About the MIT CDO Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you begin...
Thank you for your interest in the MIT CDO program. The answers to many of your questions can be found throughout the CDO web site. Note in particular the Admission page, where you will find details about the requirements and steps for applying to the program, including the application procedure, deadlines, and tests. If, after reading through the site, you still have questions about the program, please contact us.
The information on this web site is specifically about the MIT Master's Degree program in Computation for Design and Optimization. If you want to learn about applying to other MIT graduate programs, please visit the MIT Graduate Admissions web site.
About the MIT CDO Program
What is the duration of the CDO program?
The CDO program is designed so that students who are either self-supported or on fellowship can complete the program in 12-18 months. Students supported by research assistant or teaching assistant funds should allow two years to complete the program.
How many students are admitted to the program each year?
The number of students admitted depends upon the number of qualified candidates who apply to the program. We typically admit 15-20 students per year.
Are there specific prerequisites for the CDO program, such as undergraduate courses or work experience?
There are no specific prerequisite courses required for admission. However, we do expect prospective students to have a strong foundation in a core disciplinary area, such as engineering, materials science, physics, or mathematics. The program is very technical, and as such, we expect all applicants to have a firm foundation in and understanding of linear algebra and multivariable calculus.
Is my background/undergraduate major technical enough for me to qualify for CDO?
The CDO program is certainly open to many non-traditional backgrounds. Because the program is very technical, we expect all applicants to have a firm foundation in and understanding of linear algebra and multivariable calculus. If you have a good working knowledge of these areas of mathematics, then we would welcome you to apply to the CDO program.
Is a thesis or any project work required?
Yes, students are required to write a master’s thesis, under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
Is the CDO interdisciplinary S.M. program structurally different from other MIT S.M. programs?
No, the interdisciplinary CDO S.M. (Master of Science) program is no different from any other S.M. program at MIT. We admit students directly into the CDO program, and students are awarded a degree in Computation for Design and Optimization through the MIT School of Engineering.
What are the tuition, fees, and other expenses for the academic year?
The schedule of fees for the 2010-2011 academic year can be found on the MIT Fee Schedule, http://web.mit.edu/registrar/reg/costs. Additional financial information is available on the MIT Financial Aid web site, http://web.mit.edu/sfs/index.html.
Is any financial support available? What are the chances of receiving financial aid, and what are the requirements to apply for aid?
A limited amount of financial support is available to students who are admitted to the program, though we cannot guarantee financial support to every admitted student. We do make every effort to match admitted students with CDO faculty who have financial support through a sponsored research project, based on the students’ interests and backgrounds and the faculty’s areas of research. Support is available in the form of either a research assistantship or a teaching assistantship. Please visit the CDO faculty research web page for information about our affiliated faculty members’ research interests.
Further information for graduate student financial aid can be found on the MIT Student Financial Services website page.
What are the job prospects for CDO program graduates?
We anticipate that the job prospects are widely varied. Please read more about this in our CDO brochure, which you can download. In particular, read the section on “Why Study CDO?” for some guidance on career options.
Is it possible to take CDO courses through distance learning?
No, the CDO program is not available through an e-learning or other distance learning method. However, some of the courses listed on the CDO curriculum web page link to the MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) web site, where you will be able to view course materials free of charge. Please note that OpenCourseWare courses are not offered for credit, nor do they include an interactive component with faculty. Rather, they provide, at no cost, the learning materials from many of MIT's courses.
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Special Information for Current MIT Graduate Students
I am currently an MIT graduate student. How do I apply to the CDO program?
The CDO Program will accept applications on a rolling basis from current MIT graduate students who wish to pursue the CDO Master's degree concurrent with their existing graduate degree program. Students must be enrolled in a departmental S.M. or Ph.D. degree-granting program in order to be considered for admission on a rolling basis. Please visit the CDO admission web page for more information and a link to the special application for current MIT graduate students.
I am currently an MIT Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) student wishing to apply to CDO. Can I apply for rolling admission?
No, you will need to apply directly to the CDO program just as a non-MIT student would, since M.Eng. students do not have graduate student status.
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The CDO Application
What is the application deadline for the Fall 2011 semester?
Applications for admission in Fall 2011 must be submitted no later than January 10, 2011.
What components are required for a complete application?
The CDO program only accepts the customized online application, at http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate/how_to_apply/index.html.
Please complete the application as instructed. The application calls for three letters of evaluation/recommendation to be sent electronically by your recommenders, as well as your certified, official academic transcripts (photocopies will not be accepted).
-Official GRE General Test Score report (Department Code: 1699): only the original, official test report will be accepted.
-Official IELTS Test Score report for non-native English speakers: only the original, official test report will be accepted.
Will submitting my application early make a difference?
No, you can submit your application any time. However, please be aware that admission decisions will not be made until early March, so submitting the application earlier then the deadline date will not expedite the admission decision.
What is the “Subjects Taken” section? Why do I need to complete this section, since you will have my transcripts?
Although your courses are listed on your transcripts, you still need to complete the “Subjects Taken” section. This section refers to a list of the courses you have taken that are most relevant to the CDO master’s degree program. In this section, please be sure to list the names of the courses, as well as the academic year in which you took them, the textbook used, and the grade that you received. We will be able to review the other courses you have taken from your transcripts.
I don't have grades for my fourth undergraduate year, since I am still pursuing my bachelor's degree. Will this impact my application?
We recognize that your fourth-year courses are still in progress. You can simply list the courses and academic year for now, and we can get your grades for these courses at a later date.
If I am accepted into the CDO program, can I defer admission?
Possibly. If you have been admitted to the program and you wish to defer enrollment, the CDO codirectors will review your request and may decide to grant you a deferral for up to one year. After that time period, you would need to re-apply.
