MIT Emerging Talent Certificate in Computer and Data Science Application

Welcome! We are thrilled that you have decided to apply to the MIT Emerging Talent program! Our vision is to provide talented learners a platform to advance their skills, leverage their expertise, access professional career opportunities, and become leading change agents in their communities. 

Before you start your application, please review the key areas that will help us determine if this program is the right fit for you:

• Program Description: You will learn about the program curriculum, eligibility, and key requirements for completion. 
• Digital Literacy: This MIT Emerging Talent program is conducted entirely online. For this reason, the ability to communicate, collaborate, and study online is critical to success. 
• Entrepreneurship and Social Impact: Our community is about encouraging innovation for the purpose of building a better world. We want to know what this better world looks like to you and how you can use technology to create it. 
• Quantitative: We will assess your computational thinking, fundamental mathematics and analytical skills. 
• Demographics: We will collect information about your educational and professional background and personal narrative. Note that MIT Emerging Talent does not have prior academic or professional experience requirements. 
• Resources for preparing for this program: We will provide you with free online materials for your learning journey in computer science, entrepreneurship, and human skills.

To complete your application, please follow this process: 

1. Complete this application on Submittable: 

• The form is expected to take approximately 60 minutes to complete.
• During the form completion, you will be required to view short videos or written online resources before answering some questions.
• The application includes graded knowledge checks and several short-answer written responses. These written responses will be used to assess both your English language fluency and your suitability for the program.
• You'll be requested to submit a video recording answering to a question. 
• Ensure that you submit the form by the deadline of October 21 at 5pm EST.

2. After submitting this form, you will receive a confirmation message containing an instructional document to access the Math Exam. 

3. Complete the Math Exam on the AutoProctor platform. Only those who submit the main application will have access to the Math Exam link. 

• Once you start the exam, you will have 60 minutes to complete it.

The deadline to submit the math exam is October 23 at 5pm EST. Your application for the program will only be considered complete after you have submitted both the initial Submittable form and the AutoProctor math exam.

Program Timeline: 

• October 2024: Call for Applications 
• November: Review and acceptance for Emerging Talent Foundations Track 
• Mid-November: Foundations Track Begins 
• Beginning of January 2025: Foundations Track Ends 
• Mid-January 2025: Review and acceptance for Certificate Program 
• End of January 2025: Certificate Program Begins 
• February - June 2025: Academic Courses 
• June - December 2025: Experiential Learning Opportunities
• January 2026: Graduation

Program Description 

MIT Emerging Talent at the MIT Jameel World Education Lab develops global education programs that target the needs of talented individuals from the most challenging economic and social circumstances, by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to advance their education and careers. We target talented learners including refugees, migrants, conflict impacted individuals, and first-generation low-income students from underserved communities worldwide. 

When you apply to MIT's Emerging Talent program, you're embarking on a transformative educational journey, acceptance begins with our Foundational Track; selected and committed student progress to our prestigious Certificate in Computer and Data Science.

Emerging Talent Foundations Track - November 2024 - January 2025

In this foundational phase, learners will be selected to participate in a comprehensive program focused on digital literacy, essential human skills, mathematics, and the basics of computer science. This stage is designed to equip you with core skills needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world and succeed in Emerging Talent’s Certificate in Computer and Data Science program. 

Certificate in Computer and Data Science (CDS) - January 2025 - December 2025

Following the Emerging Talent Foundations Track, a selection of learners will be chosen to advance into the full Certificate program. This year-long journey dives deep into advanced computer science and data science, blending rigorous MITx courses, hands-on projects, and a global network of mentors and peers.

This CDS certificate is free of cost for accepted learners and is guided by four core pillars which leverage the strengths of MIT:

• Academics: You will complete a series of online MIT coursework. This series includes three (3) course requirements: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python and Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science. Finally, you will choose an elective course in a tech, tech adjacent, or entrepreneurship topic from MIT’s extensive catalog of online course offerings. MIT Emerging Talent’s Teaching Assistants will provide support along the way. 
• Human Skills: You will learn from MIT and a global team of experts about innovation and entrepreneurship, creativity, leadership, and problem solving, and other uniquely human or soft skills in key domains essential for your success in the modern workforce.
• Experiential Learning: You will demonstrate what you have learned by completing a collaborative or independent data-science driven project or securing a fixed-term internship or new employment opportunity.
• Networks: As part of the MIT Emerging Talent community, you will join a robust network of university and industry leaders, peers, and like-minded innovators to open up new avenues of academic and professional development. The program will pair you with a mentor for career advising, as well as keep you informed and connected to opportunities like university scholarships, entrepreneurship and innovation challenges and competitions to help launch your own ideas for impact into reality.

Eligibility 

The MIT Emerging Talent model has been designed with consideration for the complex needs of underserved communities. 

• With this application we welcome applications from refugees, internally displaced persons, and those otherwise impacted by forced migration from anywhere in the world. A significant number of positions will be reserved for women and applicants of refugee, asylee or internally displaced status. 
• Admitted learners must be 18 years of age or older.
• Admitted learners should be proficient in English. Applications will be screened to assess English language fluency in speaking and writing. 

MIT Emerging Talent is open to anyone regardless of age, nationality, gender, identity, cultural identity, or political viewpoint. Unfortunately, US law prevents MIT from providing services to persons ordinarily residing in Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, or the Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic, or Luhansk People’s Republic areas of Ukraine and to parties blocked by the US Treasury Department.

Note that if you are from these countries but live somewhere else you are eligible to be accepted. 

Mindset

If you are accepted for the full Certificate Program, you will be expected to commit 20 hours per week to the MIT Emerging Talent CDS Program. Above all else, the successful applicant must possess the self-motivation, proactive thinking, creativity, and open mindedness needed to make the most of these offerings and participate fully in our vibrant multicultural community.

This process is designed to help you showcase your unique strengths and potential. We encourage you to take it one step at a time, knowing that there are no trick questions, only opportunities to highlight what makes you an ideal candidate. Take your time, be yourself, and know that each part of the application is an opportunity to tell your story.

Connectivity Needs and Time Commitment

Please note that reliable access to a computer and internet is necessary for the completion of the Certificate program. Whether you have access to a computer/internet will not determine acceptance into the program. In the application portal, you'll be able to respond to questions related to this. 

Though much of the online coursework can be completed asynchronously, problem sets and exams and live workshops will require ~10 hours per week of connectivity on a laptop or desktop device and additional hours of asynchronous work. 

To pursue the studies, you need to have a computer running one of the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows, version XP or greater (XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7)
• Apple OSX, version 10.2 or greater
• Linux - most distributions that have been released within the past two years should work
• In addition, you will need the ability to download, install, and run software on your computer.

Important Notice Concerning Use of AI in Development:

We expect all applicants to provide authentic, truthful responses that reflect their own thoughts, experiences, and qualifications. Any use of AI-generated content may result in disqualification from the application process.

If prior to beginning your submission you have questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or email emergingtalent@mit.edu. 

Ready to go forward? Continue on to complete your application.