elaborate, clever pranks – is one of MIT’s most celebrated traditions. A letter to freshmen from the MIT Chancellor defines hacking as “the design and execution of harmless pranks, tricks, explorations, and creative inventions that demonstrate ingenuity and cleverness,” emphasizing that it’s a time-honored MIT tradition and form of community spirit. Hacks are executed anonymously and with careful respect for safety and property, following an informal “hacking code of conduct” handed down through generations. To this day, MIT’s hacker culture thrives, showcasing students’ engineering humor and creativity.
Great Dome Hacks:
The iconic Great Dome atop Building 10 has been the stage for many famous hacks – and new ones keep appearing, keeping the tradition alive. Over the years students have found the Dome “redecorated” as everything from a police cruiser to R2-D2. In April 2019, for example, hackers transformed the Dome into Captain America’s shield overnight (in honor of a movie premiere); it “wasn’t the first time and likely won’t be the last” such a feat occurs. These Dome hacks remain a high-profile hallmark of MIT prank culture, delighting the community and public with each surprise.
The “Smoot” Bridge:
One enduring prank-turned-tradition is the Smoot measurement of the Harvard Bridge. In 1958, MIT students measured the bridge’s length using the body of Oliver Smoot ’62 (a fraternity pledge) as the unit – 364.4 smoots long “plus or minus one ear.” The stunt gained legendary status, and “smoot” entered the dictionary as a unit of length. To this day, the bridge is still marked in smoots (repainted by students as needed), so crossing into Boston means walking an actual MIT tradition.
Legendary Hacks & Ongoing Rivalries:
MIT’s pranksters have a long history of ambitious hacks both on and off campus – a tradition that continues in spirit each year. Some classic examples frequently retold: in 1982, a weather balloon emblazoned with “MIT” suddenly inflated from the field during a Harvard–Yale football game; in 2006, MIT hackers “liberated” Caltech’s cannon, transporting the antique firearm 3,000 miles to Cambridge overnight. Such exploits, while not literally annual, form the lore that current students learn and build upon. The point is that each new class of MIT students tries to contribute their own creative hack – whether hanging a Firehose statue in Lobby 7 or playing Tetris on the Green Building – ensuring the prank tradition stays very much alive on campus.
Annual Events:
MIT Mystery Hunt:
Every January during IAP, MIT hosts the Mystery Hunt, one of the world’s largest and most complex puzzle competitions. This tradition began in 1981 and is “as strong as ever” today. Hundreds of students, alumni, and friends form teams to solve elaborate puzzles that span an entire weekend, all racing to find a hidden “coin.” The hunt’s longevity and difficulty have made it a signature MIT event – and the winning team earns the honor of creating the next year’s hunt, keeping the cycle going.
“Bad Ideas” Festival:
Bad Ideas Weekend is an annual tradition at the end of IAP where students celebrate creativity through intentionally absurd projects. Started by East Campus residents, it runs for a weekend in late January and features wacky student-run events and contraptions – from building giant trebuchets to “DIY roulette” games. Funded in part by MIT’s humor fund, Bad Ideasembraces MIT’s playful side. (In 2025, for example, it included 28 events such as a “Good Morning Rave” and a “Dig Your Own Grave” sandbox challenge.) The festival reflects a campus ethos of learning through play – with safety offices grudgingly along for the ride!
Charm School:
Each January, as IAP wraps up, MIT students can attend Charm School, a lighthearted multi-day event devoted to learning social graces and “basic manners” in a fun way. Founded in 1993 by Dean Travis Merritt, Charm School became an annual IAP tradition that “marks the end of IAP” with silly 15-minute classes on things like how to give a good handshake, dining etiquette, or “Flirting 101.” Students who complete enough mini-classes even earn tongue-in-cheek “degrees” in Charm. This playful tradition, involving faculty and alumni as instructors, continues to teach life skills with a dose of MIT humor.
Campus Preview Weekend (CPW):
Every April, MIT opens its doors to admitted students for CPW – and current students turn it into a campus-wide carnival of tradition. Over four days, MIT student clubs, dorms, and teams host hundreds of events (from liquid nitrogen ice cream parties to physics demos) to welcome “prefrosh.” It’s a showcase of MIT culture: for instance, in some years hackers illuminate the Green Building with interactive games (one CPW featured a playable **“2048” game on the skyscraper’s side at 4am). While CPW itself is for newcomers, the event is a yearly highlight for students, who pride themselves on passing down MIT lore and enthusiasm to the next generation.
Tech Twinkles:
As the fall semester winds down, students brighten up MIT with Tech Twinkles, a newer annual tradition. Launched in 2014 by students, Tech Twinkles is a holiday lights celebration each December – stringing colorful lights on campus trees and dorms to bring cheer during the dark exam season. Hundreds turn out at the Student Center for the tree-lighting ceremony with hot cider, a cappella performances, and festive spirit. The event has grown each year (with support from the UA and Student Life) and has quickly become a cherished yearly fixture for MIT students to relax and celebrate together before finals.
