Getting into MIT from the UK

[Threesoundslikealot]

I have a 13 year old with his heart set on MIT. He is very gifted at maths and science, and is likely to do well in his other GCSEs, but is naturally lazy. I want to encourage him in his ambition but does anyone know what MIT looks for? I know it's incredibly competitive. Their website talks about applicants with very rounded lives, not just maths and science. Is this true? I have seen Oxbridge people on here admit that brains are the clincher, not grade 8 flute. Is MIT similar?

Suit, argh! I don't know if you've RTFT but I've not been talking about any of that. I started the thread out of curiosity as to what applying to MIT might actually involve. And actually, the start of year 9 is not remotely early to start thinking about developing extra-curricular stuff if it might be necessary down the line.

Also I know cruising will end when it has to. That was my point really - we'd rather he had his wake up call at a relatively less crucial point. Mine was two years into undergrad! He actually doesn't get away with as much as I did already so I think his crunch point may be earlier and I hope it doesn't mean he screws up a result that will give him problems.

Thanks, posters on this thread. Lots of interesting stuff to read! I think right now he does want to do a PhD but then get out there and earn money. But obviously his ideas may change over the years.

I'm with esornep- the people I know that have made the most money since we graduated twenty years ago are either maths graduates, or entrepreneurs, or indeed in the intersection of those two sets!
Many of those that did STEM subjects, particularly those that went into academia, are left trailing financially.