Chances for Ph.D at MIT (EECS)

[jimmy_01]

Hello. Please tell me my chances for getting into the MIT Ph.D program for EECS:

Undergrad and grad GPA: 4.0
2 years research experience at well known industry

Thank you.

[DropTheBase]

To me at least, the only sensible reason for asking "what are my chances?" is to decide whether or not to apply. Since this is your dream school, and the deadline already passed I believe, I'm assuming you already applied.

 

So what would you like to hear, and what do you wish to do with this information? 

 

I suggest you stop worrying about your chances and start improving your chances by contacting some professors, if you haven't already.

[jimmy_01]

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Edited December 27, 2012 by jimmy_01

[Mecasickle]

DropTheBase is right, from what I know about MIT and PhD's there, most (if not all) are only accepted by a reccomendation of someone known from the field and/or personally knowing the professors you want to work with. In my personal case I applied there, and I already personally know the two professors I want to work with as well as their grad students and post-docs.

 

Not to discourage you, but to be realistic, is to remember you that everyone that applies to MIT has a resume as brilliant as yours. Their criteria of admission at the end is almost purely reduced by your references (and if they know them). This has been told to me by MIT EECS professors, in person at a conference in France.

 

If you have not applied already, my best suggestion would be to do a research internship at a lab of a colleague of the MIT professor you want to work with at a tier-2 university, publish a paper with him, and get a reference letter from him. Chances are that with your brilliant resume and his reccomendation, you will most surely get in when you apply.

[jimmy_01]

DropTheBase is right, from what I know about MIT and PhD's there, most (if not all) are only accepted by a reccomendation of someone known from the field and/or personally knowing the professors you want to work with. In my personal case I applied there, and I already personally know the two professors I want to work with as well as their grad students and post-docs.

 

Not to discourage you, but to be realistic, is to remember you that everyone that applies to MIT has a resume as brilliant as yours. Their criteria of admission at the end is almost purely reduced by your references (and if they know them). This has been told to me by MIT EECS professors, in person at a conference in France.

 

If you have not applied already, my best suggestion would be to do a research internship at a lab of a colleague of the MIT professor you want to work with at a tier-2 university, publish a paper with him, and get a reference letter from him. Chances are that with your brilliant resume and his reccomendation, you will most surely get in when you apply.

I'm sure that admissions is extremely competative at MIT, but I'm not sure if I completely agree with your bolded statement (admission is purely reduced by references). I'm sure that letters of recommendation will definately play an important role in admission, but I'm sure that the professors also look at the application as a whole. On the MIT website, it specifically states that:

 

"Admission is determined by GPA (Grade Point Average) although there is not an official cut-off, letters of recommendation (we need three of them) and a "Statement of Purpose" in which you write an essay detailing your research interests.  A very strong background in math, physics, engineering, or computer science is a necessity."

 

But your right, knowing a professor in the inside before applying would probably help for admission.

 

Nonetheless, I have already applied, and will be hoping that my credentials will be sufficient for admission. Thanks for your input.

Edited December 27, 2012 by jimmy_01

[jimmy_01]

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Edited December 27, 2012 by jimmy_01