Crucial BBQ

For undergrad I will definitely agree with this across the board. WIth larger grad. programs, in particular those that admit numerous students into their Masters programs, perhaps.

If I am wrong than why does MITs own graduate website clearly state that there is no minimum GPA or GRE score? And why does it say also say so on the handful of Dept. webpages I just looked up (although some state that admissions are competitive, hinting that high GRE scores might be to the applicants advantage)? I have spent almost five years now researching the MIT application process through information found on their own website, through their own admissions blogs, through books and websites written by graduates, etc. Everything indicates, if not flat-out saying, that MIT does not want perfect students, that their whole educational model is based off stumbling, picking yourself up, and moving forward, and that they want to train you to think like engineers/scientists/etc. As I am sure you know, a strong SOP and solid research experience can trump GPA and/or GRE score. I was only trying to give the OP hope, not mislead. But as I wrote, my information is based on actually looking into it over the span of some years. I chickened out on applying to MIT as a freshman because at the time I believed I absolutely did not have a shot (because, among other things, I didn't build a robot when I was 12 or win a national science/academic competition in high school). I wanted to apply as a transfer student (after which I had built not one, but two, robots that competed in competitions; beating out MIT both times), but didn't because I contacted admissions and they straight-up told me, based on my college record and experience up to that point in time, I should wait and apply to grad. school [at MIT]. When I took the GRE, and got slightly lower scores than the OP, I sent an email to the MIT Office of Graduate Admissions as well as a few potential advisors, and was told that everything was fine and to go ahead and apply. If I am wrong than I am either completely gullible or someone (including MIT) is lying.

I am applying to schools based solely on two criteria: does the program have my particular area of interest, and, is it in a location I would want to live for five years+. Outside of my preference for those two to three programs, all other schools I am considering meet my two requirements. On one hand I want to apply to more to simply increase my chances of being accepted into at least one, but, I wonder if the more I apply to more the less in quality the applications will be (essay)? I also worry that if I am accepted into more than one program, how will I choose which one to attend? Despite prestige, if it applies, the programs I have applied to and would like to apply to are all about even on entrance competitiveness as far as I know. The schools vary in rankings if you believe in such things, but for the most part, none are my "reach and safety". How do applicants deal with this?

Or perhaps, is there such a thing as too few? In reality, there are only two, maybe three, grad programs I want to attend. I am applying to more, and these other schools do have a program I want with at least one prof. working in my area of interest. I don't want to put all my eggs in [two] baskets, hence why I am applying to other schools. You know, a sort of shotgun strategy. I have applied to, or am finishing the process of, applying to six programs, and have another two or three in mind. The application process aside, I already paid enough money in application fees, and, have begun to wonder if applying to nine schools is too many? I know there are some people on here who applied to 10+ programs, and applying to more schools will increase the chances of being accepted somewhere...just wondering if this is a good strategy?

MIT requires the GRE, but they have no minimum GRE score requirement. Nor do they have a minimum GPA. For the most part, all they really care about is your ability to think like an engineer and your ability to do independent research. Also, most students who apply to MIT for undergrad/grad school just happen to be at the top of their class[es], but MIT really doesn't care about that. To them, it is better to have failed (as in literally failing a course, not the "new" fail of "only" getting a B+) than to have perfect scores/grades. Like most grad schools in the U.S., they are looking candidates who can think like researchers/scientists/engineers/etc., and who are not going to drop out half-way through when they realize grad school is nothing like undergrad. Your original scores would have been good enough, but, if you do not have undergraduate research experience, perfect GRE scores don't mean dilly.