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New Info for Fall
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- Jan 14, 2013 First review meeting
- Nov. 5, 2012 Kickoff meeting, meeting notes here.
DIFFERENCES THIS YEAR
- Some students have radically different GRE scores, out of 170. This is the second year this new scoring is in place, so hopefully we're getting used to looking at it now. Please see the new GRE score explanations.
Useful information for All Reviewers
2025 Application Cycle:
- The Grad Admissions Chair for AY25 is Luca Carlone.
- The Graduate Program Staff includes Rachael Draper and Erinn Taylor Barroso.
- (Completed) The early admissions process for the 5-year combined SB/SM program opens on June 1, 2024. Review will run through mid-August, with decisions being sent by September 1, 2024.
- Our current process flowchart can be found here. This is a detailed step-by-step explanation of the graduate admissions review process. Note that the threshold for a candidate to advance to Round 2 is currently set to 2.5, but an increase of this threshold is being discussed as a potential change for this year.
- Starting Fall 2025, all faculty are member of the Graduate Admissions Committee (GAC).
Useful Information for Reviewers:
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- The main application review site is here https://gradapplyapply.mit.edu/aeroastromanage/reviewreader/
- There is now a "My Unread Files" button on the left of your review interface in the Query menu, to show you your unread folders only.
- New GRE Quantitative and Verbal Scoring band, conversations and explanations are here: New GRE
- Average AA test scores of admitted students from Fall 2012 are here: 2012 Average Test Scores (also gives TOEFL information).
- The 2010 US News and World Report Rankings for Engineering Schools are here: USN&WR Rankings
- Peterson's Online Guide! Just type the school you're looking for into the search bar at the top! http://www.petersons.com/
- Rankings on Indian engineering schools here
- Fulbright Fellowships
- Brazilian national Fellowships (MIT specific)
- 2013 US Air Force Academy Statistics
- Dealing with Application Fraud (confidentiality, privacy, etc.)
GAC-specific information
- You can send mail to the entire GAC via aagac@mit.edu.
- Any difficulties, please mail Brian Wardle (wardle@mit.edu) or Beth Marois (bethamar@mit.edu)
- The 2012-2013 GAC members are here: Aero Astro Grad Admissions Committee Members
- Dec 2011 Faculty News Letter article on Institute Grad Admissions by Christine Ortiz
- There is now a "My Unread Files" button on the left of your review interface in the Query menu, to show you your unread folders only.
- Intended meanings of scores:
- 4: Definite admit
- 3: Admissible
- 2: Possibly admissible (unlikely to be admitted – probably shouldn't be read by sector)
- 1: Probable reject (not worth sending to sector)
- 0: Definite reject (consider summary rejection by GAC chair)
(This interpretation of the scores is at the GAC level. The scores at the sector level are purely for ranking candidates, and don't have a specific interpretation.)
- As of 2011, we no longer fast-track students.
- Send to sector criterion:
- A folder will be sent to the sectors for additional reviews if it receives no more than one score of 2 or lower.
- Under-represented groups will be sent to the sector for additional reviews if it receives two scores of 2 or higher. If a woman or URM gets a 3+ as their first review, they will immediately be sent for faculty review.
- A tiebreaker application will only be sent to the 2nd round with a 3 or better as the tie review
- Reject criterion:
- GAC will usually not ask sector for review if it receives 2 or more scores of 2 or lower.
- "0 & 1" policing will be done by GAC chair to facilitate expediting poor applications. Chair Note: unassign reader and tag as "Probable Reject" if applicable
GAC 2012-2013 Schedule
- November 5, 2012: GAC Kick-off Meeting, 2:00-3:00pm
- December 15, 2012: Grad applications website closes
- January 11, 2013: All folders have two reads
- January 14, 2013: Initial review meeting, 12:30-2:00pm
- January 25, 2013: All folders completed
- February 5, 2013: Final review meeting, 12:00-1:00pm
- Sector Admissions Meetings: TBD, week of February 11-15
- March 1, 2013: Students notified of admissions decisions
- March 15, 2013: Open house
- (SLATE)
- Navigate to "Queue" to view your unread assigned applications for review
- Overview of the Grad Admissions process and information for new faculty
- Have a look at our suggested Scoring Guidelines here. Feel free to use these guidelines if needed, when you are choosing the numerical score of an applicant you are reviewing.
- Intended meaning of review scores:
- 4: Definitely Admit
- 3.5: Admit
- 3: Admissible
- 2: Probably Admissible
- 1: Reject
- All official decisions from the department will not be sent until end of February
- For any difficulties, please mail Luca Carlone (lcarlone@mit.edu) or Rachael Draper (rdraper@mit.edu)
- Further information:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Admissions
- Departmental Fellowships
- USAF and USSF Applicant Data forthcoming
- Council of Graduate Schools Publication Resource: April 15 Resolution
(The April 15 resolution is an agreement among the signatory graduate schools to provide applicants until April 15 to consider offers of admission that also include financial support.)
Resources on Rankings:
- US News and Reports (Best Global Universities): https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings
- US News and Reports (Best Engineering Schools): https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings
- QS World University Rankings: https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings
GAC 2024-2025 Schedule:
- December 1, 2024: Grad applications website closes.
- December 2-8, 2024: Triaging by Graduate Program Staff and GAC Chair.
- December 9, 2024: Round 1 Folder Reviews begin.
- January 10, 2025: Round 1 completed. All Round 1 folders have two GAC reads.
- February 1, 2025: All Round 2 reviews completed.
- February 5-7, 2025: Sector Admissions Meetings
- All decisions released morning of February 21, 2025.
- March 12-13, 2025: AeroAstro Open House
- April 15, 2025: Reply to Offer deadline
- May 30, 2025: Wait List is released.
General Admissions Information (not updated in AY25):
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