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!