MIT is the number one university that uses the early action admission process. MIT has a very difficult and selective undergraduate and graduate application process including their early action program which requires you to fill out an additional form of admission. The early action program at MIT is required for all international students, but if you are a US citizen or permanent resident you have the option to submit your application under early action.

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princeton early action acceptance rate

We love data at MIT. Reliable data, properly contextualized, can help people understand complex systems and make informed decisions. So, a few years ago, we began publishing our own admissions statistics which went beyond the stats already contributed to the MIT’s standard Common Data Set.

Holistic admissions
It is important to understand that these numbers do not determine our admissions process, but are the result of our process. In our holistic admissions process, we consider quantifications like test scores, but we also care deeply about factors like your match with MIT. Qualitative characteristics like these are much harder to quantify and are therefore not included in the tables below despite their centrality to our process.

The most important thing to remember is that at MIT we admit people, not numbers. With that in mind, here are some numbers about the people we admit.

Admissions statistics for the Class of 2024

Mit Early Action Acceptance Rate

General
First-year applications 20,075
First-year admits 1,457
Percentage admitted 7.3%
Early Action
Early Action applicants 9,293
Early Action admits 687
Deferred to Regular Action 6,936
Deferred applicants admitted
during Regular Action 238
Regular Action
Regular Action applicants 10,782
Total considered during Regular Action (including deferred students) 17,718
Regular Action admits
(including deferred students) 770
Offered a place on the wait list 621
Wait list
Applicants offered a place on the wait list 621
Number admitted from the wait list 0
U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Applied 15,926
Admitted 1,315
International students
Applied 4,149
Admitted 142
Middle 50% score range of admitted students (25th and 75th percentiles)
TEST RANGE
SAT Math [790, 800]
SAT ERW [730, 780]
ACT Math [35, 36]
ACT Reading [34, 36]
ACT English [35, 36]
ACT Science [34, 36]
ACT Composite [35, 36]
Distribution of SAT scores (Math)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
750-800 11,342 1,081 10%
700-740 1,613 23 1%
650-690 758 0 0%
600-640 312 0 0%
<600 254 0 0%
Distribution of SAT scores (ERW)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
750-800 6,557 736 11%
700-740 4,200 276 7%
650-690 2,099 73 3%
600-640 869 12 1%
<600 554 7 1%
Distribution of ACT scores (Composite)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
34-36 5,597 537 10%
31-33 1,428 54 4%
28-30 467 5 1%
25-27 236 1 0%
<25 164 0 0%
Distribution of ACT scores (Math)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
34-36 5,551 538 10%
31-33 1,293 55 4%
28-30 630 3 0%
25-27 304 1 0%
<25 114 0 0%
Distribution of ACT scores (Reading)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
34-36 5,655 516 9%
31-33 1,342 62 5%
28-30 375 13 3%
25-27 217 3 1%
<25 303 3 1%
Distribution of ACT scores (English)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
34-36 6,042 535 9%
31-33 868 40 5%
28-30 433 15 3%
25-27 265 5 2%
<25 284 2 1%
Distribution of ACT scores (Science)
SCORE APPLICANTS ADMITS ADMIT RATE
34-36 5,456 495 9%
31-33 1,475 83 6%
28-30 441 17 4%
25-27 309 2 1%
<25 211 0 0%

mit early action acceptance rate vs regular

In 2019/2020, MIT admitted only 7.3% of students who applied to the school. With such a low admissions rate, it may seem like getting accepted is close to impossible, but we’re here to help!

In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know to complete the MIT application, including when every important MIT application deadline is, what exactly you need to submit with your application, what admissions officers are really looking for when they review your application, and how you can make each part of your MIT application stand out from the pack.

Key Info for the MIT Application
You should know all the important information about the MIT application well before you plan on applying to make sure you gather all your materials and meet all the deadlines.

Where to find the MIT application: You can find the MIT application here. The application opens in August of each year.
How to submit the MIT application: When you’ve completed the MIT application, you can submit it by hitting the “Submit” button at the end of the application. SAT and/or ACT scores, as well as your official transcript, must be sent directly to MIT.
When to submit the MIT application: It’s very important to know the MIT application deadline. MIT offers both early action and regular action application submissions. Below is a chart of the key deadlines for each option. It’s important to know every deadline since missing just one could mean your application won’t be looked at.

Early Action
Deadline
What’s Due
November 1
Application parts 1 and 2
Two letters of recommendation
Secondary school report
November testing date Standardized Test Scores
February 15 February Updates & Notes Form
February 15 Financial Aid Materials (optional)

Regular Action
Deadline
What’s Due
January 1
Application parts 1 and 2
Two letters of recommendation
Secondary school report
December testing date Standardized Test Scores
February 15 February Updates & Notes Form
February 15 Financial Aid Materials (optional)

If you’re applying early action, you’ll need to have both parts of the application completed, and your transcript and letters of recommendation sent, by November 1st. You can still take the November SAT, however. You’ll receive your admission decision in mid-December.

For students applying regular action, you’ll need to have all parts of the application completed/sent by January 1st, and you can take your standardized tests no later than December. You’ll receive your admission decision by April 1.

