Students in the Boston area who want a STEM challenge on the weekend, including exposure to fields like computer science, should strongly consider applying for MITES Saturdays.
MITES Saturdays is a demanding, multi-year academic pathway designed to identify and develop high-potential middle and high school students across Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence who are ready to move faster and deeper in STEM through a challenging foundation of coursework and projects.
The MITES program provides a robust foundation in STEM education through a multi-year curriculum that begins as early as 7th grade, supported by an academic mentoring seminar structure that builds the skills, discipline, and confidence needed for more advanced opportunities such as the MITES Semester Program, a full-time residential experience for older students ready for college-level rigor
The program’s impressive legacy is evident in its outcomes: more than 5,000 MITES alumni, with 90% attending top-tier universities and 83% earning STEM degrees over the last decade. MITES Saturdays creates a nurturing environment that helps students with a strong academic record translate potential into long-term academic success.
MITES Saturdays equips students who are interested in pursuing science and engineering degrees with the necessary tools to excel in their future educational and career pursuits. The program is particularly noted for its hands-on STEM project courses and a supportive mentoring system that prepares students for college applications and beyond.
For students in the Greater Boston area looking to jumpstart a future in STEM, MITES Saturdays presents a remarkable opportunity to learn, grow, and excel within the supportive framework of one of the world’s leading technological institutions.
To participate in MITES Saturdays, students must attend and reside in public schools in Boston, Cambridge, or Lawrence, Massachusetts. Many of these MA public schools are predominantly minority high schools, which aligns with the program’s mission to expand access to rigorous STEM education in historically underrepresented communities.
The program is open to students who are in the 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th grade. High school juniors and seniors are not eligible. Applicants are also required to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible.
While there is no minimum GPA required for application, eligible students are expected to maintain letter grades of A and B throughout their participation in the program to ensure their continued enrollment.
To apply for MITES Saturdays, interested students should create an account in the program’s online portal using an email address they regularly check.
You must submit a complete application by November 30, 2023. The application includes applicant information, optional test scores, short-answer responses, extracurricular activities, two recommendations submitted through an online recommendation form, and current and previous years’ grades and report cards. Once submitted, applications are reviewed holistically by the MITES admissions team.
Although test scores are not mandatory, submitting at least one standardized test score from PSAT, MCAS, or ACT is strongly encouraged and can provide admissions officers additional context.
Applicants are also required to respond to four short-answer questions. These questions allow students to showcase the different aspects of their personality and interests in STEM. Responses for middle school students are limited to 150 words per prompt, while high schoolers can write up to 300 words per response.
The application also includes a section on extracurricular activities, helping the admissions committee understand the student’s interests and commitments and how they align with long-term goals, including preparation for future college admissions counseling.
Two teacher recommendation letters are required to complete the application. Applicants must choose one math or science teacher and one teacher from any other academic subject from the current or previous school year.
Applicants must also submit their current and previous year’s grades by uploading report cards to the application portal. After all materials are submitted, students must complete the final applicant confirmation to officially submit and lock their application for review.
While there’s no guaranteed path to getting accepted into MITES Saturdays, the program seeks well-rounded individuals with a strong academic foundation and a genuine interest in STEM fields.
Demonstrating this passion starts with maintaining good grades, particularly in math and science courses. Consider taking challenging STEM electives like computer science, engineering design, environmental engineering or data visualization to showcase your dedication and depth of knowledge.
Highlight your enthusiasm for STEM through extracurricular activities like robotics clubs, science fairs, or independent research projects. Even rigorous online courses that delve deeper into specific areas of STEM can demonstrate your initiative.
Finally, when crafting your application responses, focus on expressing your genuine interest in STEM and how MITES Saturdays can support your future goals in attending college and pursuing a career in these fields. By showcasing your academic potential, passion for STEM, and a clear vision for your future, you’ll be well on your way to a successful application.
