To gain admission to MIT, applicants need to be aware of the selective nature of the process. For those who have just completed 12th grade, applications should ideally be submitted in the fall prior to graduation, but late applications are still accepted. Key requirements include taking the SAT I and two SAT II subject tests, typically in Mathematics and a science subject. For international students, such as those from India, the SAT II tests are generally manageable, especially if they are already preparing for the JEE. The discussion highlights the importance of thorough research on MIT's admissions process, which can be found on their official website.