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 expect to admit 25-30 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 2006-2007 academic year can be found on the MIT Fee Schedule. Additional financial information is available on the MIT Financial Aid web site.
Is any financial support available? What are the chances of receiving financial aid, and what are the requirements to apply for aid?
Yes, a limited amount of financial support is available, 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.
Furthermore, a number of fellowships sponsored by the government of Singapore are available for the CDO Master's Degree program. The Singapore government sponsors these fellowships as part of the "Computational Engineering" (CE) Program offered by the Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA). Fellowships pay all tuition expenses, provide a stipend, and require students to undertake a dual degree program that includes the CDO Master of Science degree at MIT, as well as a Master of Science degree at National University of Singapore (NUS). Details on the dual degree program can be found on the SMA web site, in the section "Pathways into the Programme."
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 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 2007 semester?
Applications for admission in Fall 2007 are due by January 10, 2007.
What components are required for a complete application?
Please visit the MIT Graduate Admissions Application web page for complete information, and to download the application. All applications to the CDO program must include the following:
- The completed application form
- Three letters of evaluation/recommendation
- Certified, official academic transcripts (photocopies will not be accepted)
- Completed Record of Subject Section
- A statement of objectives (limit essay to one page)
- Official GRE General Test Score report (Department Code: 1699) (photocopies may also be sent, but they will not be considered official score reports)
- Official TOEFL Test Score report for non-native English speakers (Department Code: 69) (photocopies may also be sent, but they will not be considered official score reports)
Will submitting my application early make a difference?
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 "Record of Subjects" 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 Record of Subjects 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 and the grade that you received. We will be able to review the other courses you have taken from your transcripts.
Please note:
- If you are completing the application online, this section is called "Record of Courses taken in Preparation for Graduate Study."
- If you are completing the application on paper , this section is called "Record of Subjects Taken in Preparation for Graduate Study."
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.
Do I need to mail you the statement of objectives after filling out the online form?
No, you do not need to mail the Statement of Objectives if you are completing the application online.
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 Co-directors 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
Is the application the same for the MIT CDO program and the SMA-CE program?
No, the two applications are different. If you wish to apply to the dual MIT CDO/SMA-CE master's degree program, you must complete and submit two separate application forms: one to the CDO program, and one to the SMA program. Each program will independently review your application and independently determine whether or not to admit you, and each will notify you independently of their admission decision.
Must I complete the Financial Statement if I am applying for an SMA fellowship?
Yes, please do complete the Financial Statement form in the MIT application. Please indicate in the "Potential Financial Resources" section that you are applying for an SMA fellowship. Please be advised that you must complete and submit separate applications to both the CDO program and the SMA program. CDO will not accept a copy of your SMA application; only the MIT application and related forms will be accepted.
If I am offered admission to CDO, do I need to forward my CDO admission letter to the SMA office in Singapore?
No, you will not need to forward the CDO acceptance letter to the SMA office in Singapore. We will notify SMA of all CDO admissions decisions, once they have been made.
If I am offered an SMA fellowship, must I forward the SMA offer letter to CDO to prove my source of support?
No. Please feel free to send us a copy of any SMA fellowship letter for our files. However, the SMA office in Singapore will inform us of their admissions decisions.
Which program decides who will receive an SMA fellowship: SMA, CDO, or both programs together?
Decisions about SMA fellowship awards are made solely by the SMA program, independent of MIT. For more information about SMA fellowships, please visit the SMA web page and read the "Fellowship" section.
How long will a student in the dual CDO/SMA degree program reside at MIT, and how long at NUS in Singapore?
Students enrolled in the two-year, dual CDO-SMA degree program generally spend their first, third and fourth semesters in Singapore at NUS, and their second semester plus the ensuing summer at MIT.
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TOEFL and Waiver of TOEFL
About the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). CDO requires a minimum score of 600 (250 for computer-based). The fee for the TOEFL is $140 U.S. International students applying for graduate admission should take the TOEFL no later than December 31, 2006. To register, write directly to: TOEFL, Box 6154 , Princeton , NJ 08541-6154 , or call 1-800-GO-TOEFL (800-468-6335), or consult http://www.toefl.org/.
Who must take the TOEFL exam?
All foreign students whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL examination score. The CDO Program requires a minimum score of 600 (250 computer-based). Applications will not be considered if the TOEFL score is lower than 600/250.
• I want to know if I am eligible for a waiver of the TOEFL, as all of my schooling has been in English.
• I have been working at an American company, where English is the medium of communication, for several years.
The CDO Program will review English-speaking experience and may waive the TOEFL requirement for applicants who have received instruction in English in both their primary and secondary schools, or who have lived for at least four years (after high school) in a country in which English is the primary language. If you can validate that you meet this requirement, a waiver of TOEFL will be considered.
How do I have my test scores sent from ETS to MIT, using the correct university and department codes?
The Institute Code for reporting both the TOEFL and GRE score reports is 3514.
Department Code for GRE score report: 1699
Department Code for TOEFL score report: 69 (Engineering-other)
My test scores have been sent to other MIT departments to which I have applied. Should I have them sent separately to CDO?
No. As long as you have requested that ETS send your scores to MIT (Institute code 3514), we'll be able to retrieve your scores electronically from the MIT Graduate Admissions database.
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 TOEFL 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 TOEFL 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 TOEFL until January 2007. Can I still apply to CDO for Fall 2007?
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 TOEFL a few years ago. Can I use my old TOEFL score to apply to CDO?
The TOEFL exam must be taken within two (2) years of your application to CDO. If you took the TOEFL 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 both the TOEFL and GRE score reports is 3514.
Department Code for GRE score report: 1699
Department Code for TOEFL score report: 69 (Engineering-other)
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 2007. Can I still apply to CDO for Fall 2007?
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 2004. 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 four 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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