Women's Technology Program


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

       







Frequently Asked Questions

Application & Admissions

Courses

Summer Details: If I'm admitted...

 
   

Answers
     

I am not in the 11th grade. Can students in other grades apply to WTP?

You must be in the 11th grade when you apply to WTP. You attend WTP in the summer after 11th grade. We do not accept applications from students in other grades, even if they have taken advanced math and science classes. You cannot apply if you are already in the 12th grade or have graduated high school. The WTP experience is designed for girls who will be in 12th grade in the fall after attending WTP.

What is the cost of the program?

The tuition fee for admitted students is $3,000 which includes books, lab materials, food, and housing for the four-week program. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Financial assistance is available to cover or discount the tuition fee and sometimes reiumburse transportation costs based on your family's financial situation. To be considered for financial assistance complete page 6 of the application form when you apply to WTP. It is important to us that if you are admitteed, financial concerns do not prevent you from attending WTP. You may also want to investigate your local school system, or organizations such as Mu Alpha Theta that provide grants for summer math or science activities.

How do I apply?

Admissions for summer 2008 will be on our Application page in November. Download the application form from our site. (We do not mail out application forms.) Follow all instructions in the application, and send us your completed application materials by the postmark date of February 1st.

I don't know whether I'm more interested in EECS or ME. Can I attend both tracks?

WTP applicants will be accepted to attend only ONE of the two curriculum tracks. We do not expect applicants to know enough yet about engineering disciplines to have a preference for EECS or ME , so the admissions committee will choose the track we feel suits you best. However, if you do have a preference, you may indicate it at the top of the application form on page 1.

What if I'm not from the United States?

All WTP applicants must either reside and attend high school in the U.S., or must be U.S. citizens currently living outside the U.S. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen if you live in the U.S.

What are the selection criteria?

Check our Application web page for more information about who should apply and our selection critera. Students should be able to handle college-level math and science at a rapid pace, but prior coursework in computer programming, physics, calculus, or engineering is not expected or required.

WTP is a summer program taught by graduate students in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering. WTP is not connected in any way to MIT undergraduate admissions.

How many students will be admitted?

We admit 60 students--40 for the WTP-EECS track and 20 for the WTP-ME trach. We also select a waiting list of about 10-15 students, in case any of the original 60 cannot accept admission.

How difficult is it to get into the program?

Admissions is very competitive. We have space to admit only 60 students, and we receive several hundred applications from qualified candidates each year. Successful applicants have strong academic records in science and math, high Math scores on PSAT, SAT, ACT or other national standardized tests, excellent teacher evaluations, and outstanding written responses to application questions.

Can I include a copy of my resume with my application?

No. We do not want resumes or long lists of awards or extracurricular activities. Please ONLY send us the materials asked for in the application.

Do I need to send an "official" transcript?

No. A photocopy of your transcript or report card is adequate.

How do I send WTP my PSAT, SAT, AP or ACT test scores?

Make a photocopy of the score reports that were mailed to you (or that you printed out from online) and mail to us with the rest of your WTP application. Be sure that your full name printed on the score report is legible on the copy you send us. DO NOT request that official scores be sent to MIT for the WTP application-- those scores will go to MIT Admissions, not to WTP.

What if I haven't taken the standardized tests listed on the application?

We understand that some 11th grade students have not taken the standardized tests--and we certainly do not expect you to have taken all of them! However, given the number of applicants, Math and Science test scores give us important information to help us evaluate students from different school systems around the country. Admitted students in past years had 80 percentile or higher Math scores on one or more of the following tests : PSAT, SAT I, ACT, SAT II, or AP. The median PSAT score for admitted students in 2007 was 76.

Should I get evaluation letters from all my math and science teachers? What about other teachers or recommenders?

No. Only two evaluation letters are required: one from a science teacher and one from a math teacher. We will not read more than two letters. It is best to have someone who knows you well write your recommendation. The letters do not have to be from 11th grade teachers. In some cases, 10th grade teachers, or teachers who coach your math or science team, may write stronger letters for you. DO NOT include letters from guidance counselors or other recommenders.