Should You Apply Early Action or Regular Action?
There are two options for applying to MIT, early action and regular action. Is one better than the other? If you apply early action, you do have a slightly better chance of getting accepted. According to MIT’s admission statistics, if you apply early action, you do have a slightly better chance of getting accepted than if you apply regular action.

However, MIT specifically states this about its early action cycle: “We do not have a preference, and there is no strategic benefit to be had. We have two cycles for two reasons: 1) it helps us spread our work out over a longer period, devoting more time to each application and 2) it provides applicants with more options so they can choose which works best for them.”

Additionally, the majority (about 66%) of students who apply early action end up getting deferred and considered in the regular action applicant pool. So an early decision is by no means guaranteed if you apply early action.

Bottom line? Apply early action if you can get all the materials in before the deadline, but don’t stress too much about it if you can’t since it likely won’t impact your chance of getting admitted.

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How to Apply to MIT

There are six main steps you need to follow to submit your MIT application. Below are the steps, numbered in the rough order you should complete them in.

Step 1: Create a MyMIT Account and Start Your Application
The first step to applying to MIT is simple; you just need to create a MyMIT account. Creating an account only takes a few minutes, and once you do this you’ll be able to complete an application, track the pieces of the application you’ve submitted, join the MIT mailing list, and get your interviewer’s name and contact information.

To create an account you’ll have to fill out some basic demographic information such as your birth date, high school name, and home address.

Step 2: Complete Parts 1 and 2 of the Application
This is the bulk of the MIT application. Part 1 focuses on biographical information, and Part 2 focuses on your essays, activities, and test scores.

Part 1 is the shorter section and should only take you about 30 minutes to complete. You’ll fill out information about whether you’re applying early action or regular action, what your parents’ jobs and highest level of education are, if you have siblings and where they attend college (if applicable), and all the high schools you attended, among other information. After you submit Part 1, you’ll pay the $75 MIT application fee.

Part 2 is more in depth. You’ll enter information about all the extracurriculars and jobs you’ve participated in, advanced classes you’ve taken, awards you’ve won, and your exam scores (although you’ll still have to send official copies of these scores). You’ll also self-report all the classes you’ve taken and the grades you got in them although, again, you’ll still need to submit your official transcript. This is also the section where you enter the information about the two teachers who are writing evaluations for you (see Step 5 for more info) and submit any supplemental materials (see Step 6 for more info).

Finally, you’ll complete the MIT’s personal statements. Unlike many other schools, MIT doesn’t require one long essay; instead, you’ll answer five short prompts. Here are the essay prompts, along with the word count requirement:

Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (200-250 words)
Pick what field of study at MIT appeals to you the most right now, and tell us more about why this field of study appeals to you.
We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do for the pleasure of it. (200-250 words)
At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words)
Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (200-250 words)
After you’ve finished each of these sections and reviewed them, you can submit them. Part 1 must be submitted before Part 2.

Step 3: Submit Your Secondary School Report and Standardized Test Scores
You’ll need to send your official high school transcript to MIT. MIT also requires one test score. You must take either the SAT or ACT (the writing section/essay isn’t required for either exam).

Note: For the 2020-2021 application year, SAT and ACT score submissions is optional for MIT. Learn more with this article on schools going test-optional in the time of COVID-19.

Step 4: Ask Two Teachers to Fill Out Your Evaluations
You’ll need two letters of recommendation for MIT, one from a math/science teacher and one from a humanities/language teacher. On your MyMIT Dashboard, you’ll fill out each of your recommender’s names and email addresses so the form can be sent to them. Your recommendations are due the same day as the rest of your application.

Step 5: Set Up and Complete an Interview
Interviews are not technically required, but MIT highly recommends them and admits very few applicants who didn’t interview, so you’ll want to do one if it’s at all possible. Once you complete Parts 1 and 2 of the application, you’ll be contacted by an Educational Counselor (EC), who will be the person doing your interview. The EC is an alum of MIT who conducts interviews, and there are over 5,000 of them around the world.

You and your EC will set up an interview at a place near you. Most early action interviews take place in November, and most regular action interviews take place in January. In non-COVID times, the interview typically lasts an hour and often take place in a location such as a coffee shop, restaurant, or library. Some may also take place over Skype or otherwise virtually. MIT recommends thinking about questions you might be asked before the interview, and here are 14 of the most common college interview questions.

Step 6: (Optional) Submit Supplementary Materials
You also have the option to submit supplementary materials, this is a completely optional step and is typically done by students with a fine arts or music portfolio, those with research experience, and/or those who hope to play a varsity sport for MIT. There are five different kinds of supplemental materials you can send.

You can find more information about each of these options on your MyMIT Dashboard. If you choose to complete any of these materials, you’ll submit them separate from the rest of your application.

Here are the options for supplementary materials:

Maker Portfolio
Music & Theater Arts Portfolio
Research Portfolio
Supplemental Recommendations
Varsity Sports Interest

Step 7: Submit Your February Updates and Notes Form
If you applied Early Action and were accepted or applied Regular Action (you won’t have your admission decision yet), you’ll also need to submit your February Updates and Notes form by February 15th. You’ll be emailed information about this form which will mostly consist of letting MIT know what your fall semester grades were and what classes you’re taking for your spring semester.

