How to Get into MIT Computer Science: A Former Student’s College Essay Tips

We recently interviewed a former student, Eli D., on his experience working on the Common App and supplemental essays. Eli was accepted to study Computer Science at MIT in Fall 2025, so we thought you might be interested in his responses.

You will be entering MIT to study Computer Science in the fall, which is a great achievement. But your Common App essay had nothing to do with CS. Could you give a quick summary of what you wrote your essay about?

I wrote about my relationship with routine and structure. Specifically, its benefits and drawbacks and how my approach to having a rigid routine in my life evolved over time.

What was the writing process like?

In the beginning, it's about writing as much as possible on whatever your common app essay is about. Once you’ve written as much as you can on the subject you aggressively cut it down until the essay is fine-tuned with every word being necessary.

Did you learn anything important about yourself as you wrote your essay? And did you develop any skills that you think you’ll use in the future?

I think that my ability to write increased a fair amount. I am now better able to express my ideas in writing after working with Ben and Sarah.

How was your experience working on the supplementals different from the Common App essay?

Supplemental essays are much more structured and less story oriented. Instead of trying to show growth and perspective they just describe a specific and narrow aspect of your life.

You’re one of the few students who worked with both our tutors -- me and Sarah Stoller. How were our approaches similar? How were they different?

I think that both were very good at improving my ability to write and helping me put together college essays. Ben is definitely more critical than Sarah which does not necessarily make you feel as good, but both hold you to a high standard of writing.

You obviously put in some great applications, since you’ll be going to MIT in the fall. Do you have any specific advice for people writing their college essays?

You don’t know specifically what they are looking for in each college essay so just answer honestly and don’t be afraid to brag about yourself.