MIT's Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science – MITES Summer

MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) provides unparalleled opportunities for students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to learn, grow, and prepare for an exciting, fulfilling college experience and career. MITES helps students explore a passion for STEM, challenge themselves, make lasting friendships and connections—and have fun. MITES is available in person or online, during the school year or over the summer for intellectually curious, ambitious students with an interest in science and engineering.

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Students take one math course, one life sciences course, one physics course, a humanities course and an elective course. Placement into the math, life science, and physics courses is determined by diagnostic tests that are administered to all students during the orientation period of the program.

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Students selected for our programs generally have the following qualities:

• Passion for science, technology, engineering and math (which can be demonstrated through extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation)
• A strong academic record

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We strongly encourage students from the following backgrounds to apply:

• Underrepresented in science and engineering, defined as being African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American
• Underserved, defined as coming from low socioeconomic means, which may be indicated by qualification for free/reduced lunch
• Potentially the first family member to attend college
• Absence of science and engineering degrees in the family
• Coming from a high school with low admittance rates to top-tier colleges, especially rural or predominantly minority high schools

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All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be considered, regardless of race or ethnicity.

• Be a U.S. citizen (foreign citizens who are permanent residents are not eligible).
• Be passionate about science, math, and engineering.
• Be completing your junior year in high school.
• Minors eligible for vaccination must be fully vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 or have a medical or religious exemption in order to participate.

• February

• Applicant information
• Academic information
• Extracurricular activities
• Short answer questions (5 required, 2 optional)
  • 1: Share with us how aspects of your identity (ex. race, culture, first generation college student status, gender, etc) shape your aspirations. 
  • 2: What are you passionate about? How have you spent time developing this passion?
  • 3: What do you hope to gain from participating in the MOSTEC/MITES program? If selected, how would you contribute to the MOSTEC/MITES community? 
  • 4: Tell us of a time you experienced a significant challenge in your life. What did you do and what did you learn? 
  • 5: The STEM field uses science, technology, engineering and/or math to understand more about the world around us and to solve problems. If you could develop, invent, or innovate anything to change the world for the better using STEM, what would it be and why?
  • 6 (OPTIONAL): If you could meet us in person, what would you share with us about you that isn’t already in the application?  
  • 7 (OPTIONAL): We acknowledge that circumstances and events related to COVID-19 may impact you, your schooling, your communities, and/or your family. Please utilize this space to describe if and how any of these events have impacted you.
• Recommendation Requests
  • The application requires three recommendations that must be completed using a unique online form. The recommendations must be completed by a math or science teacher, humanities teacher, and school counselor or administrator (from someone who has access to the student's transcript and school profile). Each recommender will receive an email from our application portal with a link to fill out a recommendation form.
    • School Counselor must submit:
      • Unofficial copy of High school transcript for Grades 9 & 10, and copy of 11th grade 1st semester grades
      • School Profile/Grading Scheme
    • STEM and Humanities Teachers must submit:
      • Online Evaluation Form through a link they receive to their email.
• Test scores (Optional)

• April

• Recommendations are due Mid February