MITES Saturdays is widely regarded as a highly prestigious pre-college STEM program, supported by MIT’s long-standing commitment to educational access and excellence.
MITES Saturdays, along with MITES Semester has consistently paved the way for students to reach some of the nation’s top tier colleges and universities. Within the MITES community of alumni, an impressive 90% have matriculated at top-tier institutions, including MIT, Stanford, and Harvard, to name a few.
Furthermore, the program boasts a strong record of academic achievement with 89% of its alumni completing college within six years, and 83% earning degrees in STEM fields over the last decade.
The program’s influence extends beyond academic success; it builds a robust foundation in STEM and nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose among its participants.
The program is highly selective. Estimates for the broader MITES programs (especially the Summer track) show a very low single-digit acceptance rate (often cited in the 3 to 10 percent range).
MITES Saturdays is structured as a commuter program where students directly engage in a rich educational experience on MIT’s campus without needing residential accommodation.
Here’s an overview of what MITES Saturdays students typically go through:
Participants meet on 16 Saturdays throughout the academic year at the MIT Campus — eight weeks during the fall semester and eight weeks during the spring semester.
Students should expect to attend classes from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM during these Saturdays. Each session is packed with a combination of theoretical learning and practical, hands-on projects covering a wide array of STEM fields, from biological engineering and robotics to urban planning and architecture.
MITES Saturdays also includes various extracurricular activities such as college visits, application workshops, and social events to enrich the student’s educational journey.
At the end of each semester, students receive detailed feedback from their instructors that highlights their strengths and areas for improvement. This written evaluation is invaluable not only for personal growth but also as a supplementary resource for college applications.
Students of MITES Saturdays have the unique opportunity to bring their theoretical knowledge to life through hands-on projects that challenge their creativity and engineering skills. These collaborative projects are central to the MITES experience, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios and showcase their innovative solutions to complex problems.
Here are a couple of exemplary projects from past MITES Saturdays students:
In the Mobile App Development course, Nychole Villa and her team developed Unmask, an app designed to help users stay informed about COVID-19 while offering strategies to navigate related mental health challenges. The project emphasized user-centered design and practical programming skills, encouraging students to apply technical knowledge to a timely, real-world public health and wellness problem. Read more about it here.
In a demonstration of mechanical engineering principles, 9th-grade students constructed a real-life version of the popular game Angry Birds for their project titled “The Straw Hats.” They worked in design teams to ideate, prototype, and build the game using class-provided materials, effectively translating a digital concept into a tangible, interactive toy. Read more about it here.
MITES Saturdays is designed for middle and high school students from Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence, MA, who strongly believe in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Ideal participants are ready to commit to a weekend-based, multi-year program and eager to advance their knowledge and essential skills in STEM fields.
The program particularly seeks students from underserved backgrounds, including those who might be the first in their families to attend college. It aims to provide them with a solid foundation in STEM and prepare them for future academic and career opportunities in these critical disciplines.
Participation in MITES Saturdays is a strong positive signal for college admissions, particularly for students pursuing STEM pathways. The program is highly selective and academically demanding, and acceptance itself reflects a student’s readiness for rigorous, fast-paced learning beyond the standard school curriculum. While participation does not guarantee admission to any institution, it demonstrates sustained intellectual commitment, resilience, and the ability to thrive under structured academic pressure.
In the admissions process, the program’s selectivity, multi-semester commitment, and detailed instructor evaluations often matter more than the MIT name alone. For those can who clearly articulate growth areas and student’s contributions, MITES Saturdays functions as credible evidence of both academic preparation and long-term engagement in STEM.
Joining MITES Saturdays offers students a unique opportunity to deepen their STEM knowledge and skills on MIT’s vibrant campus. This enriching experience not only bolsters academic prowess but also create lifelong community, providing a solid foundation for college and beyond.
For students aiming to advance in technology, engineering, and science, MITES Saturdays serves as an excellent springboard toward achieving their academic and career goals.
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