MIT vs. Stanford: The Climate Dilemma

lifemeaninseeker
Wed, 12 Mar 2014 02:39:19 +0000

hey bro. I’m from the outsider point of view neither supporting Stanford or MIT. But I got to say this. This is my story. Harvard was actually my top choice. I got deferred early and still waiting. I also applied to MIT. A month ago, if I got accepted to both. I would choose Harvard over MIT. [Click on this link to read the best blog, written by Chris Peterson, I’ve ever seen from anyone adcom officer](Reminder: No one, not even me, can give you an accurate chance at MIT! - Massachusetts Institute of Technology - College Confidential Forums) After reading the post, I started to question the meaning of going to college. I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but most people I know from my high school applied to the “Ivies” or other elite colleges like MIT, Caltech, Stanford more common than not because it’s prestigious and “top ranking” by USnews. MITChris once called USnews a scam and sham, which I totally agreed after reading the post. Of course, I was no exception. I applied to MIT because I feel like that’s where I belong (I’m not going to get too lengthy on why I love MIT. MIT was the first college I thought about applying since I immigrated to the US) but I would rather choose Harvard over MIT simply because Harvard ranked higher and #1 ranking… I was stupid or a prestige seeker, frankly speaking. More and more students apply to colleges based on ranking than good match or good fit. MITChris is the only one I know that denounces the ranking and clearly proclaim MIT doesn’t need to rank any higher and would be careless if MIT ranks very low. This astounds me so greatly that I’m thinking perhaps MIT is where I’m truly belong.

From what I know, other top universities including the Ivies have various strategies to try to very competitive for top ranking. MIT’s mentality of doesn’t care about the superficial ranking applies to real life perfectly well. If you’re a great university, why do you need to have some ranking organization tell you that with their terrible methods to rank. The success of the university’s alumni will prove it. Likewise, if you’re a great man, you don’t need anything to say that you’re are. Your great actions are sufficient to prove it. Actions prove much better than words. Albert Einstein was so great not because some news claimed he was a genius. He proved it with his works, theories. MIT really tries to take in the best fit for their school without even thinking about strategies to get their rank higher. I would rather be in a community of best fit-variety-great people than in a community of all smartest-boring geniuses. [One of my favorite paragraphs about MIT.](Last but not least, remember that no one profile - no matter how impressive - represents "the perfect match.) These are the reasons that dig up my deep passion for MIT years ago. Hopefully, I help you stir up your dormant passion for MIT :D.

Sorry, this is sort of very long. I’m so jealous of you bro. I probably don’t even get in to neither MIT nor Harvard, haaaa, but as far as I concern I’ll be happy in the end, thanks to MITChris who enlightened me from the abyss. I used to think that it’s the end of the world if I don’t get accepted to any “top” college. I already get accepted to a college (not even close to be a top college) that I also like, so things work out just fine. If MIT chose you, it certainly means something… Perhaps you and MIT are the perfect fit? And it doesn’t matter where you go. You will be great I bet. The question here is where do you belong? Congratulation and good luck on making the best choice for you, of course. Bottom line: the choice is yours.