Are the MIT Bootcamps for me? What are the Eligibility Criteria and Requirements?

MIT Bootcamps Programs are designed for industry professionals and entrepreneurs of every experience level. While all participants must be 18 years or older on the start date of the Bootcamp to participate, there are no formal education, degree, or experience requirements.

The Bootcamps are for anyone with a strong interest in innovation and entrepreneurship! We believe that bringing together diverse thinkers from around the world to share perspectives is central to the MIT Bootcamps mission. Our participants will have diverse experience in areas like finance, management, marketing, technology, and others, and a desire to apply their expertise in order to address problems or create innovative resources across industries.

We encourage all of our participants to seek out connections with fellow Bootcampers as part of the process. The Bootcamps will include dedicated social and networking events. Through the Bootcamp, you will learn and practice the steps of creating a new venture that can thrive in today's markets, and you will have an unparalleled opportunity to make connections with change-makers around the world.

Admission to MIT Bootcamps Programs is highly selective. The most successful Bootcampers have had the following qualities before attending, which contributed to their success at the Bootcamp and beyond.

• Capacity for Calculated Risk — Success happens when preparation meets opportunity. But seizing new opportunities comes with an inescapable amount of risk. We look for applicants who are confident and calculated risk-takers and who can judge when it makes sense to embark on a new venture, pivot, or start anew.
• Open and Critical Thinking — Developing your venture will require collaboration and openness to new ideas. We look for individuals with an ability to combine critical thinking with an open mind.
• Focus on Community — At MIT we believe that the team is more important than the idea. Great teams make amazing companies and can turn average ideas into life-changing innovations. Ideal candidates will put the team above themselves and possess a strong track record of contributing to their community.
• Initiative with Follow-Through — Anyone can start a new venture, but what separates the thriving businesses from those that fail is follow-through. We look for applicants that start new ventures and will follow through even when the going gets tough.
• Collaborative identity — Because the team is more important than the idea, our ideal candidates are self-aware rather than self-centered. They will put the team above themselves and have a strong track record of collaboration.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit some information about your background, upload a resume or your LinkedIn profile, and complete a short video interview. The video interview questions are an opportunity for us to learn more about you beyond your resume.

To apply for an open MIT Bootcamps Program session, please navigate to the Bootcamps Application Site and create an account—if you don't already have one! Once you have an account, log in and click the "Apply Now" button. For detailed application instructions, please refer to the FAQ article How do I apply for a Bootcamp?

If you had an account on our previous application site, Survey Monkey, please visit this FAQ for instructions to create your account on the new site!