The MIT admissions office launched a new web portal on Monday (Sept. 13) designed specifically for high school students who are interested in learning more about the Institute.
Called "MyMIT," the portal will serve as a bridge between the Institute and prospective MIT students, transcending standard viewbooks and other print material by taking advantage of the web's interactivity.
"By personalizing our admissions processes, we will not only develop lasting relationships with candidates and communicate the true nature of our institution, but we will also be able to engage students earlier in the process," said Dean of Admissions Marilee Jones.
Prospective students can customize their portal to fit their preferences. For example, a student who indicates interests in engineering, tennis and piano will receive related features and news from the engineering, athletic and music departments. Articles will be updated on a regular basis to encourage frequent visits.
More than simply another avenue of information, the portal will allow prospective students to join in, and interact with, the MIT community by communicating with current students and admissions staff. They can immerse themselves in MIT culture via a variety of 'portlets'--student profiles, MIT facts, latest inventions, campus events, even a rotating archive of MIT's infamous hacks.
Students can sign up as early as they'd like, and their accounts will stay with them through the application process. A prospective student can apply online and track the progress of his or her application through the MyMIT portal.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on September 22, 2004 (download PDF).
