<p>So…how many of you’ll be waiting up on Pi Day?</p>
<p>MIT never figured on my college list. I know its the best tech insti in the world and all the allied hoopla…but then, what’d I do at a tech insti? I applied solely because a friend was applying. MIT was the last application I wrote out…right till the morning of Jan-2. I wrangled with their form to fit in a poem I wrote the way I wanted it to fit in. And thats the application that made me the happiest.</p>
<p>I chanced upon the blogs and loved the people. Chanced upon the Harvard-MIT cross-over classes thing, which makes MIT as good as Harvard or Columbia for me and my intended plan of study. And since then, I’ve gradually fallen in love with the idea.</p>
<p>On 14th I have my Physics-Board…so fitting nah? A physics exam on 14th March. And I have chem on 16th. 15th, 0030 is when decisions’ll come…I’ll bury myself under my chem texts till then cause I know I’ll find it <em>very</em> difficult to focus in the aftermath–whichever way it goes.</p>
<p>That’s my MIT-Story–what’s yours? And what’ll you be doing on d-day?</p>
<p>I’ve never had any inclination to going to MIT. As an Indian, I suppose this makes me quite odd. Even though I want to major in Computer Science, I also want a truly well rounded education and applied to those universities where I would have an opportunity to pursue academic enlightenment in subjects other than engineering or the sciences. If there existed some improbable scenario where I’d applied and gotten into MIT and Harvard, I’d probably pick Harvard even though its engineering department is second-tier, even when compared to a lot of state universities like Berkeley or UIUC.</p>
<p>I’d attribute your underlying tone of ridicule towards premier state-funded institutions, you were so quick to mention, to your lack of knowledge about US universities rather than a purposeful rundown of the admirable quality of education they impart.</p>
<p>^^Actually, the prior poster is correct. Harvard engineering is decidedly second tier. They only recently began offering engineering coursework in any depth and with its own deal. They readily acknowlege that Harvard is light years behind the curve in engineering, but working on it.</p>
<p>I’d attribute your quickness to take offense at even an implied, possibly misinterpreted, jab at Berkeley to the fact that… you study at Berkeley. It’s a rule of thumb that private institutions, having larger endowments and a smaller student body, are better equipped and are able to provide a more personalized education to students. However, this guideline proves less true when it comes to engineering and state colleges decidedly being better than most of the Ivies speaks to the questionable quality of their engineering departments, at least relative to their academic peers. </p>
<p>But hey, according to you I have an appalling lack of knowledge about universities in the US. Why else would I have applied to both Cal and UIUC and NOT Harvard? ;)</p>
<p>My MIT story? It goes back to the end of 10th grade. I was part of the last batch to take the Board exams and the first batch to get a CGPA. I was looking into IIT prep classes and had been accepted to VMC Regular. I had no intention of studying in the US and to be honest, I really enjoyed IIT prep. Unlike most people on this board, I absolutely love the education system. Anyways, I soon got to know about this institute, called MIT, from my dad, friends and teachers, and it was supposedly better than the IITs. This one fact made me Google, for the first time, “MIT”.</p>
<p>That’s how it all started. Their blogs were addictive. So were their Youtube videos. I liked the colorful website (it’s no longer there, they changed to a more streamlined look ) At the same time, I didn’t like the weather. I didn’t like the prospect of talking in English all the time. Then, I met this senior girl who was applying there (MIT’14) and she was the one who told me about all this amazing stuff about MIT :D</p>
<p>MIT was the first application I started and, for me, the questions in that application were the most difficult ones in all the applications I filled. It was the last application I submitted. My first interview was with an MIT alum. I <em>loved</em> my final application answers. It was funny, tearful, optimistic, sometimes fast paced and sometimes slow and mellow.</p>
<p>My MIT Story; i have applied just for the heck of it, my stats are quite good but there are many on this post with better stats than mine. My ECs are so so too. I was going through the Hamlet phase about applying to US. i wanted to in my 10th and 11th and then i was not so sure in 12th.</p>
<p>Like Tizil7 said, MIT’s app was one of the hardest with the 5 short essay format. It is a great place, the fact is you will be pitting/collaborating with some of the best minds in the most of the world is a great incentive.</p>
<p>I am one of those few desis, if I do get into MIT, I would not major in engg. I would rather do Econ. The whole desi fixation with engg. is a bit unnerving when you see in most of the world non engineers run everything:)</p>
<p>And my boards begin from March 16th. yikesssssssss! I think I am royally scr*&#d, as the Pi day is before the boards and rest of the decisions will be during the 12th boards. Talk of the proverbial to be or not …</p>
<p>With the exception of Caltech & MIT most big schools are not the best places for undergrad engg. There is whole bunch of smaller state and private engg. schools. For Grad school Cal, UIUC, Mich, purdue, Wisconsin, VTech, GTech, UTA and TAMU along with Caltech, MIT, Stanford & CMU kick the proverbial b…</p>
<p>Another thing to note: HCaulfield while I think its fine to share your anxiety regarding admissions, I don’t think it is wise to ask people about their MIT stories. It will only cause people to be in awe and cherish it so much that they’ll be sorely disappointed when the result comes cause the reality is most of you will not get in there. Don’t covet a place you know very little about. I can assure you, regardless of how many hours of research you do online or even if you’ve had a chance to visit multiple times, you have no idea in the slightest what its like to actually attend. And you wont get an idea until you actually attend, in which case it is of course pointless to covet that which you don’t understand. </p>
<p>You all talk of MIT stories like its some dream of yours to attend. However, I believe it is dangerous to dream of something that you barely understand. You’re only setting yourself for sorrow. I don’t mean to sound condescending. Just sounding a warning so you don’t waste your time pining for something that you might not have liked even if you went there.</p>
<p>I had to delete a bunch of posts due to the bickering going on. Please comply with the Terms of Service when you post, or the thread will be closed.</p>
) At the same time, I didn’t like the weather. I didn’t like the prospect of talking in English all the time. Then, I met this senior girl who was applying there (MIT’14) and she was the one who told me about all this amazing stuff about MIT :D</p>