MIT Media Lab Fall 2025

[blaziken984]

Haven't seen anyone make one for this year's application yet, so made one for us to start talking about it. How we feeling guys?

[bgt28]

Half-terrified and half-disconnected from reality lol. But hanging in there. Only time will fix this, so might as well have a blissful Xmas/NYE! Good luck to everyone.

[unique]

Had a prospectus interview in May and was referred to Critical Matter Group. No expectations though. 

[hopeful.jpeg]

Hello!! Also in hopeful waiting mode at the moment  rooting for us all

[babydesigner]

Happy new year all! Has anyone heard back yet, and from which lab? I haven't. 

[hopeful.jpeg]

6 hours ago, babydesigner said:

Happy new year all! Has anyone heard back yet, and from which lab? I haven't. 

Happy New Year to you!! Not heard back yet, but I'm curious which labs we've each applied to, maybe we can chat while we wait. I've applied for CM and FS

[sol111]

also still waiting, applied to tangible media only

[babydesigner]

I've applied to Fluid Interfaces and Personal Robots

[ravenous]

waiting as well, applied to the center for constructive communication! 

[Anonyst]

Thanks for creating the Thread.
For now, there have been no emails, which I expect to come in similar time as last years'. But there have been clicks.

Contrary to the claim made by one of last year's applicant, who stated their materials weren't opened, I can see activities on my social media page (which I didn’t provide in my documents). This probably means that they actively search for all possible information of applicants out there.
BTW, applied to OF

[babydesigner]

what time did last year's emails come in? thank you for the information! @Anonyst

Edited Thursday at 03:50 PM by babydesigner

[Anonyst]

as far as I read in the last year's threads, invitation for interview was sometimes at the end of Jan.
somehow if there will be no interview by the 1st Feb the chance to get in will be almost 0%.
It's just my opinion but situation might be different for different cases.
anyone have already established connection with people inside already?

[blaziken984]

I think different groups operate independently when it comes to timelines. I’ve gotten quite a bit of hits from the US on my own site and my studio’s site as well. Unfortunately the hits weren’t from Massachusetts. Anyone else got hits from other parts of the US on their Google analytics?

Applied to VC and FS!

[hopeful.jpeg]

1 hour ago, blaziken984 said:

I think different groups operate independently when it comes to timelines. I’ve gotten quite a bit of hits from the US on my own site and my studio’s site as well. Unfortunately the hits weren’t from Massachusetts. Anyone else got hits from other parts of the US on their Google analytics?

Applied to VC and FS!

Yeah I've been checking, and I have some hits from other US states (close to the other programs I applied for) but none in the Northeast region yet

[musicangel1756]

I applied to Multisensory Intelligence only. There is no email from the PI. Has anyone heard back ?

[CATCAFE]

Still waiting. This is my first time apply to MAS. Applied to SE, FS and RE. I'm curious if anyone email professors to establish contact ahead of time before applying? I didn't. Does that help?

[sol111]

@WZY I am a current student at MIT and my experience is that even MIT students can have a hard time reaching professors they aren't directly working with or referred to chat with. would guess 99.9% chance a cold email is ignored. 

[unique]

The interview request for Critical Matter went out today and will take place next week.

 

I would not reach out the professors but rather the current masters and phd students. Thats what I did and interestingly enough they were already familiar with my work. This was about a full year ago so it's a long process to reach out in advance. 

[Anonyst]

Good News! Wish you luck!

 

Thanks for letting us know and would be nice to share some information (the sharables) about how it goes.

[CATCAFE]

On 1/17/2025 at 11:49 PM, sol111 said:

@WZY I am a current student at MIT and my experience is that even MIT students can have a hard time reaching professors they aren't directly working with or referred to chat with. would guess 99.9% chance a cold email is ignored. 

Thanks for your reply! Good luck in your application!

[ravenous]

On 1/18/2025 at 12:49 AM, sol111 said:

@WZY I am a current student at MIT and my experience is that even MIT students can have a hard time reaching professors they aren't directly working with or referred to chat with. would guess 99.9% chance a cold email is ignored. 

I emailed the PI of the group to which I applied, he did reply on the same day... but it was a standard "i don't check applicants beforehand for fairness." a friend connected me with someone from the group and we exchanged a couple of emails but it didn't go far.

People do say that it's hard to get into the Media Lab through the front door. But it makes sense, I think most professors would rather admit someone they already know. 

Edited 17 hours ago by ravenous

[Anonyst]

Good that you shared this info, Personally i chose to not send anything except for my application.

I have heard it increases the chance to have an established connection beforehand but also heard from so many who got in that they didn't know anybody from MAS beforehand.

Maybe also they are looking for some extraordinary surprises who have a strong portfolio and will.

[Dingle]

On 1/18/2025 at 8:14 AM, unique said:

The interview request for Critical Matter went out today and will take place next week.

 

I would not reach out the professors but rather the current masters and phd students. Thats what I did and interestingly enough they were already familiar with my work. This was about a full year ago so it's a long process to reach out in advance. 

Hey congrats on the interview, if that is what is happening. Your wording is a little bit confusing. Are you saying that an interview request was emailed to you over the weekend and that it will take place this week/coming week? Or that all interview requests went out/are going out and that we will get those requests this week?

I have also applied to Critical Matter but have heard nothing. Very strange that the email went out over the weekend, they must be busy!

Congrats regardless!

[unique]

The interviews start tomorrow and go until Friday. If you have not received an email request by now unfortunately there is a near 0% you have been selected for the group. 

[Dingle]

1 hour ago, unique said:

The interviews start tomorrow and go until Friday. If you have not received an email request by now unfortunately there is a near 0% you have been selected for the group. 

Gotchya! Thank you so much!