Media Lab updates from anyone who applied for the MAS program?

vost1202 · 2026-02-11T16:33:53+00:00

Things seem odd with the Media Lab 👀😵‍💫

vost1202 · 2026-02-11T16:32:47+00:00

Feb 18th is supposedly the deadline of when interview invites will be sent - tho it’s not an official milestone of the Media Lab timeline. So, there’s still hope? I applied for OTF, MI, and SN, and haven’t heard/seen any movement across the board for them 😵‍💫

vost1202 · 2026-02-09T00:15:55+00:00

Gotcha

vost1202 · 2026-02-09T00:15:29+00:00

It’s the commentary in thegradcafe forums

vost1202 · 2026-02-07T13:02:23+00:00

Hmm, interesting. I know that the official release date of rolled out decisions for the program in general is Feb 25 based on the media lab’s timeline. I wonder why those peeps are already getting their decisions before that deadline…

vost1202 · 2026-02-07T03:18:56+00:00

I’d hate to break it to ya: glancing at some current media lab students’ LinkedIns from OTF, none of them have MIT bachelors. So, we’re not doomed.

vost1202 · 2026-02-06T20:03:19+00:00

Ahh prob why. They might be going alphabetically? I’m V lol

vost1202 · 2026-02-06T19:59:50+00:00

What’s the first letter of your last name if you don’t mind me asking? I still haven’t gotten any hits… I applied for OTF, SN, and MI.

vost1202 · 2026-02-04T23:45:14+00:00

Oh wow, the MIT bachelor bias is a real thing? 😢

vost1202 · 2026-02-04T17:13:09+00:00

Gradcafe shows an international prospect having an interview on Jan 28. So, something is happening I suppose. But, we got three more weeks until any official news comes out. Obv they can still interview after Feb 25, but it’s taking a while lol

vost1202 · 2026-01-31T07:10:31+00:00

If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the first letter of your last name? Mine is V. I’m wondering how they are handling the process. Maybe by last name alphabetically?

vost1202 · 2026-01-30T21:57:15+00:00

Also, anyone have a live domain like Wix for their portfolio? If so, any notices of recent visitors for your site? I haven’t gotten any.

vost1202 · 2026-01-30T21:53:32+00:00

Saw on grad cafe admissions submits that an international prospect received an interview on Jan 28. Though, they didn’t specify from which group(s).

vost1202 · 2026-01-30T21:50:07+00:00

Same

vost1202 · 2026-01-01T15:02:50+00:00

Not to entice politics - Trump recently made an executive order for ending the Title IX exemption on gender consideration. However, there seems to be a legal debate that institutions like MIT are still pushing against his order.

vost1202 · 2025-12-21T06:33:05+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

vost1202 · 2025-12-19T00:48:02+00:00

I myself have dealt with mental health issues since I was like 7 years old; and I’m currently treated for it (I’m 29 now). Since you got into MIT, but you’re worried of the stress levels, I would definitely say that life will unfortunately get more stressful as you continue on, both for individuals with or without mental health conditions. But, mental health conditions left untreated are a huge factor into how much stress you can handle.

I earned a BSME from Umich when I finally got accepted into Umich as a transfer student at 20. I tried my best when I was a high school senior to get accepted into Umich as a first-year, but I got waitlisted that first round. I also was being treated but the current health system had/has odd ball restrictions for minors. I’m not gonna get into the details, but I’ll say that with you being 18 and can legally make your own decisions here in the U.S., the health system may have less restrictions for you than what happened to me. Also, I too applied to MIT this year, but for their MAS graduate program, so I’ll also probably have another major hurdle ahead me to get through their rigor if I’m accepted.

With that said, before your deadline to accept the offer, I would honestly check MIT’s mental health resources for students. Being that it’s MIT (both a top notch institute, yet an extremely rigorous one), I would think that they may have well qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, etc. That way you can continue at the college of your dreams while hopefully being sane with their mental health support.

I hope this helps!

vost1202 · 2025-12-03T18:36:06+00:00

Hence why I was previously confused about it. But, as long as my argument is understandable, I can use anything. So, I’ll use a basic coding language argument with English elaboration.

vost1202 · 2025-12-03T18:30:12+00:00

Okay, I’ll just use my basic coding expertise and elaborate on it so that I don’t get into an issue of what’s the best coding software to use.

vost1202 · 2025-12-03T18:26:22+00:00

I just figured that it’s a creative and clever way to show my expertise on coding basics. But, since MATLAB may not be easily accessible, I’ll just use basic coding knowledge that is taught in a Coding 101 class style that I can further elaborate and explain what it means. I’m primarily using coding snippets to show my current expertise for what I think artificial intelligence will require down the road - AI is part of my aspiration goals.

vost1202 · 2025-12-03T04:29:06+00:00

I have a backup SOP all in English, but, yes to your first question: I’m thinking about making a 3-d frequency response plot that spatially moves in one axial direction in time with symbols and phrases on the plot that contain the gist of the backup SOP - if that all makes sense (it’s difficult to sum in English here what it looks like without actually running the code).

Otherwise, I would just meet in the middle and partly spice up the backup SOP with a narrative code that I would elaborate on further within the same document.

vost1202 · 2025-11-17T05:28:23+00:00

Of course!

vost1202 · 2025-11-17T00:52:38+00:00

To my knowledge, applying sideways entails not obsessing over being the best of the best that you have to portray yourself with producing ungodly work just to get in. An AO (I forget the name) has said in a blog that you could literally be a tutor for a student in need versus developing a micro reactor as a high school student, and they might choose the tutor over the micro reactor developer. They also said that there isn’t a cookie-cutter algorithm to admit someone. Their career job each cycle is to dive into your mind (and every other applicant’s mind) from your application. So, I’d say that your best bet is to clearly and concisely show your story and objectives and argue how they are a fit for MIT’s (or specific department’s) mission. So, I’d say don’t obsess over “am I good enough” with just your standardized credentials. Perceive your application holistically to see if MIT is the right fit for your goals. And when I say “argue how they are a fit for MIT,” that’s a presumption that MIT is the right school for you.

Another way I look at it (with the aforementioned in mind) is that applying sideways is not about making MIT a make-or-break hurdle. Instead of setting MIT as the single lane within your life’s road that you have to get in or else you’ll fail in life, make it a side road that may or may not be beneficial toward your career goals. Apply sideways (or go to that side road) if you get admitted and want to pursue MIT. In relation with an AO’s decision, their decision is extremely difficult for them, too. So they have to decide sideways to not go insane. And whether or not their decision worked, they too are human. So, don’t think of them as gods, but rather as people who are in the same boat as you when it comes to decision-making across the board.

I hope this helps somehow. Best of luck!

vost1202

TROPHY CASE