Apply to MITES Saturdays
Application Overview
The MITES application and selection process is holistic, meaning that we consider a variety of factors when determining which students are the best fit for our programs. We look for students with demonstrated interest in science and engineering and a strong academic record who are motivated, hard-working, and focused on growth and improvement.
Students selected for MITES generally have the following qualities:
- Passion for science, technology, engineering, and math—demonstrated through extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation
- Strong academic record
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
The MITES Saturdays application is open to 7th through 10th grade public school students who both live and go to public school in Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence, Massachusetts. In order to be eligible for a MITES program, you must be a United States citizen or permanent resident with a current US green card.
All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be considered, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Start your application today!
To apply for MITES Saturdays, set up an account at the link below and use an email address that you check regularly. The application opens in November.
Start or resume your applicationApplication details
This brief section consists of general questions about the applicant.
Our admissions process is holistic, considering numerous factors and information shared in all sections of your application. While test scores are not required to submit an application, we do consider test scores in this admissions process.
We strongly encourage applicants to submit scores from at least one standardized test if they have them (e.g., PSAT, MCAS, or ACT). Including test scores will give us more information by which to review an application and provide a more complete picture of the applicant.
Our short answer questions are designed to give us a sense of who our applicants are as individuals. We encourage applicants to begin brainstorming early and use each short answer prompt as an opportunity to share a different facet of yourself with us. Middle school applicants are required to respond to 4 prompts, with a maximum of 150 words per response. High school applicants are required to respond to 4 short answer prompts with a maximum of 300 words per response.
Examples of past short answer prompts are as follows (see application for most up to date prompts):
- MITES Saturdays is a large time and effort commitment for students (16 Saturdays a year from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm). Students who are admitted into this program are expected to attend all eight sessions each semester and return every semester until they graduate high school. Why do you want to make this commitment and participate in MITES Saturdays?
- What is it about STEM that really interests you? How have you demonstrated this interest in STEM? (For example, this can be seeking out additional reading on STEM or activities or projects you’ve done in the past.)
- People in STEM fields solve a variety of problems and address issues at many levels. What local or global problems are you passionate about and what would you invent, innovate, or develop to solve them? Please explain.
- MITES Saturdays is a rigorous experience that students must balance with academic and social life, and our students tell us that this challenge has been rewarded with a lot of growth from the program and a strong community. What is a challenge you’ve faced, how did you overcome it, and how have you grown from it?
The extracurricular activities section of the application gives us a sense of our applicants’ passions and interests outside of the classroom.
Our application requires 2 recommendations that must be submitted by the recommenders via our online portal. We do not accept recommendation letters; however, recommenders will have the opportunity to provide a narrative as part of the online recommendation form.
Applicants will be asked to identify one math or science teacher and one teacher from any other academic course from the current or previous year to serve as recommenders.
Once an applicant has indicated who their recommenders will be, each recommender will receive an automated email from our application portal with a unique link to fill out the recommendation form.
Applicants are required to both enter their current and previous year’s courses and upload a copy or screenshot of their report cards.
Application timeline
Application opens!
Student deadline November 30, 2023! All student applications must be submitted. This includes identifying 2 recommenders.
Applicant Info-session December 2, 2023 (tentative)! Applicants and their guardians join an online info-session to learn more about the program.
Recommender deadline December 7, 2023! All recommendations must be submitted via the online portal.
Applicant Confirmation deadline December 7, 2023! Applicant confirms their program interest after attending the info-session.
Decisions are released! Enrollment begins for admitted students
Program begins! Exact program start date varies.