<p>Any parents of MIT 2014 want to share:</p>
<p>-celebration (can't do that with other HS parents personally--too awkward)</p>
<p>-concerns (MIT's So Hard!!)</p>
<p>2013 or other years parent want to share reassurance? or memories?</p>
<p>MIT's hard, but I don't think we should all overhype the "hardness" of it. Everytime MIT was hard for, me, that was because the difficulty was warranted. I never felt MIT was "unnecessarily hard". I learnt something valuable everytime.</p>
<p>And as always, to obtain mastery of a subject and make a college education worth it (college is supposed to be hard, at least, that's what I believe in), some sacrifices need to be made. At least for me, if MIT was not as hard as it is, I probably would not felt as fulfilled by the education I am receiving now. I would not have felt purposeful and empowered.</p>
<p>I've always liked this passage from the MIT admissions website:</p>
<p>"When we admit a class of students to MIT, it's as if we're choosing a 1,000-person team to climb a very interesting, fairly rugged mountain - together. We obviously want people who have the training, stamina and passion for the climb. At the same time, we want each to add something useful or intriguing to the team, from a wonderful temperament or sense of humor, to compelling personal experiences, to a wide range of individual gifts, talents, interests and achievements."</p>
<p>MIT may or may not be hard the freshman year, depending on the individual. But by the time the student graduates, he/she will definitely have had some challenges. My daughter has really enjoyed the challenges, but most of all, I think she's really liked that sense of collaboration and community.</p>
<p>^^ love it!!</p>
<p>I am so glad you started this thread. I have felt like there is no one I can talk to about my D's acceptance to MIT. I am thrilled for her and envious of all the opportunities she will have. How I wish I could go back to school now! At least in my own case it really was wasted on the young. I also am worried how she will fare when she gets down into the depths of it. I guess I have to trust that the system will be there to help her.</p>
<p>I appreciate the comments about "hardness." </p>
<p>Deep down I know these things--after all I've watched my kid calmly (mostly) and competently deal with a heavy school and extra-curricular load for years (his choice). </p>
<p>He also applied to some smaller LAC's in addition to MIT, and although I think MIT's the better fit for him and what he wants, my spouse and I sometimes think of the slower LAC idyll, and go "ahh." </p>
<p>But then, that's what we would pick as a really cool vacation from life, and he's 17 and has been chomping at the bit for "the firehose" for years!</p>
<p>One thing you may want to consider is the high level of collaboration here. People mostly have this mentality of "we are in this *** together", and we all try to help each other out. Secondly Pass/no record really helps if you had a weak high school curriculum. So while MIT doesn't baby you, the environment is really conducive to help you adapt to the intense academics.</p>
<p>I'm so glad to find this thread. My d has been accepted, but with no financial aid. Since there's no merit $$ at MIT, it's going to be a tough decision if another school gives her a large scholarship. I'm also worried about possible isolation with such a large school.</p>
<p>MIT's not so big -- and it's even smaller given the close communities that form because of the residence selection system, and given the communities that form in each major, and those that form around extracurriculars. </p>
<p>Although nobody is a big fish at MIT, it is not a very big pond, either. :)</p>
<p>@mom22girls --
Every student admitted to MIT with no merit aid is going to have some pretty fabulous offers from lesser-tier schools hoping to draw talent. The strangest thing that happened in our house was a phone call one evening from a representative of a school in Texas, who asked me (apparently they had sent our daughter a number of letters she'd tossed in the trash), "Are you aware that your daughter is about to reject a full-ride scholarship worth $130,000?" Pretty odd, since she had never even applied to the school.</p>
<p>So enjoy. Your daughter will have some great choices.</p>
<p>MIT is not a cold impersonal huge school like a large state flagship university. The students make friends fairly quickly. When my daughter started as a freshman, I was a bit worried about her birthday, which was a week after the orientation start date. So I swung back through Boston on a business trip to take her out to dinner on her birthday, thinking she'd be lonely. Far from it, though. About fifteen students had gotten together, baked her a cake, and surprised her with a little party by the time I arrived. So we had "second birthday." She felt welcomed by everyone she met there and really comfortable. If you have the chance, you should try to attend the Campus Preview Week, because the sessions for parents will give you a great idea of the opportunities MIT presents.</p>
<p>Thank you CalAlum. That is a great thing that happened for your daughter's birthday. I hope for the same experience for my daughter if she ends up there.</p>
<p>She does have some nice offers, including the possibility of a full ride at her second choice school. But that does require her to be on campus the same weekend as CPW, so we won't be able to get to MIT. She's been on campus for a number of other events over the past two years though, and knows she wants to go there. It's just going to be hard to give up a full ride at a second choice school... My friends will think we're crazy.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>I have a son who graduated a couple of years ago and another who is a current student. Your children are in for the ride of their lives - in a good way! Yes, it's hard at times and a lot of work, but at the end of the day/week/month/semester, they are glad (and proud) they made it through. They still manage to have fun, play sports with their dorm teams, have girlfriends, travel a little, do UROPs, and sleep (most nights!). </p>
<p>My oldest (Course 6, EECS) explained to me that at his first job he noticed that many of the other programmers (from very good CS schools) knew more computer languages than he did, but that he and the other MIT grad were much better at thinking things through and solving problems. He wasn't bragging, just explaining what he thought was the best part of his MIT education.</p>
<p>We too had to pay full freight, and both of them had full-rides at some very good schools. It was a VERY difficult decision, and we'll be paying off the loans forever (both us and them), but we are all convinced it was worth it. Neither had or has any interest in graduate/med/law school, so we were willing to pay for MIT. If they ever decide to go back to school, it will be on their own dime. Your mileage may vary.</p>
<p>One son celebrated his 18th birthday the first week of school. His dorm mates made him feel very welcome with a cake and party the first year, and have continued the tradition.</p>
<p>Just wanted to share that my daughter will be a proud member of MIT Class of 2014.</p>
<p>My daughter is also a proud member of MIT class of 2014! She got off the waitlist around May 14th/15th, and there is nothing more exciting then getting off of MIT waitlist! She was sooooo happy! She can't wait to start. :)</p>