Apply: Application Process
Application Process
All LFM applications, whether applying through MIT Sloan or Engineering, are due online by the third Monday of December (December 15, 2008).
Candidates applying to LFM through the MIT Sloan School of Management will be considered for the standard MBA program at MIT Sloan in the event they are not accepted into the LFM program. Candidates applying to LFM through most departments within the School of Engineering, with the exception of the Engineering Systems Division, will be considered for the Master's or Ph.D. program in the engineering department through which they are applying in the event they are not accepted into the LFM program.
2008-2009 LFM Brochure 1.6 MB, Adobe Acrobat PDF
Request a printed brochure in the mail
MIT's Nondiscrimination Policy
Choosing an Engineering Discipline
Whether applying through MIT Sloan or the School of Engineering, LFM applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to the engineering program they select. When choosing a discipline, applicants should consider both their interests and academic eligibility, as the application will undergo a formal review in the department the applicant designates. Below are some guidelines to consider before making this decision.
- Three programs, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), and Mechanical Engineering will consider only individuals with a previous degree in that field or significant relevant coursework. For example, applicants with Industrial Engineering degrees may have the course background to qualify for a degree program in Mechanical Engineering.
- Five programs, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Biological Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Systems, and Materials Science and Engineering are open to considering candidates holding other engineering or science degrees. For example, Mechanical Engineering majors may be eligible for admission through Aeronautics and Astronautics.
- Applicants who already have a master's degree in engineering may be ineligible for another master's degree in the same field. The focus of the new degree must be in a different sub-area than the existing degree, or in a separate engineering discipline.
- Applicants to Engineering Systems are required to focus on a specialty track. Tracks of study available to LFM students currently include Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains, and Systems Architecture and Engineering.
Application Guidelines for all LFM Applicants
Below are descriptions of admissions materials required by both MIT Sloan and the School of Engineering. In addition to using these guidelines, be sure to follow all instructions given on the MIT Sloan MBA or School of Engineering applications.
Transcripts
LFM requires a comprehensive record of your academic history. Both degree-based and per-credit coursework should be documented. You will need to request official transcripts from each of your academic institutions and have them sent in hard copy to the department through which you are applying.
To send transcripts to the MIT Sloan School of Management:
MIT Sloan School of Management
MBA Application Materials: LFM Transcripts
50 Memorial Drive, Suite E52-126
Cambridge, MA 02142-1347
To send transcripts to a School of Engineering department:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Attn: Admissions, *Insert Department Name*
77 Massachusetts Avenue
*Insert Building and Room Number*
Cambridge , MA 02139
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required. Please choose a recommender who is able to provide specific answers to the following questions:
- How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
- How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
- Please give an example of the applicant's impact on a person, group, or organization.
- Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people.
- Which of the applicant's personal or professional characteristics would you change?
- Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.
Recommendations are due on the third Monday of December (Decemeber 15, 2008).
MIT Sloan Applicants: One of the recommendations should be from an academic source or someone who can speak definitively of your technical skills. This technical or academic letter can either utilize the questions above or be free form. The other two recommendations should incorporate the questions above.
Engineering Applicants: Two of the recommendations should be from an academic source or someone who can speak definitively of your technical skills. These letters may utilize the questions above or be free form. The remaining letter must incorporate the questions above.
Résumé
Prepare a business résumé (as opposed to an academic c.v.) that includes employment history in reverse chronological order, with titles and dates, and whether the work was part-time or full-time. As part of this résumé, also include a similar education history that includes dates and degrees, listed in reverse chronological order. The résumé should not be more than one page long.
Essays
The essays are a chance for candidates to discuss passions, values, interests, and goals. Emphasize those experiences that were most important and meaningful for you – not necessarily those that were most prestigious. Be sincere and be specific. There is no one "right" kind of student; in fact, LFM deliberately builds each class to unite varied strengths and perspectives. Tell us what particular experiences and expertise will be brought to the mix. We are interested in learning about how the candidate works, thinks, and behaves.
