Is it good to have many interests?

Colleges & Universities Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I’ve been questioning almost every aspect of my application (which was deferred) and I’m wondering whether it is a good thing to show many interests. For the longest time I’ve second-guessed myself on discussing my involvement in Mechanical Engineering, Neuropsychology, and Alternative Engergies (hydrogen power). Though, as most of you might recall from my many posts on this issue :)) I have pursued each of these in great detail (for MechE, I have 13 patents; for Neuropsychology, I have a research paper; and for Alternative Energies, I have two years of research and brief collaboration with a couple of professors). I discuss Alternative energies throughout the application and briefly mention the other fields. My recommendations really mention these areas and an abstract from my neuropsychology research paper serves to highlight the disparity.</p>

<p>But, from chats with a few students who are currently attending MIT, I’m starting to question whether this is a bad thing. All along I thought MIT wanted a single activity which we have pursued passionately and relentlessly. But these recent chats have made me wonder. </p>

<p>Do you think it is a good or a bad idea to have such varied interests? Was it my SAT I scores that screwed me over or my extracurriculars?</p>

<p>I was considering downplaying the Neuropsychology research and emphasizing the MechE and Alternative Energies work in my letter to MIT, but now I’m wondering. Since my Neuropsychology work was only a few months, whereas my Alternative Energies work was a couple of years, is this the right thing to do?</p>

<p>Anyone with experience please respond.</p>

2

<p>I am in a simillar boat, though I don’t have as many accomplishments as you do :(. </p>

<p>Wonder if I have a chance? Any posters???</p>

3

<p>From my incompetent point of view it’s a good idea to include many interests, especially since you’ve accomplished so much in each of them. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to talk about it.</p>

4

<p>I mentioned all of mine (although I was deferred, so you may want to be careful). If you’re truly interested in them, I don’t think there’s any reason NOT to mention them. My “What programs are you interested in” essay was pretty much like “Well, I really want to do course 8 and 9… oh, and 5 and 7 are cool, and now that I think about it, 6 would be fun. And if I’m doing 6 and 8, might as well do 18, right? Ooohhh and <3 Noam Chomsky 24 for the win.”</p>

<p>No one expects you to know what you want to do when you’re 17 (16-18?), although some people may very well know, you won’t be at a disadvantage for not knowing. My personal opinion: let them know all that interests you!</p>

5

<p>So unidimensional passion is a good thing or a bad thing? I’m now more confused than ever :S?</p>

<p>Luckily for my app I discussed all of my passions (sort of in a disconnected fashion). I guess I might stand a chance if I reaffirm these interests with supplemental letters of recommendation, which cover my research in alternative energies. Then I can write an additional letter to MIT connecting the activities to me an EXPLAINING rather than COVERING UP FOR my vast interests.</p>

<p>Is this what you guys recommend?</p>

<p>Also, as per Mollie’s advice, it seems I would more enjoy a major in MechE w/a Biotrack. Anyone know whether it looks bad to change one’s major after the app has been submit?</p>

<p>Also, thanks for all the great advice and keep it coming!</p>

6

<p>Hm, I think you overthink all this. I don’t think the point of the MIT application is to simulate the “perfect” applicant. Questions like “is this favorably” or “should I leave this out” distort the reality. Just be yourself. If you’ve got many interests you really like, tell them. If you are a science person, tell them. If you are a funny person, tell them. But don’t try to please them by describing yourself as a different person.</p>

7

<p>abless has it right on the money.</p>

8

<p>I don’t think I was very clear in explaining my situation.</p>

<p>See, I my neuropsychology research extended for only a few months after the class had ended (I had a compelling theory and couldn’t resist testing it). And, while I do have an interest for the Brain and Cognitive sciences, my interest for alternative energies is far greater. </p>

<p>One thing I didn’t really discuss in my app, but sort of serves to illustrate that interest, would be my early tinkerings with capsella. From about 10-11 I’ve always wanted to create a “perpetual energy machine”. Throughout my life, I’ve been interested in creating that machine. It started with joining two motors together and creating a closing the circuit so that the power generated by one powers the other. Not knowing about thermodynamics or friction :), I was confident that I could create a self-sustaining system. It moved on to primitive sketches of geared vehicles with motors attached to each axle. I thought that the difference in gearing would force one axle to spin at a faster rate, thereby generating more energy and powering the second motor. Little did I know that mechanical energy is also conserved :). It was sort of a process–one of trial and error. </p>

<p>When I visited the polluted suburbs of Lahore, Pakistan, the need for an alternative energy source became apparent. The busses and the rickshaws billowed a dark blue smoke into the air, culminating in a thick mist of toxins. In my main essay I discuss this trip motivating me to search for a more viable energy medium. I talk about how I was powerfully driven to search for a cure. I researched for months and learned about the hydrogen economy. Since my local scientific community couldn’t help, I searched elsewhere, querying prominent chemistry professors, chemists, and forums. Luckily they were supportive and provided me with LOTS of information! I combined their techniques with some of my theories to create surprisingly efficient techniques for producing hydrogen to be utilized in automobiles. Anyway, I discuss how my work is FAR from its conculusion and how it is only in its infancy.</p>

<p>So, hopefully you can see from my lengthy and confusing posts, that I really have pursued Alternative energies FAR more than I have Neuropsychology. While I have an interest in Neuropsychology, my true passion is for Alternative Energies. I think my application might have distorted that and I’m not sure if I should have even mentioned my work in Neuropsychology. </p>