Do each of my answers to the Three Questions really have to fit onto a single-sided, double-spaced page in 12-point type?

Yes. We know it is more difficult to write shorter answers -- that is part of the challenge! Your answers to these questions should be personal and concise, NOT an "essay" you would write for a class assignment. Do not fill the page with lists of your extracurricular activities. This is your opportunity to help us get to know you in ways not represented by your test scores and grades. Use only as many words as necessary to make your point.

Please do not send electronic media. We cannot return materials, so do not send us any unique originals.

When will I find out if I am admitted?

We sent out letters by U.S. Mail to the mailing address you provided on the application form. If you applied and have not yet received a letter, please email us (instead of phoning) and we will tell you your status.

Is it possible to receive high school credit for these courses?

WTP is not a certified academic program. It is taught by MIT students. We suggest you check with your school guidance office about receiving credit for the academic and lab work you do; in past years some students have received IB activity credit for some of the lab work done during WTP.

Who will teach the classes?

The WTP class Instructors are all female MIT graduate students from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science or the Department of Mechanical Engineering. These Instructors are assisted by MIT undergraduate students who also live in the dorm as Residential Tutors. In the spring we will post information about the 2008 WTP staff's academic and personal interests on the WTP-EECS and WTP-ME staff pages. There is a new staff of Instructors and Residential Tutors every summer, so staff from previous years will not necessarily be involved in summer 2008.

What is the size of the classes?

Classes will have 20 students (the WTP-EECS track of 40 students is divided into two class groups, and the WTP-ME track has one class of 20 students). Class projects are frequently done in groups of 2 to 4 students.

How can I get to MIT from the airport?

We will provide a charted bus from Boston's Logan Airport to the MIT campus on the Saturday when students arrive, within the designated arrival times.  WTP staff will meet you at the luggage claim area and escort you to the bus. There will also be a chartered bus for return flights in July leaving MIT for the airport starting at 6am and ending at noon. Students traveling to Boston by bus or train should arrive at South Station, and WTP staff will meet you at the Information desk and escort you to our chartered bus to MIT. More information about these logistics will be provided in the information packets sent to admitted students.

What should I pack?

When you are admitted to WTP, you will receive with your admissions letter a Information Packet about the program, including a packing list and answers to many residential and curriculum questions. It is very important that you and your parents read these materials and contact us with any questions before you decide to attend WTP.

Can I visit home?  Can my parents visit?

WTP is a full-time residential experience, and admitted students must attend for the full four weeks. Students who live locally do not go home during the 4 week program.

Students must attend WTP classes Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. There are often mandatory academic or social evening and weekend activities, including extra lab time and homework sessions — do not make plans with friends or family without first checking the upcoming schedule with the staff.

Friends and family may occasionally visit campus during your free time, but this should not be a frequent occurrence, and pre-planning is neeeded to avoid conflicts with WTP curriculum and special events.

On arrival night June 28th there is a mandatory dinner for all WTP students. We ask accompanying family members to depart before the dinner --it is part of WTP orientation, just for students and staff. On Sunday, June 29th there are more orientation activities from noon until 11pm. Weekend activities for the remainder of the program usually will begin after noon, so that students wishing to attend religious services can still participate.

Written permission from parents must be arranged in advance if students want to leave campus with family or friends, unless they are accompanied by another WTP student or by WTP staff. More information about this will be in your Information Packet if you are accepted.

I have a special diet, religious restrictions, etc.

If you are admitted to the program, we will ask you for additional personal information about your medical conditions, allergies, and any other special needs.  If you let us know about your requirements ahead of time, there should be no trouble accommodating a special diet or religious activities. Students receive a meal card to purchase prepared food or ingredients at on-campus locations and will have access to a kitchen in the dormitory to prepare their own food if the prepared options on campus are not adequate. We can connect you with the MIT chaplains on campus or help you find local religious services for your faith. If you have questions once admitted, please contact us.