SpringFest Concert:
Each spring, the Undergraduate Association Events Committee and Student Events Board throw SpringFest, a campus-wide festival often featuring a big-name musical act. It typically includes a daytime carnival and an outdoor evening concert on Killian Court. In recent years SpringFest has become a “cherished tradition” for students to look forward to a fun break before final exams. Past SpringFest headliners have ranged from rock bands to hip-hop artists – bringing the whole student body together for a memorable night each year. (FallFest, a similar autumn event, is also hosted annually by the UA.)
Social Traditions:
The “Brass Rat” (MIT Class Ring):
One of MIT’s hallmark student traditions is the design and donning of the Brass Rat. Each undergraduate class designs its own unique class ring (formally the “Standard Technology Ring”) during sophomore year – a process kept secret until a grand Ring Premiere event in the spring. The gold ring prominently features MIT’s mascot beaver (hence “Brass Rat”) along with symbols and jokes meaningful to that class. Receiving the Brass Rat is a rite of passage: MIT students wear them proudly (often with the “beaver” facing them until graduation, then flipped outward as alumni). The tradition dates back to 1929 and is so ingrained that MIT alumni worldwide instantly recognize each other by their Brass Rats.
Baker House Piano Drop:
Perhaps the most eccentric social ritual on campus, the Piano Drop at Baker House has survived for nearly half a century. In this tradition – started in the 1970s and continued annually – residents of Baker House dorm mark the last day to drop classes (“Drop Day”) by dropping a defunct upright piano off the dorm roof. Crowds gather below as the piano plummets six stories and smashes spectacularly. It’s all in good fun (the piano is donated and already beyond repair), and MIT Facilities helps clean up. The Piano Drop, still held most years, exemplifies MIT students’ flair for celebrating academic milestones with a bangnews.mit.edu. (As students like to joke: better the piano gets “dropped” than their GPA!)
Pumpkin Drop:
Halloween at MIT brings another gravity-powered tradition: the Pumpkin Drop. Every October – often coinciding with fall Drop Day – students from East Campus 1st West haul dozens of pumpkins to the roof of MIT’s tallest building (the 21-story Green Building) and hurl them off one by one. Spectators below watch gourds explode on the plaza as students combine spooky-season fun with stress relief. In recent years, over 100 pumpkins have been sacrificed to the sidewalk in a single night. The Pumpkin Drop is messy, bizarre, and utterly MIT – a communal “smashing” tradition now decades old (and captured on video by generations of amused students).
Dorm Culture and Festivals:
MIT’s residence halls each boast their own proud traditions, which remain alive and well:
East Campus Builds:
East Campus dorm is famous for constructing elaborate projects during REX (Residence Exploration) week each fall. “Each year, the students of East Campus create a massive structure in their courtyard” – past builds include a working two-story roller coaster, multi-story wooden forts, and other wild DIY amusements to welcome first-years. This entirely student-run building spree has been a tradition since 2004 and is a defining bonding experience for East Campus residents.
Burton Third’s “Dance Till You Drop”:
The 3rd floor of Burton-Conner (a hall nicknamed the Bombers) hosts an infamous annual party called Dance Till You Drop (DTYD). In earlier times it was literally “Drink Till You Drop” until MIT alcohol policies changed the name in 1997web.mit.edu. Every spring, the Bombers transform their hall into a themed party and invite the whole campus to dance all night. Advertising pranks for DTYD have become legend (one year students planted a fake cartoon “bomb” on campus to hype the event, unintentionally prompting the bomb squad). Despite occasional mishaps, the DTYD party itself continues each year as one of MIT’s longest-running dorm parties, showcasing the fun, absurd side of student social life.
Living Group Festivals:
Across MIT, other living groups maintain traditions: from chocolate chip pancake night in Random Hall, to the McCormick Hall Milk and Cookies study breaks, to fraternity/sorority hosted events like Alpha Delt’s Pumpkin Carving Study Break. These smaller rituals – often weekly or annual – knit together each community and are passed down class after class. Whether it’s a “Tooling” session (study gathering) or a Friday social in a common room, the continuation of these micro-traditions keeps MIT’s student life rich and spirited.
Tim the Beaver & School Spirit Concert:
MIT’s mascot, Tim the Beaver, has been part of the Institute since 1914 and features in many student gatherings. While not a ritual per se, Tim appears at Orientation, athletic events, and pep rallies, serving as a furry embodiment of MIT spirit. Students also show school pride through events like the Brass Rat shank dance at ring delivery or spontaneous chants of the MIT Cheer (“Beaver! Beaver!” with humorous lyrics). These lighthearted social traditions remind students that despite the workload, MIT is “An Institute of Fun and Partying” (as the tongue-in-cheek backronym of IHTFP goes). The balance of hard work and quirky play is itself a cherished tradition at MIT, handed down over the years.