Record number of undergraduate students admitted to prestigious MIT from the Arab World in 2008
Fourteen undergraduate students from across the Arab World were admitted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2008.
The number is up from 10 in 2007 and only 6 in 2002. The 2008 numbers translate into an admission rate of 7.2 percent compared with the general admission rate of 12 percent at the renowned Institute.
Nicolas Chammas, who chairs the Arab region for MIT's Educational Council, commented: "We are particularly proud of this year's Arab contingent. Not only does it represent a 10 percent share of the admitted pool of foreign students, but the group also constitutes a harmonious mix in terms of gender, country of origin and socio-economic background"
Admitted students originate mainly from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Palestine, from which three, four and three students were admitted respectively. The other admits hail from Jordan, Lebanon and, for the first time after a long absence, Libya.
Adel Belcaid, president of the MIT Club of the UAE, the Dubai-based MIT alumni association that is organizing a highly anticipated reception for all admitted Arab students in Dubai on April 25th, said: "We're thrilled by this year's record number of admitted students to MIT from the Arab World. For having been students there, we know for a fact that students educated in the Arab World have all it takes to excel in any major on offer at MIT. We also know that the rigorous and multi-faceted MIT education will provide them with the best possible education to make them the architects of a better Arab world. I can't wait to meet the new admits in Dubai on April 25th!"
