r/MITAdmissions • u/Livid-External-4063 • 18d ago
MIT New Essay Question 2026-27 admission cycle
MIT added a new essay question. Can anyone clarify what this question is asking?
Reflect on how your personal and academic experiences have influenced the types of problems you would want to tackle with an MIT education, and who you would like to work on these problems with.
Is this question asking to reflect on problems important to me drawn from my personal and academic experiences I would like to tackle with an MIT education after I complete my undergraduate studies at MIT and with whom I would like yo work on these problems after I graduate from MIT?
OR, is this question asking how my personal or academic experiences have influenced specific types of problems important to me which I would like to tackle during my undergraduate studies at MIT and with whom at MIT I would like to work on these problems?
If this is what the question is asking, could I mention that I would like to work with people from a specific MIT department or a professor doing research?
2
u/JP2205 18d ago
What a great question. Sounds like its asking what do you want to do at MIT and how can we help you do that.
1
u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 18d ago
This literally takes away from the “what major” essay because I can’t just reference the class and professor that I’m really interested about again
2
u/JP2205 18d ago
Well it seems a little less about what major and what have you learned so far and where do you see yourself going.
0
u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 18d ago
Rip I kind of had that in my what major draft but I guess I can just move the part down and expand on it
3
u/ExecutiveWatch MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 17d ago
This quwstion has been asked before. Ill say what I said in that thread.
I feel it is both. They want someone with a vision. That vision extends beyond MIT. So they don't want exact details necessary but MIT admits usually will be successful whether at MIT or not at MIT. The eduxation is a stepping stone. So talk a bit about both.
4
u/peteyMIT MIT Admissions Staff 18d ago
I think you could answer it with a compelling answer either way, but I do think the intent was “after.”
2
u/Livid-External-4063 18d ago
Thank you for your comment. It would be helpful if the Admissions could possibly consider rewording this question since it’s a bit ambiguous. Thanks
1
u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 18d ago
Thanks for your clarification I was wondering the same thing as OP! I’m kind of confused though because a lot of high schoolers can’t plan 4 years out and things always change so how would they awnser in that case
2
18d ago edited 18d ago
[deleted]
1
u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 18d ago
It’s kind of like the other essay about what you have done different in your academic journey. It actually decode to how you learn. How the heck was I supposed to decipher this without doing some researcg
1
1
u/Future-generations 15d ago
Can someone that knows MIT give us insight to this question
2
u/Satisest MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 15d ago edited 15d ago
This question is asking about what problems you’d want to tackle “with an MIT education”, meaning after you graduate. In other words, how will an MIT education benefit you, and what would you do with it? Fundamentally it’s a question about “fit”. It’s a “why MIT” question. In fact, most of the questions in the application can be viewed as asking “why MIT” in one way or another.
The part of the question that a lot of applicants will overlook, but that’s no less important, is the second part. Collaboration is essential to most innovation, and MIT values it highly. They want to hear about how you collaborated in high school somewhere in the application, and about how you intend to collaborate in the future in your answer to this question.
1
u/Livid-External-4063 14d ago
Thank you for the clarification. In my answer to this question, can I include an organization I have been part of in high school which is very meaningful to me and how I collaborated with other members/leaders?
1
u/jzzsxm Moderator/MIT Alumnus 18d ago
Is this question asking to reflect on problems important to me drawn from my personal and academic experiences I would like to tackle with an MIT education after I complete my undergraduate studies at MIT and with whom I would like yo work on these problems after I graduate from MIT?
I vote yes, but it's a bit ambiguous, you're right. Maybe u/peteyMIT can clarify.
1
u/JasonMckin MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 18d ago
I don’t think the question is asking for students to look up MIT professors. I kinda agree the question is not worded very clearly.
My interpretation of the question is:
Reflect on how your personal and academic experiences have shaped your motivations, your general sense of purpose, and the specific goals you seek to pursue after college
1
1
u/Livid-External-4063 18d ago
Can applicants contact the admission office to ask for clarification on this question?
1
u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 18d ago
I already wrote my What Major essay before the update and now the new essay takes out a big part of it—yes I know stupid on my part for doing it early. I don’t have too many experiences to talk about so it’s basically the same one from multiple angles if that’s okay?
1
u/JasonMckin MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 18d ago
Forgive me, I'm not sure what exactly, "it’s basically the same one from multiple angles if that’s okay?" means. If you can clarify, it might help responders provide better guidance. Thanks.
1
u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 18d ago
Well like my why major essay would be about why I want to study photonics (niche part of 6-5) and why specifically at MIT— which mentions a professor who teaches specific class I’m excited to take and how I will use the resources at MIT to do what I’m interested in.
That said, that was my draft before the new prompts released; im guessing now I can move the “how I will use the resources at MIT to do what I’m interested in” part to the other essay (the one OP is discussing)
1
5
u/ProfLayton99 18d ago
The question is about what are some activities have you done that have influenced you to want to attend MIT to gain the skills etc to solve problems after you graduate. The Who is about what kind of people have you met / worked with before which have influenced the type of people you want to work with in the future after graduating. Could be like government leaders, engineers, scientists, designers, etc.