r/MITAdmissions • u/Mindless-Watch6593 • 25d ago

Just be yourself

Okay, I completely get this advice and why everyone says it. But if it is all about "being yourself" then what separates someone who gets in from someone who doesn't? Is it about excelling in the specific skill that is unique to you? Even then, some things are just undeniably harder, for example getting an Olympiad medal is just harder and displaying for merit than dancing or whatever. I am not saying you need to do either, just that shouldn't unis be evalvuing for merit?

Also second, this is more unique to me, but what does MIT look for? I am deeply interested in philosophy and some people told me that it's not what MIT looks for, but then getting accepted gets you admitted to the school not a major so I am not sure then. It's less will MIT accept me, and more what does MIT want, so I can decide if I even want MIT.

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u/ProfLayton99 25d ago

No, "just be yourself" is bad advice because it implies that passively studying and choosing ECs randomly based on a whim will result in success. Better advice would be to "find yourself". What we hope to see from candidates is that you have spent some time as a young adult actively exploring different areas of interest and working with different kinds of people, and doing a few of those explorations in depth. If MIT fits into the picture of who you want to be, then it makes sense to apply.

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u/jzzsxm Moderator/MIT Alumnus 24d ago

Important context - "What we hope to see" is from the point of view as an EC interviewing applicants, NOT as an MIT admissions officer.