MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and ScienceMITES

MITES at a Glance

Host

MITES, part of the MIT School of Engineering (formerly the MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs, OEOP)

Field

MITES Summer: one course each in math, physics, life sciences and humanities, plus a project-based elective (past electives include architecture, engineering design, machine learning, genomics and electronics). MITES Semester: one project course (past topics include astrophysics, computational biology, robotics and machine learning) plus a core course in calculus, physics, computer science or science writing

Grades and age

In 11th grade or equivalent at the time of application; public, private and homeschooled students are eligible. Students attend between junior and senior year

Citizenship and residency

US citizens and permanent residents with a current green card only; visas of any type are not a substitute, and admitted students may be asked to verify status with a US birth certificate, passport or green card. During the online MITES Semester, students cannot reside or travel outside the US and its territories.

Cost

Free. Tuition, room and board are covered by funders and MIT; students pay only for transportation to and from MIT, and travel scholarships are available to MITES Summer students.

Dates and format

MITES Summer: six weeks, with every student required to live in MIT dorms even if local; June 20 to July 31 in 2026, with classes 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, midterms in week 3, finals in week 6, and project presentations in weeks 5 and 6. MITES Semester: online, June 22 to December 6 in 2026; 25 to 30 hours a week in summer, with live classes between 5 pm and 10 pm Eastern, and 3 to 5 hours a week in fall, focused on college preparation and webinars. 2027 dates have not been announced.

Application dates

The two programs share one application; students may apply to either or both, but admitted students are offered one program and cannot switch. The application typically opens in November and closes February 1 at 11:59 pm Pacific; recommenders must submit by February 15 at 11:59 pm Pacific. Decisions go out by email in mid to late April.

Application materials

Online application with short-answer essays; three recommenders: a math or science teacher, a humanities teacher, and a school counselor or administrator, who uploads the school profile and a transcript including first-semester 11th-grade grades. Recommendations are submitted only through the online form, and letters are not accepted. Test scores are optional but strongly encouraged; there is no minimum GPA.

Size and selectivity

MITES does not publish application counts or an admission rate. Its site says the program has run for nearly 50 years and has more than 5,000 alumni. MITES strongly encourages applicants who are underrepresented in STEM, from low-income families or the first in their family to attend college, and states that all eligible applicants are evaluated equitably regardless of race or ethnicity.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · mites.mit.edu

How to Apply to MITES

• The three recommenders are a math or science teacher, a humanities teacher and a school counselor, and the application is incomplete without all three. Ask them early in junior year and remind them of the February 15 deadline.
• MITES strongly encourages applying to both programs. The online MITES Semester does not require six weeks away from home, and its summer classes meet in the Eastern evening, which suits students with other summer plans.
• MITES has no minimum GPA and values interest in STEM and growth. Use the short answers to describe specific experiences and how your learning environment has shaped your choices.