Undergraduate admissions transcript

By now, you will likely have learned from Stu Schmill about the composition of the incoming first-year class. The class is, as always, outstanding across multiple dimensions and will…like last year’s class, and those before it…bring us an inspiring influx of new talents, interests and viewpoints. 

But what it does not bring, as a consequence of last year’s Supreme Court decision, is the same degree of broad racial and ethnic diversity that the MIT community has worked together to achieve over the past several decades.   

Why do I care so deeply about this? 

• Because I believe firmly that…if we want to sustain MIT’s excellence and its potential for impact…we must tap into the full range of human talent and experience. 
• I care because research shows that more diverse teams are more creative and innovative – qualities that are essential in helping us solve the most complex problems facing the nation and the world.
• I care because our students will graduate into an ever-more multilingual, multicultural and multiracial society. And we want them to thrive in the diverse teams and communities that they will belong to and often lead.
• And I care because I know from my own experience – as you probably know from yours – that every one of us benefits from living, learning and working with people from different backgrounds.

For all of you out there, take a moment to think about the MIT we know today. People from all over this country and indeed, all over the globe. All of them here, together, united by curiosity and drive and passion for the distinct mission and values of MIT.

The fact is, MIT has never been stronger and it has never been more diverse.

That, to me, is something worth fighting very hard to preserve. 

So, what are we going to do? Of course we’re going to follow the law, as we always have. Within that, as Stu indicates, we need to seek out new approaches. We need to make sure that the opportunity pipeline is wide open. And we need to be prepared to think big and long term.

• That means continuing to offer an affordable MIT education through our ongoing commitment to meeting 100% of financial need for all undergraduates, and making sure prospective students know they can afford an MIT education.
• It means investing in our proven outreach programs that build a foundation of academic excellence for talented, promising young people.
• It means using MIT’s resources to further expand access to foundational STEM preparation for K to 12 students nationwide, whether online or in person.
• And it means finding more ways to leverage our community’s commitment to service and mentorship to reach talented students whose potential has been limited or masked by a lack of opportunity.

I have asked the faculty-led Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid to consider these measures and others as we determine the best path forward for the Institute of today, and for future generations.

Of course, we must also do everything we can to make sure MIT is a welcoming environment for us all, so that everyone who joins our community can thrive here. We have work to do on that score too. 

MIT has never shied away from hard problems – and if this were a simple issue, Stu and his team would have solved it. This should not deter us, any more than it does for other seemingly intractable problems. We need to take this challenge on together…with all the dedication and ingenuity people count on from MIT…so we can ensure a fantastically talented, vibrantly diverse MIT community in the years to come.