Essay questions change from year to year. To see the current questions, please refer to the MIT Sloan or Engineering application. The questions are the same regardless of the program through which you to choose to apply.
Standardized Tests
GRE/GMAT: Applicants through MIT Sloan are required to take the GMAT or GRE, while applicants through the School of Engineering are required to take the GRE regardless of if the department requires it or not. Scores are considered current if taken within five years of the application deadline.
TOEFL/IELTS: MIT Sloan does not require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) although most engineering departments require it for students whose native language is not English. If your department of entry requires TOEFL or IELTS you must submit current scores prior to the admissions deadline for your application to be considered complete.
Interviews
Interviews of applicants to the Class of 2011 will be conducted by invitation only. Interview invitations will be extended January through March 2009.
TopApplying Through MIT School of Engineering
It is important to understand the specific admissions requirement that each of LFM's eight affiliated engineering departments specifies. For example, some departments require the TOEFL or IELTS exam for non-native English speakers; some require it, but offer a waiver option; and others do not require it. Although you are applying to LFM, candidates must meet the standards mandated by the department.
Conversely, if LFM requires something that the engineering department does not, candidates must meet the LFM requirement. For example, an applicant wishing to apply to EECS would need to take the GRE even though it is not a requirement for that department.
All LFM applicants must apply online. Go to online engineering department applications.
Use the information provided below to find out more about each department and corresponding admissions requirements.
Aeronautics & Astronautics
Contact: Beth Marois
Email: bethamar@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.0043
Fax: 617.253.0823
Building and Room: 33-208
Biological Engineering
Contact: Dalia Fares
Email: dalia@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.5804
Fax: 617.258.8676
Building and Room: 56-651
Chemical Engineering
Contact: Suzanne Easterly
Email: easterly@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.4577
Fax: 617.253.9695
Building and Room: 66-366
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Name: Patricia Glidden
Email: cee-admissions@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.7119
Fax: 617.258.6775
Building and Room: 1-290
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
Name: Peggy Carney
Email: grad-ap@eecs.mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.4603
Fax: 617.258.7354
Building and Room: 38-444
*Note that EECS uses a separate online application from the other engineering departments. LFM Admissions does coordinate with this system.
Engineering Systems
Name: Elizabeth Milnes
Email: esdgrad@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.1182
Fax: 617.258.7733
Building and Room: E40-249
Materials Science and Engineering
Name: Angelita Mireles
Email: dmse-admissions@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.3302
Building and Room: 6-107
Mechanical Engineering
Name: Joan Kravit
Email: megradoffice@mit.edu
Phone: 617.253.2291
Building and Room: 1-112
Applying Through MIT Sloan School of Management
Use the information provided below to find out more about MIT Sloan and its admissions requirements.
MIT Sloan Admissions
Email: mbaadmissions@sloan.mit.edu
Website: http://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/
Phone: 617.258.5434
Fax: 617.253.6405
Building and Room: E52-126
Request an MIT Sloan Brochure
Go to the MIT Sloan Online Application
Monitoring your Application Status
MIT Sloan Applicants
The MIT Sloan Admissions Office will monitor the receipt of all application materials through the admissions deadline. If you have questions regarding the status of your materials, technical problems with the online application, or deadline-related concerns, email mbaadmissions@sloan.mit.edu or call 617.258.5434.
Engineering Applicants
The engineering department you are applying to will monitor the receipt of all application materials through the admissions deadline. If you have questions regarding the status of your materials or deadline-related concerns, contact your engineering department directly. If you encounter technical difficulty with the online application, email help@collegenet.com or call 503.973.5213.
LFM Admissions Inquiries
If you do not find the answer to your question within the LFM Web site, please send an email to lfm@mit.edu or call 617.253.1055 (extension 2) to receive help from an admissions specialist.
Notification of Admissions Decisions
LFM will send admissions decisions on March 9, 2009 via US mail. LFM does not notify applicants online or via phone.
massachusetts institute of technology