Program Description
MITES Saturdays is an academic enrichment and career exploration program for 7th–12th grade public school students from Boston, Cambridge, and Lawrence, MA who have a strong academic record and interest in science and engineering. Upon acceptance to the program, students have the opportunity to re-enroll and continue participating in the program until they’ve graduated high school. Through a hands-on instructional approach, students increase their mastery of academic subjects, strengthen their understanding of the practical applications of math and science concepts, discover new academic and professional opportunities, and gain exposure to a college environment. MITES Saturdays meets on MIT’s campus eight times per semester during the fall and spring. Each session starts promptly at 10 am and ends at 3:30 pm. The fall semester typically takes place over 8 Saturdays from September through early December. The spring semester typically takes place over 8 Saturdays from February through early May.
Requirements
To be eligible to apply to MITES Saturdays, applicants must be:
Boston, Cambridge, or Lawrence, MA public school students
Boston, Cambridge, or Lawrence, MA residents
7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th grade students
U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students selected for MITES Saturdays generally have the following qualities:
Passion for science, technology, engineering, and math—demonstrated through extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation
Strong academic record—there is no minimum GPA to apply, but students are expected to maintain letter grades of A and B in school throughout their time in MITES Saturdays
Genuine interest in the program and willingness to take on a multi-year commitment
We strongly encourage students from the following backgrounds to apply:
Underrepresented in science and engineering, identifying as African American/Black; Hispanic/Latinx; Native American or Alaska Native; and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
Underserved, defined as coming from low socioeconomic means, which may be indicated by qualification for free/reduced lunch
Potentially the first family member to attend college
From families with an absence of science and engineering degrees
From high schools with low admittance rates to top-tier colleges, especially rural or predominantly minority high schools
All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be considered, regardless of race or ethnicity.