🍦 What does MIT want? (Nov 7)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Scoops Special: Free upcoming webinar from admissions experts

2. Upcoming Visits Refresh

3. Daily Deep Dive: MIT

4. TikTok Thursday: top #collegeadmissions videos we found last week

FUN FACT OF THE DAY
Did you know…

🇺🇸 Presidential Princeton: Princeton’s Nassau Hall, home to the Office of the President and other senior administrators, served as the nation’s capital for four months and eight days in 1783, when it played host to meetings of the Continental Congress. Read more about the historic Nassau Hall.

INFO ZONE
It’s Thursday so we got some upcoming sessions

Here’s some upcoming school virtual information sessions. These are great opportunities to learn more about school’s programs to determine if the school is a right fit for you. It’s also great to learn more about the school’s vibe and possibly what admissions officers are looking for. All the times listed are below are already converted into Pacific.

(NEW) Yale Virtual STEM Student Forum - Monday, November 11, 2024 at 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM

CMU Remote Information Session - Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM

Northwestern Online Admissions Information Session - Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM

UC Berkeley Admissions Presentation - Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM

(NEW) Harvey Mudd Virtual Discovery Day (MVDD) - Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 5:35 PM

DAILY DEEP DIVE
MIT

MIT’s Vibe: What are they looking for?

Every school’s admissions team has a school vibe they are trying to create. While not every student perfectly fits into that profile, it’s important to show sides of yourself that align with that vibe in your application.

MIT’s admissions team values students who are intellectually curious, resourceful, and ready to tackle complex challenges. They’re looking for students who not only love learning but also have the initiative to apply that knowledge in innovative, real-world ways. MIT appreciates applicants who enjoy collaborative problem-solving and are excited to contribute to a diverse community. To resonate with MIT’s values, highlight your love for exploration, your resilience in facing unexpected challenges, and your enthusiasm for learning through hands-on experiences.

The essays and how to best answer them

Now, with the vibe in mind, let’s dive into how to best answer the prompts that MIT asks.

Field of Study (100 words)

Prompt: What field of study appeals to you the most right now? Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.

With only 100 words, this prompt asks for a concise but meaningful insight into your academic passion. Be specific about what excites you about your chosen field and why MIT is the ideal place for you to explore it. Focus on unique opportunities at MIT, like labs, research centers, or specific professors whose work aligns with your goals. Show how MIT’s resources will help you pursue your interests and what you hope to accomplish through this path.

Something Just for Fun (150 words)

Prompt: We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

MIT wants to see what brings you joy beyond academics or obligations. This prompt is an opportunity to showcase your personality and creativity—whether it’s a hobby, a side project, or a quirky interest. Be genuine and try to let your unique perspective or passion shine through. MIT values curiosity, so if your activity reflects an unusual or innovative way of thinking, feel free to highlight that. Show MIT a part of your life that you pursue purely out of love or joy.

Blazing Your Own Trail (225 words)

Prompt: While some reach their goals following well-trodden paths, others blaze their own trails achieving the unexpected. In what ways have you done something different than what was expected in your educational journey?

MIT values students who are unafraid to think outside the box and find creative solutions to problems. For this prompt, share a moment when you went beyond what was expected of you or took an unconventional approach to learning. This could be a project you initiated, a subject you explored independently, or a challenge you tackled in a unique way. Show how your approach reflects your curiosity, independence, and determination. Emphasize any impact your efforts had and what you learned from blazing your own path.

Collaboration (200 words)

Prompt: MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds together to collaborate, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to lending a helping hand. Describe one way you have collaborated with others to learn from them, with them, or contribute to your community together.

This prompt emphasizes MIT’s value of teamwork and community impact. Choose a collaboration that genuinely mattered to you, one where you learned from others and contributed your own skills or ideas. Whether it’s a group project, a volunteer experience, or a shared initiative, focus on how the collaboration enriched your perspective and what it taught you about working with others. MIT wants to see that you thrive in collaborative environments and are ready to engage with its diverse community.

Managing the Unexpected (225 words)

Prompt: How did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn’t expect? What did you learn from it?

MIT values resilience and adaptability, so use this prompt to show how you handle unexpected challenges. Describe a specific incident where things didn’t go as planned, how you navigated the situation, and what you learned from it. Emphasize your problem-solving skills, flexibility, and ability to grow from setbacks. This could be an academic, personal, or extracurricular challenge—MIT is looking for applicants who aren’t deterred by obstacles but instead find creative solutions and move forward with purpose.

LINK LOUNGE
ICYMI: new resources we dropped yesterday

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

(NEW) Burger King Scholars Program - $1,000 to $60,000 awards, due December 16

(NEW) California Community Colleges Dual Enrollment Program - take college-credit courses as a high schooler, for free

Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship - $5,000 to $25,000 awards towards college

InspiritAI - Artificial Intelligence Program for High School Students

TIKTOK THURSDAY
Our fav #collegeadmissions TikToks from last week

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Take a break, you deserve it!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

UDub Deadline: November 15
UC Deadline: December 2

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

Is there a question you’ve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!