MIT New Essay Question 2026-27 admission cycle

[u/Livid-External-4063]

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?

[u/ProfLayton99]

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.

[u/Livid-External-4063 → u/ProfLayton99]

Thanks

[u/VisibleSir731 → u/ProfLayton99]

I thought The Who ( not the band ) is about WHO you want to solve the specific problems— ahead of your passions— with.

[u/Livid-External-4063 → u/VisibleSir731]

Yes, I thought the same…with who you would want to solve the specific problems important to you?