MIT's average GPA?

I've been dreaming about going to MIT since forever, but I'm really stressed about my chances of getting in. Just really curious about their average accepted GPA, does anyone know what it is?

Sure, happy to help with that! While MIT does not officially report an "average GPA" for its accepted students, it's known to be extremely competitive. According to the CollegeVine database, the vast majority of admitted students from the past few years had a GPA of 4.0 (unweighted), which is about as high as you can get in most American high schools.

However, it's important to note that MIT, like many other highly selective institutions, takes a holistic approach to admissions. As such, a strong GPA is just one aspect they look at. Other factors such as your course rigor (how challenging your classes are), your standardized test scores, extracurricular involvements, essays, and recommendations, among other things, will also be key considerations.

MIT looks at what they call an "academic index" which calculates the strength of your grades, test scores, and class rank (if provided). They don't publish the exact academic index values, but comparing the profile of accepted students to yours can give you an idea of whether you fall within their range.

In simple terms, while achieving a high GPA is absolutely imperative, it is not sufficient on its own. You would do well to also focus on other aspects of your application. For example, having high-level and meaningful involvement in a handful of extracurriculars (remember, quality over quantity), crafting compelling essays, etc., can significantly bolster your application. In this regard, focusing on developing a "spike" or a highly-developed specialty in a particular field can make you an appealing candidate to MIT.

I hope this helps, and I'd encourage not to get too stressed. College applications can be daunting, but they're also a great opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. Best of luck!