Student Stories
Meder “MJ” Kamalov ’09
Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Major: Physics
About five years ago, I started to notice MIT in movies and in books — the character who saved the day with some feat of science or engineering always turned out to be an MIT graduate. I figured that “normal” people would never be admitted to MIT and shouldn’t even bother applying. I also considered the annual cost of attending MIT — the average person in my country wouldn’t make that much money in his entire lifetime.
Then one day I met a guy on a plane flying back to Kyrgyzstan, and we started talking about college. Turns out he went to MIT. When I asked him how this was possible, he responded, “Just go to the website and fill out the application,” as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
I visited the web site and discovered that MIT accepts people with no regard to their financial circumstances; only a handful of colleges in the United States are able to do this. It seemed to be an amazing place, so I decided to try.
I applied and was accepted with full financial aid, meaning my family was not expected to contribute anything. When I got the news, I almost fell out of my chair. The process was so simple — just a few forms and documents.
“Full financial aid” means that my family is free and clear, but it’s not the same thing as a “free ride.” Every student who receives financial aid at MIT is expected to make a significant personal contribution, which I think is good. It ensures that people take responsibility for their own education.
| Financial aid package (2007-08) | |
| MIT scholarship | $43,023 |
| MIT Technology Loan | $5,250 |
| Total aid package | $48,273 |
See more detailed financial aid examples
Learn about helping fund an MIT education for future students
