What it takes to get into M.S. program in MIT

[saubhik]

The title says it all, but I am going to introduce myself first.

Right now, I am pursuing (and enjoying) Bachelor's degree course in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. It has just been a little more than 2.5 months since I joined college. I have been dreaming to study at MIT for the past 4-5 years but didn't give SAT for the undergraduate courses due to financial and other reasons. So I have set a goal before me: to get to MIT after 3 more years. I am very research-minded (or whatever you call it). If I come across an interesting problem, I ponder over it single-mindedly for hours and sometimes days. I love ideas, concepts, theories and try to make a generalized theory from different problems. In short, I love making new theories and finding out unconventional ways of solving problems. My best friends always tell me that I would make a great researcher (& I hope this comes true!). I am very bad at games/sports/instruments etc. So, I haven't got much extra-curricular intuitions (which is undesirable).
I have been searching the web for what it takes to get a M.S. from MIT, but I would like to take your opinions. I know that getting letters of recommendation is very important, and I have been searching for projects at many research institutes in my city.(but didn't get much till now.. :( )

I want to use my next 3 years wisely and sincerely enough to get an admission in MIT and with an outstanding CV. Please illuminate me on what different things I would need to do, that would give me an edge over others.

PS(s):
[1] I know that that I have to give the GRE and my english isn't that strong, so strengthening my english is one of the things I need to work on.
[2] In case you need it, I love mathematics and physics. I would love to work on math-based and physics-based projects. To publish a solution-manual to one of the hardest problem books available has been in my to-do list.
[3] My name is Saubhik Mukherjee, age:18, male. (in case, u need to address me :P )

Thanks for helping me. :)

 

[GregJ]

Well, apart from the obvious "get good grades" it helps to look through M.I.T.'s website and know everything there is to know about the place. Be an enthusiast.

Second, I am not sure how well this applies to post graduates, but they look for people with hobbies. People with personality. Just have a general search on their website (for undergraduate admissions) and somewhere they list a general set of qualities that matters to them (on their official website).

Oh and if I were you, I would remove your name from the post (at the very least just your surname) :)

Good luck!

 

[Vanadium 50]

I googled "MIT mechanical engineering graduate admissions" and got a page of useful links.

 

[GregJ]

Or just do what Vanadium 50 mentioned lol. I always seem to fail to mention the obvious :)

 

[sodaboy7]

I m wondering why you chose jadavpur university. You could have joined IISC Banglore which is paradise for researchers in India. And why engineering ? my advice is go for pure science. you can give a try next year. keep up

 

[Anonymous217]

Second, I am not sure how well this applies to post graduates, but they look for people with hobbies. People with personality.

I don't think that applies anywhere beyond undergraduate admissions.

 

[Pengwuino]

Second, I am not sure how well this applies to post graduates, but they look for people with hobbies.

I think this is pretty much the opposite of what grad schools want. For graduate school, your hobby needs to be research, research, and on the side, research.

 

[comp_math]

Usually, schools don't fund people who are getting just an MS degree. Perhaps if you apply and get into a PhD program.