mit admission requirements

There are no minimum scores required for admission.

• Standardized tests are an optional component of the academic credentials we review for admission. There are no minimum scores required for admission.
• Your official test score reports must be received by June 1 for Early Action applicants, and December 15 for Regular Action applicants. MIT will not accept any updated test scores after these deadlines.
• Because each application is reviewed holistically, a high test score does not guarantee admission; similarly, a low test score does not automatically disqualify you from being admitted to MIT. These scores provide us with just one piece of information about you as part of our comprehensive review process. If you have taken any standardized tests more than once, please report all your test results to MIT and we will consider the highest of each section across all tests taken.

Subject tests are not required, but they can be used to satisfy the course requirements below.

Subject tests are not required, but they can be used to satisfy the course requirements below.

Admission rates for the Class of 2021 were lower than any previous year, with only 7.4 percent of applicants being admitted to MIT overall and 4 percent for Early Action applicants.

You must have completed Calculus and at least one additional upper-level math course.

According to the MIT Admissions Office, “We are looking for a student who has demonstrated a commitment to learning and improving in mathematics. This commitment can be shown through completion of at least four years of mathematics courses beyond algebra/trigonometry and through completion of as many high level mathematics courses as possible. Courses taken outside of your school’s regular curriculum can also demonstrate this commitment.” Meaning that calculus is required, but it must be accompanied by additional math coursework.

Math courses at the level of MIT’s 18.01 (single-variable calculus) and 18.02 (multivariable calculus) are required; Math 18.03 (differential equations) is recommended (though not required). Additional math coursework not only provides students with necessary training in preparation for more advanced work in mathematics at the college level, but it demonstrates intellectual curiosity, an important criterion in the application process.

You must have completed a year of chemistry, with lab work completed as part of the course requirement.

In addition to the requirements listed above, we also recommend that you complete two years of chemistry.

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Chemistry (1 year required, 2 years recommended)

You must have completed a year of chemistry with lab work completed as part of the course requirement; we particularly recommend biochemistry. Please note that AP/IB chemistry without lab work does not fulfill this requirement. If you are unable to take chemistry at your school, consider taking an online course through your local community college or online provider.

You must have completed a year of physics.

A single year of high school physics, taken with a lab component in an academic setting, is required. Home-schooled students and those who have attended schools that do not offer physics must complete a full year of college preparatory physics with lab at an accredited institution.

Any student applying to MIT will be expected to have completed a year of high school physics prior to beginning their undergraduate studies, but there are several courses offered at MIT that can fulfill this requirement if you haven’t done so already. If you find yourself lacking the proper background or feel that you would benefit from additional instruction prior to enrolling in 8.01L (Physics I: Classical Mechanics), 8.02L (Electricity and Magnetism) or 8.011 (Introduction to Quantum Physics), you may wish to consider taking one of the following classes during your first semester on campus:

• Physics HASS-S

You must have completed two years of history and social sciences.

Ideally, you’ll have a solid grasp of the world around you. The college wants to know that you’ve done your best to explore a breadth of courses and activities during your high school experience. Note that two years of history/social science are required, but three or more are preferred. You should also have completed at least two years of a foreign language, although three or more is preferred.

Two years of foreign language is required; three or more years is preferred.

Language is an important part of MIT’s academic program. The Institute offers courses in over 20 languages, so you will have many opportunities to learn during your four years at the Institute. At MIT, we believe that learning a language other than English enhances understanding of oneself and one’s own culture as well as offering access to other cultures.

• We define a year of language study as having completed two full semesters or three full quarters of coursework in the same language (not including summer school).
• Do not be discouraged if you do not meet this requirement. If you have not completed a third year of foreign language by the time you leave high school, but think that you are prepared for college-level work, we suggest that you take advantage of postsecondary options such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations or local college classes during your senior year to gain preparation for college-level work.

If you have more than three years of language study in high school and would like to continue studying at MIT, please note this on your application for admission so that we can register you for the appropriate level class at orientation.*

MIT Admission Requirements

MIT has a holistic admissions process and does not set minimum scores for standardized tests, grade point averages, or class ranks. MIT considers the SAT Subject Tests in mathematics (Level 1 or 2), chemistry, and physics if they were taken by the applicant.

Some of our most competitive applicants are international students who demonstrate mastery of advanced math courses, like calculus and linear algebra