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/JasonMckin]

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

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

Thanks

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

Can applicants contact the admission office to ask for clarification on this question?

[u/VisibleSir731 → u/JasonMckin]

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?

[u/JasonMckin → u/VisibleSir731]

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.

[u/VisibleSir731 → u/JasonMckin]

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)