Fun with MIT Essays

Colleges & Universities Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>As a potential (9% chance) MIT mom, I’ve lurked on this board and read people’s angst about the MIT application. Tonight I offer a different perspective.</p>

<p>We’ve asked our son to work on applications and essays for one hour a night this month. Last night, we looked at the five MIT essay prompts and brainstormed possible themes and ideas. Tonight, he sat down for his hour of application work and we heard him laughing. I asked if he was reading Facebook or Stumble Upon instead of working college applications. He said “no, I’m writing my MIT essays. I’m on a roll. It’s really kind of fun.” He wrote and rewrote and edited for two hours without realizing the time and with intermittent giggles.</p>

<p>Who knows if he gets in. But since I’m a writer, I’ll always remember how much fun he had writing the MIT essays.</p>

<p>By the way, now he thinks all other essays prompts are “lame.”</p>

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<p>Hooray!!!</p>

3

<p>:) The application totally doesn’t have to be stressful. It sort of surprised me (after I applied to 16 colleges) to learn that some people found them very stressful, when you’re talking about a topic you hopefully know well (that is, you!).</p>

<p>Waiting for results, on the other hand… ;)</p>

4

<p>Well, I have trouble writing about myself. It is difficult to determine whether you are being too humble or too self-centered.</p>

5

<p>I have definitely had fun with my essays no doubt. And I would agree with your son, I think all the other ones are boring now. I especially love my first one.</p>