Most US colleges and universities require SAT exam results, a personal statement, a transcript, and letters of recommendation.
MIT Application Process
The application deadline for all international students is January 1 of the year in which you hope to enroll; all incoming freshmen enter in September. The freshman application form is the same for all applicants, international or domestic (there is no separate international application form).
It means to join in September 2010, you have to apply by 1 st January 2010
The application consists of the following components:
Biographical Information Form - Part 1 of the two-part application for freshman admission should be completed and returned immediately.
Essays, Activities, and Tests Form - Part 2 of the two-part application for freshman admission should be returned as soon as possible, but no later than January 1. One long and two short essays are required.
Standardized Tests - Testing must be completed by the January test date. These dates change each year and are set by the testing agency. Click here for specifics on our testing requirements.
Two Teacher Evaluation Forms - Evaluation A is to be completed by a math or science teacher, Evaluation B is to be completed by a humanities, social science, or language teacher. It is your responsibility to provide us with an official English translation of any evaluations not completed in English, in addition to the original untranslated document.
Secondary School Report Form - This form, which includes your school transcript, is to be completed by a guidance counselor or principal/headmaster. If your school offers predicted grades for the IB or A Levels, this should be included in the Secondary School Report Form. It is your responsibility to provide us with an official English translation of any letters or transcripts not written in English, in addition to the original untranslated document.
Interview - The interview is conducted by an MIT graduate in the applicant's home area. If available, you should contact your interviewer by the December 10th before your application deadline.
Mid-year Grade Report Form - If you are not attending a U.S. or U.S.-based school system, you are not required to complete this form. It will appear on your MyMIT application tracking system as it does for all applicants, but it is not a required piece of the application if you are not attending a U.S. or U.S.-based school system.
It is your responsibility to ensure that all components of the application reach MIT. You can view which components that MIT has received via the online tracking system at MyMIT.
Testing Requirements(We refers to MIT)
Non-native English speakers have two options, which we consider equivalent. We have no preference between these options. It is your choice, and you should take the set of tests with which you feel the most comfortable:
Option 1: SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing; and two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).
Option 2: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language); and two SAT Subject Tests, one in math (level 1 or 2) and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). This option is especially recommended for students who do not speak English at home or in school, or who have been speaking English for fewer than five years.
Native English speakers must take either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Plus Writing; and two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m).
All students must meet the testing requirements. You may not substitute other exams (such as IB, A Levels, etc.) for the above testing requirements. Students from countries where the SAT and ACT are not offered (such as Iran and the People's Republic of China) will be considered without a full set of required test scores on a case-by-case basis.
We have no minimum or recommended scores for the SAT Reasoning Test, the ACT Plus Writing, or the SAT Subject Tests. You may wish to view testing statistics from the most recent admissions cycle here).
However, we do have minimum and recommended scores for the TOEFL. These minimums are in place to ensure your level of English proficiency. Because MIT offers no English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and English is the language of MIT, all students must show that they will thrive in our community. The minimum TOEFL scores are:
----------------------Minimum--Recommended
Paper Based Test (PBT)- 577------ 600+
Computer Based Test (CBT)- 233---- 250+
Internet Based Test (iBT) - 90----- 100+
Your scores must be reported to us officially from the testing agency; scores you list on your application and scores appearing on your school transcript will not be considered official. We recommend you list MIT as a school to receive your scores when you take the test. If you take the January test, you must list MIT as a school to recieve your scores or we will not receive your scores in time for our review. Our SAT and TOEFL code is 3514 and our ACT code is 1858.
It is important for all students - and very important for international students - to register for tests with the same name as you have indicated on your application and MyMIT account. Your record and test scores will not be linked in our system if the names do not match.
You can get more information and register for the SAT tests online at www.collegeboard.com, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) at www.ets.org/toefl, and the ACT at www.act.org.
Important Undergraduate Admissions Dates
As soon as possible Register for a MyMIT account
As soon as possible after
August 1 of your application year Complete application Part 1
December 10 Deadline to contact your EC to schedule an interview.
January 1 Deadline for applications to be postmarked
January Last month to take standardized tests. If you take the January test, you must list MIT as a school to receive your scores when you take the test or we will not receive them in time for our review.
February 15 Receipt deadline for all financial aid materials
Late March Applicants notified of admissions decision
May 1 Postmark deadline for enrollment decision of accepted student
Source
http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/international_applicants_helpful_tips/index.shtmlOther Universities in USA also have similar requirements.
