Summer programs offer a unique opportunity to experience academic fields of interest beyond the typical school curriculum. This exposure is particularly useful if you’re aiming to pursue competitive, intensive fields like STEM. Especially if you’re a young woman looking to make her mark in STEM, there are specific opportunities that are available to help you make your way. Participating in a program like the MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP), the subject of today’s blog post, is an opportunity that can not only help you build your knowledge base, but also enhance your college applications, showcasing your dedication and initiative in pursuing advanced learning experiences.

What is MIT's Women's Technology Program?

The MIT WTP is a rigorous, four-week residential summer academic program aimed at introducing high school girls to engineering. The program is specifically designed for students who display exceptional abilities in math and science but have minimal exposure to engineering. It provides hands-on classes, labs, and team-based projects in two tracks: Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), the latter being on hiatus as of 2024.

The WTP is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment specifically for young women and other students from groups historically underrepresented and underserved in engineering fields. The program particularly encourages applications from African American, Hispanic, and Native American students, ensuring that all applications are considered fairly, regardless of race or ethnicity.

WTP is ideal if you have little to no prior experience in engineering, as the program seeks to provide new experiences rather than extend existing knowledge. The classes, which do not offer MIT academic credit, are developed and led by MIT graduate students with assistance from undergraduates. This isn't a summer camp or an internship, but an intensive academic program.

 

Is it prestigious?

WTP is not only prestigious due to its affiliation with MIT but also because of its competitive selection process. The program accepts only twenty students from a pool of nearly 400-600 applicants each year, ensuring that only the top 11th grade math and science students are chosen. As mentioned above, WTP is developed and led by MIT graduates and recently graduated PhD or Masters’ students, who are some of the sharpest minds in STEM working with MIT’s award-winning faculty. The structure of the course and the small batch size gives you plenty of time to interact with the faculty and the undergrad students assisting them, and the rigorous, hands-on, project-based pedagogy ensures that this program functions as a stamp of dedication on your profile. 

How is MIT WTP structured?

Classes

In the WTP-ME program, you will dive deep into the various aspects of mechanical engineering through three daily class sessions that cover both theoretical and practical aspects of the field. You'll start with foundational concepts in physics like Newton's laws and energy conservation, which will prepare you for more specialized topics such as solid materials, fluid mechanics, and system design. These classes are designed to be highly interactive, featuring extensive hands-on activities, demonstrations, and projects. You'll also gain experience in using advanced tools like 3D solid modeling programs and numerical computing software, which are essential for designing mechanical systems and solving complex engineering problems.

Projects

Throughout the WTP-ME program, you'll engage in two major capstone projects that reflect the broad scope of mechanical engineering. The first project focuses on analytical, modeling, and design aspects, where you'll work in pairs to explore open-ended topics that align with your interests, culminating in a poster presentation to the MIT community. This project could integrate other fields like art, making it an interdisciplinary challenge. The second project involves designing and building a machine as part of a team for a Rube Goldberg Challenge, which is not only a test of your engineering skills but also a creative showcase attended by the broader MIT community.

Guest Speakers and Industry Tours

You will also benefit from regular presentations from MIT faculty and industry professionals, who share insights about their research and career journeys during lunchtime sessions. These talks are an excellent opportunity to understand the diverse career paths in engineering and to get inspired by leading figures in the field. Additionally, tours to engineering firms will give you a firsthand look at the day-to-day operations and challenges of professional engineers, helping you connect classroom learning to real-world applications. 

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for WTP, you must be:

• A female high school student in grade 11.

• Be a US resident.

• Love and excel at math and science but have no prior experience in mechanical engineering.

Beyond this, you are particularly encouraged to apply if you:

• Attend a high school with limited access to STEM classes and activities.

• Will potentially be the first family member to attend college.

• Have no family members with science or engineering degrees.

• Come from low socioeconomic means, which may be indicated by qualifying for free/reduced school lunch.

How does the application process work?

In the WTP application, you will have to provide the following:

• Basic forms with short answer questions about your previous coursework, activities, prior experience, and any standardized tests you have taken.

• Three essays of 275-330 words each on the following topics:

• Why do YOU want to learn about mechanical engineering at the Women's Technology Program? What do you hope to accomplish by attending?

• Describe a personal, social, or academic challenge you have faced and how you responded to it.

• Tell us about ONE of your activities that is important to you, and why you are passionate about it.

• Your unofficial high school transcript of grades 9 through 10, as well as your grade 11 fall report. Note that the report must show your course grades for at least the first fall quarter of grade 11.

• Your test score reports for any and all standardized tests you’ve given. Note that it is not mandatory to have taken a standardized test to qualify for WTP. 

• Teacher reference forms from 1 Math and 1 Science teacher.

Applications generally close on January 15th, and admissions notifications are sent out by April 8th. The program itself is held from June 29th to July 26th. You can find the complete application and program calendar here.

How much does MIT WTP cost?

WTP is free to apply for, and for students with a family income less than $120,000 it is free to attend. Overall, the fee structure is broken down as follows:

While there is no scholarship listed, MIT WTP does encourage participants to contact them in case the fee listed here may pose a financial hardship, indicating that options are available.

Pros and Cons of attending MIT WTP

Pros:

1. Provides an intensive learning experience: You will get to engage deeply with engineering principles through hands-on projects and team collaborations. The classes themselves being taught by some of the sharpest minds in the country further add to the experience.

2. It’s an empowerment opportunity: WTP is designed to be especially supportive for students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in engineering. If you belong to this bracket, it is an almost unmissable opportunity for you to gain access to a top-class STEM experience.

3. Networking: You will make invaluable connections with MIT faculty and peers, setting a strong foundation for your future academic and career pursuits.

Cons:

1. Intensity: The curriculum is challenging and may be overwhelming for some, especially as a WTP attendee is likely to be unfamiliar with mechanical engineering and the rigor of college-level STEM.

2. Limited scope: Currently only offers a track in Mechanical Engineering, with the EECS track on hiatus. If you have an interest in other STEM fields, then you’re out of luck.

3. Geographic limitations: For one thing, the program is only open to U.S. residents, limiting international students from applying. For another, it is completely residential, so if you’re unable to travel to the MIT campus then you will not be able to attend.

If you’re an underrepresented high schooler with a real interest, but minimal exposure, in mechanical engineering eager to challenge yourself in a competitive, enriching environment, MIT’s WTP is undoubtedly worth considering. It’s a program that promises not only to teach but also to inspire the next generation of female engineers.

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