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Singapore-MIT Alliance Computational Engineering (SMA-CE) and CDO Dual Master's Degree Program: NO LONGER OFFERED
Important program change notice:
The Singapore-MIT Alliance will no longer offer fellowships for the SMA-CE and MIT CDO dual master's degree program, beginning with Fall 2010 admission. The final year for SMA-CE fellowships is Academic Year 2009-2010. These fellowships have already been awarded, and no additional fellowships will be given.
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IELTS and Consideration of Waiver
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
As of Fall 2010,
the CDO program requires international applicants from non-English speaking countries to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) instead of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). TOEFL exam scores will no longer be accepted.
The IELTS exam measures one’s ability to communicate in English in four major skill areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. A minimum IELTS score of 7 will be required for admission to the CDO program, beginning with Fall 2010 admission. Please visit the IELTS website to find test center locations in your country, and to learn about registering for the test, test fees, score reporting, and other important information. The test fee is US$170 ( the IELTS website provides fee information in your local currency).
Why is the TOEFL exam no longer accepted?
We are confident that the IELTS is a better tool for predicting English language proficiency across all dimensions of MIT’s international graduates students than other international standardized tests. Therefore, CDO has elected to use IELTS test results instead of TOEFL results.
Who must take the IELTS exam?
All foreign students whose native language is not English must submit an IELTS examination score. The CDO Program requires a minimum IELTS score of 7. Applications will not be considered if the IELTS is below 7.
Am I eligible for a waiver of the IELTS?
• All of my schooling has been in English.
• I have been working at a company for several years where English is the medium of communication.
The CDO Program will review English-speaking experience and may waive the IELTS requirement for applicants who have received instruction in English in both their primary and secondary schools. If you can validate that you meet this requirement, a waiver of IELTS will be considered. Please note that waivers are not automatic; waiver requests will be considered on an individual basis and will not be granted prior to the application review.
How do I have my IELTS test scores sent to MIT?
You can have copies of your Test Report Form automatically sent to five institutions free of charge. Additional copies will incur a small administration charge. Please visit the IELTS website for further instructions.
Am I required to have my official test scores sent to MIT by IELTS, or can I send photocopies of my scores instead?
Official test scores sent from IELTS are required. Even if you send photocopies of your IELTS score report with your application, you must still request that your official score report be sent to MIT.
I cannot take the IELTS until January 2011. Can I still apply to CDO for Fall 2011?
We would need to receive your test scores by the end of January, and we would review your application at that time. However, you must make sure that all of the other components of your application have been submitted by the January 10 deadline in order for us to consider your application.
I took the IELTS a few years ago. Can I use my old score to apply to CDO?
The IELTS exam must be taken within two (2) years of your application to CDO. If you took the IELTS prior to that time, you will need to retake the exam.
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GRE
About the GRE
CDO requires applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The fee for the GRE ranges approximately $115 to $175 U.S. The General Test is offered only on the computer in the U.S. and in most locations around the world. The computer-based GRE General Test is available year-round, and appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to maximize your chances of scheduling your preferred test date and time. To register for the GRE General Test, call 1-800-GRE-CALL (800-473-2255).
Who must take the GRE exam?
All CDO applicants are required to take the GRE general exam.
Does the CDO program have minimum GRE score requirements?
No. However, the majority of the students admitted receive scores in the high 700's and 800 in the Quantitative section. The Verbal scores vary, depending on the applicant's native language. In the Analytical section, scores are usually 4.0 and higher.
Based on my test scores, what is the likelihood of my being admitted?
As a general matter of policy, we do not attempt to estimate the likelihood of a candidate's admission to the program without looking at the entire application. While your test scores are one important criterion that we use, we also rely on your transcript and grades, letters of recommendation, your essay, and other factors and information that we receive from you. We are therefore not in a position to either encourage or discourage you from applying, based solely on your GRE scores.
How do I have my test scores sent from ETS to MIT, using the correct university and department codes?
The Institute Code for reporting the GRE score reports is 3514.
The Department Code for GRE score report is 1699.
For the IELTS score report, no department code is needed.
Am I required to send my official test score reports from ETS, or can I send photocopies of my scores instead?
Official test scores sent from ETS are required. Even if you send photocopies of your GRE score report with your application, you must still request that your official score report be sent to MIT. Once you have requested that ETS send your GRE scores to MIT and they have been downloaded into the MIT Graduate Admissions database, the CDO program will be able to retrieve your scores.
I sent my scores to the wrong department code.
As long as you indicated that the scores should be sent to MIT (Institute code 3514), we will be able to retrieve your scores electronically, once they have been downloaded from ETS.
I cannot take the GREs until January 2011. Can I still apply to CDO for Fall 2011?
We would need to receive your test scores by the end of January, and we would review your application at that time. However, you must make sure that all of the other components of your application have been submitted by the January 10 deadline in order for us to consider your application.
My GRE scores are from 2007. If I do not have a more recent score, will I be disqualified?
Your GRE scores must be recent. If you took GREs more than three years ago, you need to retake the exam.
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Simultaneous CDO and PhD Studies
Is there a CDO PhD program?
No. At this time, the MIT CDO program only offers a master of science (S.M.) degree in Computation for Design and Optimization.
I am interested in applying to the MIT CDO program. I am also interested in obtaining a PhD from MIT in conjunction with the CDO Master's Degree. How should I proceed?
You can pursue the CDO Master of Science degree at the same time that you are pursuing an MIT PhD in another department. However, you would need to apply separately to each program. Once you have been accepted to both programs, you would need to satisfy the course requirements for each degree program. A separate thesis for each program would be required to satisfy the CDO Master's and PhD program requirements.
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