donaldGuy

As someone who considers himself (and yes, I see the arrogance in this) a best of the best (SATs currently at 2290, but it'll get higher, GPA lookin to be 4.8 by graduation, valedictorian, 5s on APs except for history (which was a 4)), I'd like to put in my 2 cents on the issue:

okay, first off, I'm only a junior .. I may or may not get into MIT next year and I really want to, but there are two things on which I can judge

1) Admitted students from my high school:

This year is the first year we have gotten any substantial number of students into MIT. Of those who I know, 5 applied, 3 got in. Those who got in (names changed to protect the innocent):
a) "Maria" A close personal friend of mine, Hispanic female. Not great class rank, decent GPA (probably around 3.7). Did AA help her? Maybe, but she really wanted to go to MIT .. she told me last year that she was going whether they let her in or not. Smart girl, large interest in Aero/Astro, gone to several engineering camps, did a summer internship at Raytheon. I think MIT made a good call.

b) "Steven" friends with "Maria". GPA rather low (3.2-5 ish), don't know about any of his other stats. White male. Always tinkering with electronics.. like constantly. Built a mini-fridge in his car console, wired Christmas lights to his car and programmed them to "dance" to trans-siberian orchestra. Smart, not a genius but extremely creative. Really wanted to go. Verdict: pretty good call.

c) "Kono". Black Male, decent GPA, probably top 15 class rank (of about 500). Held all-time single day winnings record for Jeopardy (only single day cause done on "Kids" version .. for pre-high school age preteens). Champion of Scholastic Bowl. Pretty smart, though not groundbreaking; knows alot of trivia. Already had gotten in Yale early, applied mostly so he could say he got in (also at Princeton, Brown, Harvard, Duke, UVA).. jerk (for that at least). Verdict: not such a good call.. but smart black kid .. probably got URM'd in on that one

those who didn't:

a) "Saguna". Indian Female. Salutatorian. Studys hard, not dumb, but doesn't "emanate intelligence". Took easier classes this year to keep workload lighter. Sings, but not in school choral program (which is well developed, successful, scored all "superiors" with grade 5 & 6 music at state choral festival.. I'm a member, btw). Did some physics research project. Claimed she really wanted to go to MIT, but had typical uptight "I just want a really good school" feel. Got into Hopkins, seems okay with it. Verdict: pretty good decision

b) "Luis". Hispanic Male, ranked 4th or 5th in class. Smart, good programmer, marching band drum major. Kinda wanted MIT, but didn't care alot, left application until last minute (along with others.. he was busy). Full tuition offer from Caltech, >half from OSU. Seems perfectly happy. Verdict: they could have let him in, but its okay; he seems happy with other options.

Overall .. I'd say of the pool I saw, MIT took the people who most wanted to go, all were qualified, those who got in spent more time doing what they loved, less wasting time freaking out about school. I think MIT made good calls and I applaud their decisions.


2) Campus Visits:

I just got back from MIT today and I visited Caltech last summer. MIT seems full of people who love to learn and who have interests in other things too. People vary a lot and girls are about even with guys in # (though there seem to be alot of asian girls (among others), but not as many asian guys; alot of white guys with a spattering of indian, chinese, japanese, middle eastern, and at a much lower rate, black guys). Tour guides were very different, but seemed smart. One was a senior who seemed to love the institution, but was planning to go into a start-up after school. Overall seems like a place full of people that, though there are rough times, want to be there and enjoy doing it.

Caltech on the other hand seemed SO uptight. Everyone seemed like they were focused on their academics and nothing else. Alot of guys, not so many girls. Mostly east asian and white, not much black, indian, arabic, etc. Asked the tour guide if he wanted to stay for grad school he said "no, I'm getting the hell out of here!". Overall my impression was alot of uptight, snooty people who worked hard and played little. Kinda bitter.

Basically.. my thoughts are MITs admissions aren't perfect (I'll especially think that if I don't get in), but I think the process gets people who are diverse, passionate, "well-rounded", and most importantly, really want to be there. So, I think they are doing all right

Peace,
~Donald

Edit:

Additionally.. at MIT, I had a campus tour group filled with the most stereotypically nerdy people I have ever seen: pasty, glasses, oxford cloth shirt and trench coat, chatting about their AMC scores; they didn't know about the school, just were looking at it cause it was "the great MIT"... I'm sure they were all very smart, but they aren't the kind of people I'd want to hang out with for any length of time.. the student body, on the other hand, had its share of stereotypical nerds, but was mostly people who were clearly nerds, very smart, enthralled with a subject of some sort, but they all seemed like real people, not caricatures. Definitely people I'd rather spend any length of time with.