MIT Application Checklist
Below is everything you need to submit with your MIT application. You can use this application checklist to stay organized and make sure you’ve submitted all the required materials.

Parts 1 and 2 of the MIT Application
Evaluation A: Letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher
Evaluation B: Letter of recommendation from a humanities, social science, or language teacher
Scheduled Interview
SAT or ACT scores
February Updates & Notes Form (due in February)
$75 MIT application fee

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How to Do Well on Key Sections of the MIT Application
How can you have a stellar MIT application? Because MIT is so competitive, your application will need to be strong in all the key areas MIT evaluates. MIT is looking primarily for academic excellence, leadership experience, passion for learning and your future major, and sociability. There are numerous ways you can show you have these qualities on your MIT application.

In this section we go over the five most essential parts of your application and explain exactly what you need in order to stand out and show MIT you have what it takes to succeed there.

1: High School Transcript

Your high school transcript is often the single most important piece of your application, so you want it to shine. Your goal here is to show admissions officers that you took difficult classes and got top grades in them, particularly the math and science classes.

MIT has rigorous classes, and they’re looking for applicants who have already challenged themselves by taking advanced classes in high school. If your school offers honors, AP, and/or IB classes, you should aim to take at least some of these advanced classes, especially those in the field you plan to major in. If your school doesn’t offer these classes MIT also has suggestions for alternative ways to challenge yourself.

MIT has no requirements for classes you had to have taken in high school but it recommends the following:

One year of physics
One year of chemistry
One year of biology
Math, through calculus
Two years of a foreign language
Four years of English
Two years of history and/or social sciences
Remember, this is the minimum MIT recommends; you’ll likely have to go above and beyond in some areas to be a competitive applicant. Most applicants will have taken at least four years each of math and science, including multiple advanced classes.

Your GPA is also a crucial part of your MIT application since taking difficult classes but doing poorly in them doesn’t show that you’re prepared for the rigor of MIT. The average weighted GPA of MIT admitted students is about 4.16, which means you should aim to get as many A’s as possible in your classes.

2: Standardized Test Scores

MIT doesn’t have a minimum score requirement for the SAT/ACT, but because admission is so competitive, you should aim for a high standardized test score. Your goal should be to reach the 75th percentile score for admitted MIT students. Meeting this score for either the SAT or ACT means you will have scored higher than 75% of other admitted students, which puts you in a strong position during the admissions process.

For the SAT, a 75th percentile score is an 800 in Math and a 780 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. For the ACT, it’s a composite score of 36. You can get scores lower than this and still get accepted to MIT, but these are good goal scores to try to aim for. Note that, for either exam, you need a pretty much perfect score to get the 75th percentile.

3: Letters of Recommendation

You’ll need two letters of recommendation for MIT, and they should both come from teachers who know you well and can write convincingly about your strengths. A strong letter of rec will include specific examples of your academic abilities and personal skills; it will also explain why you’re an excellent applicant for MIT.

Speak to the people you’d like to write your letters fairly early, ideally at the end of your junior year or beginning of your senior year. Check out our guide on letters of rec for more information on who to ask to write your letter of recommendation and a step-by-step guide on how to ask.

4: MIT Essays

For MIT, you’ll need to write five short essays, each less than 250 words. MIT requires multiple short essays to get a more complete view of who you are, so make sure you show your personality and what you care about.

There are three main goals for your MIT essays:

Show who you are
Show what’s important to you
Show why MIT is the best school for you
For tips and strategies on how to answer every one of the MIT essay prompts, check out our in-depth guide to answering the MIT essays.

5: Extracurriculars

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. Learn more about the types of extracurriculars you’ll need to get into top-tier schools.

It’s also important to note that you should choose your extracurriculars based on what you’re interested in and passionate about, not what you think will impress MIT. On their website, MIT specifically counsels against this, as they’d rather have students doing what they love than those spending their time on things they don’t care about just to try and look impressive.

Recap: MIT Application
Because MIT only accepts 7% of applicants, your application needs to stand out if you want a chance of getting in. Before you do anything else, make sure you know that MIT application deadlines. They differ depending on whether you’re applying Early Action or Regular Action.

Give yourself enough time to complete all parts of the application, which will include entering in all your grades and classes, completing five MIT essay prompts, and entering in your test scores. Don’t forget to send in additional materials such as your transcript, official test scores, and letters of recommendation. MIT also highly recommends doing an interview.

To give yourself the best chance of getting admitted, you want your MIT application to b strong across the board. The five most important parts of your application are your: transcript, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, essays, and extracurriculars.

What’s Next?
Want to see what an MIT acceptance letter look like? Take a look at an actual MIT acceptance letter and learn tips for getting in.

Essays are an important part of the MIT application. Learn how to write stellar MIT essays by checking out our guide to the four tips you need to know when writing MIT essays.

Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they’re so impressive to colleges.