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Journalism of Courage
– Seerat Kaur
In the QS World University Rankings 2024-25 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was placed at the top spot, while Imperial College was ranked second. This time, these universities have a neck-to-neck competition, but these universities are vastly different in terms of academic curricula, location, campus culture, application process, and career opportunities.
Location
MIT is one of the top STEM colleges in the US and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from the vibrant innovation hub of Boston. Founded in 1865, MIT established a new kind of independent educational institution relevant to an increasingly industrialized America. The heart of the campus is anchored by a historic group of interconnecting buildings, designed by architect W. Welles Bosworth (Class of 1889), which facilitate interaction and communication among MIT’s schools and departments.
Imperial is a predominantly science-oriented university with several campuses situated in and around London in the UK. The main campus is situated in South Kensington, an area in Central London. It’s a compact site in the heart of ‘Albertopolis’ and is home to a huge range of architectural styles from the Edwardian Royal School of Mines building to the ultra-modern Norman Foster-designed Business School. There’s plenty of green space too, including a beautiful landscaped square, with our famous Queen’s Tower at one end.
Admission process
MIT’s admission process combines analytical thinking with hands-on problem-solving. Applications are due by November 1 for early action and January 4 for regular action. Students who are well-matched with MIT display academic rigor in the following subjects: math (calculus), physics, chemistry, biology, and social sciences in high school.
The application components include general information, essays, activities, academics, two letters of recommendation (one from a math or science teacher and one from a humanities, social science, or language teacher), a secondary school report, high school transcript, and standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). English proficiency exams are recommended for non-native speakers. MIT evaluates applicants holistically, offering interviews with MIT alumni to gain a comprehensive view of applicants.
Imperial requires qualifications equivalent to A-levels. Applicants must meet course competency requirements and English language standards, often demonstrated through subjects studied or admissions tests. Applications are submitted through UCAS, allowing up to five college choices. They also require a 4,000-character personal statement, highlighting the applicant’s genuine enthusiasm for the subject through relevant experiences and activities. Admissions tutors evaluate applications holistically, considering marks, letter of recommendation, the personal statement, and admissions test scores. Interviews may also be part of the evaluation process.
Scholarships
MIT practices need-blind admissions and offers full-need aid to all of the students, domestic and international. This means that your family’s ability to pay for MIT is not factored into your consideration for admission, and if you are admitted they will provide you with a financial aid package that meets 100% of your demonstrated financial need. All students who apply for financial aid fill out the CSS Profile (College Board College Scholarship Service).
Imperial offers a total of 17 scholarships to international students — Women’s Scholarship (Majorie McDermott), World Scientific Scholarship, The Beacon Scholarship, Stevenson Fund, Rio Tinto Scholarship, and many more.
Courses
With 6 schools and 30 departments, MIT offers diverse courses ranging from Data, Systems, and Society to Brain and Cognitive Sciences, while the Imperial College offers over 100 courses to choose from that count toward an undergraduate degree in Science, Engineering, Medicine and Business.
Extracurricular activities
MIT has over 500 student organizations. To complement their academics and research, students choose their own extracurricular adventures, from a spectacular array of ways to participate in music, dance, and sports to dozens of groups that savor and celebrate cultures from around the world.
Imperial has over 380 clubs, societies and projects which are all student-led and student-run. This is one of the largest varieties of student-led activities at a university in the UK.
For students who want to experience the best of both worlds, Imperial has an exchange program with MIT. The program gives students from ten Imperial departments the chance to spend up to a year at MIT, while at the same time gaining credit toward their Imperial degree.
Make sure to check out their International Research Opportunities Programme (IROP), which takes place during the summer break from the end of June to the end of August.
(The author is a senior consulting manager at Athena Education)
(In this ‘versus’ series by The Indian Express, we compare premier foreign colleges or universities and the prominent courses that they offer. You can read the stories here.)