<p>Given the following clarification, what do you think? The dilemma is not really in trying to fit their “mold” but in better conveying myself to them. I’m not sure if I confused them. That’s why I’m wondering what type of explanation is warranted. </p>

<p>Do you get what I mean (despite my sort of disorganized train of thought :))</p>

9

<p>For the record, I have a feeling the only “bad” answer to the “what department are you interested in” question is a) naming some department we don’t have, thus showing you haven’t done your research, or b) something along the lines of “I have not given my future major a single thought; I am completely undecided and could see myself majoring in absolutely any major in the world.”</p>

<p>(Actually, I don’t know that the second answer would really be a huge negative in the eyes of the admissions committee. But to me, it’s a reason for someone not to come to MIT if they do get in.)</p>

10

<p>Actually, my “which department are you interested in” response served to futher confuse the reader :). I discussed BioE as a major that would effectively combine my interest for Biology with Engineering. I’m genuinely fascinated with Biology’s perfection. Within the most simplest of organisms exists a perfection we can only dream of emulating! Even in Alternative Energies, I’ve come upon various microbes which generate hydrogen as waste (from carbs, the sun, minute electric currents, etc…). Anyway, I’m confident that I would most enjoy combining Biology with Engineering to solve many of the world’s problems. It seems, though, that Mollie’s suggestion of MechE with a Biotrack is a much better idea than BioE. It also seems to better fit with my current work.</p>

11

<p>Wait…This is sort of eerie, you have the same interests and passions as me! We should chat. Where are you? Did you do the same research as me? You discuss your “current work”. What have you done?</p>

12

<p>Let me guess, you’ve done Neuropsychology research too :D.</p>

13

<p>Well, though are stories are largely the same, they are also very different. I only mentioned hydrogen producing microbes to refer to your experimentation. My line of expertise is actually solar power. </p>

<p>I really wished I had done more than just research, though. I didn’t do any experimentation. I have read a lot and postulated a lot but haven’t done anything. I really wanted to go to mit so I could apply my wide knowledgebase. Aside from classroom work, no psych research either :(. </p>

<p>In response to your question, I live in Atlanta, GA. What about you?</p>

<p>Sorry to steal your thread! I’m in a simillar situation and couldn’t help but dive in. </p>

<p>For my advice:
I would just leave your app how it is. Maybe give them more on what you did. Like talk about your patents and what not.</p>

14

<p>NP chenz. I’m in Bangalore, India meeting would probably be difficult :S. Unless…no…maybe we can both get in to MIT :)! I guess I’m just getting my hopes up. I was deferred after all, chances are I won’t get in :(. Anyway, I shouldn’t be getting my hopes up.</p>

<p>On a more serious note, thanks Mollie for your informative response. Your post seems to make intuitive sense. They want people to know, at least generally, what they enjoy. Since it is a highly competitive university, they expect people to also pursue their interests. I guess I have done that, to some extent. As a result, I think I should just work on making my application more cohesive. Maybe explain the work in Neuropsychology and talk about how it is a subject that interests me (though not as much as Alternative Energies). I’ll also include supplemental recommendations from my physics and chem teachers. Any other advice? </p>

<p>Thanks for all the support and guidance.</p>

15

<p>I feel like it doesn’t matter whether you leave something like that out… Just the fact that you’re trying to manipulate your application like this does say something about your personality. </p>

<p>My guess is that admissions looked at you on an overall scale – your personality – and didn’t care that you are interested in several facets of science. Perhaps it seemed like you were just trying to impress them with many things at once, and that you came across as insincere? Is there enough “spark” in your application? I’d work on adding something interesting about you, rather than playing down the fact that you’ve had lots of interest in different sciences. </p>

<p>I’d guess that you were a close call for admittance, and that you have an excellent shot in March. Best of luck.</p>

16

<p>Wait…little bit of a diversion, but isn’t Olo Timur? And so if Olo and zking786 got deferred…who the heck got into MIT EA?</p>

17

<p>srsn:
LOL! Most people don’t know my SAT score is low and my ECs, though they look extraordinary, are just what came to me at the time. I mean, I was sort of exposed to the opportunities and, given my experimental nature, immediately grasped the opportunity to research! I just love taking things apart, reassembling them, finding out what makes mechanisms tick, learning new concepts (biological and mechanical), etc. As a result, when exposed to a major problem (the energy crisis), I couldn’t help but pursue my own ideas.</p>

<p>mangopeachie:
I wanted to clarify that I’m not trying to make my application fit the mold of an admit. I’m just trying to make it accurately represent me better. In my application, I discuss my varied interests but don’t really provide an intensity. I was wondering if I should make it clear how much more I am interested in (and have pursued) Alternative Energies research. It seems like the logical thing to do, however, most people seem to recommend I don’t do so.</p>

18

<p>Indeed I am, and indeed I was.
Hey, just keep your hopes up. Like z mentioned, my application was by no means “perfect.”</p>

<p>I will simply say this: I never let my schooling interfere with my education. ;)</p>

19

<p>my sat1 score was low, but i was able to raise it on my dec 3rd test!</p>

20

<p>Quite possibly excellent applicants like olo and zking were deferred simply because they were internationals, and the competition in that pool is so high–was that it, you two? I don’t know for certain that zking is an international…</p>