massachusetts institute of technology freshman admissions portal/community v. 2.0

I was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - a little-known state capital most famous for averting nuclear disaster, lottery fraud, and intelligent design. Among my many achievements growing up there, I won the school spelling bee in both fifth and seventh grade, played Captain Von Trapp #2 in our double-cast high school musical, auditioned for all-state chorus and all-state band, and invented taco salad.

With accolades like these on my resume, I was a natural choice for the MIT class of 2007. And so I made the trek up to Cambridge that fall with little more than the clothes on my back, a free mountain bike, and the dream of one day becoming an actuary who saves the world through rigorous life insurance rate calculations. However, by the end of my first year at MIT I had discovered that math class is tough, as Barbie once said, and abandoned that life goal. Two months and two majors later I was an aspiring chemical engineer, working under Professor Jeff Tester to refine a process which will turn discarded turkey carcasses into usable fuel instead of into bread crust. I love it because it's challenging, important research, not to mention a great conversation topic for family gatherings.

Most of my extra-curricular activities here are a result of me deciding to do something as a joke and then ending up completely in love with it. Examples include joining the MIT Marching Band, running the Boston Marathon, finding a summer internship in Germany, planning social events for Tau Beta Pi, and becoming an MITblogger. I'd most like to be famous for being a rock star or the winner of Project Runway, but at this point I'll settle for making a landmark contribution to the field of sustainable energy. My ultimate life goal is to have an SI unit of measurement named after me.

RSS feed for my blog

An old man's thought of school
February 18, 2008 | Whitman. X-men. Youth. Zymurgy.
Posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT | 32 Responses I who have nothing
July 28, 2007 | Darling, 'tis I who loves you.
Posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment | 19 Responses Dig me, but don't bury me
July 12, 2007 | This entry is brought to you by McDonalds and Google. I mean, literally.
Posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment | 26 Responses
02.18.08 An old man's thought of school posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT
07.28.07 I who have nothing posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.12.07 Dig me, but don't bury me posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.25.07 I was out of bullets. posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.16.07 I O Europe posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
05.26.07 Slow down, fast train. posted in Miscellaneous
05.14.07 I am a sad sad toaster made of glass. posted in Coursework
04.16.07 Endless rain into a paper cup posted in Boston & Cambridge
04.12.07 Samuel Maurer's Day Off posted in Miscellaneous
04.09.07 Where is my mind? posted in Life After MIT (Careers & Grad School)
03.15.07 This one goes out to the parent posted in Coursework
03.04.07 The Marching Band Refused to Yield posted in Student Organizations
02.25.07 I'll bet you got waylaid! posted in Miscellaneous
02.21.07 Some Megaphone, Pressed Against An Insect's Brain posted in Miscellaneous
02.19.07 Maybe I'm Amazed posted in Miscellaneous
01.25.07 For pi are cubed. posted in Miscellaneous
01.23.07 I want you to burn posted in Residential Life / Housing Options
01.14.07 And I am telling you I'm going posted in Miscellaneous
01.10.07 Ina Garten Da Vida, Baby posted in Boston & Cambridge
12.26.06 I Could Write a Song a Hundred Miles Long posted in Coursework
12.24.06 Nicht Bach, Sondern Maurer posted in Coursework
12.22.06 Soy Bomb posted in Coursework
12.22.06 The Promise of Ending posted in Miscellaneous
12.05.06 Return of the Frog Queen posted in Miscellaneous
11.23.06 You know my name posted in Coursework
11.12.06 Some Time in New York City posted in Miscellaneous
11.10.06 If man is five posted in Majors & Minors
11.07.06 Sorry 6.003 posted in Freshman Year Pass / No Record
11.07.06 The only living boy in New York posted in Miscellaneous
11.01.06 Democrats, Republicans, sportsmanship, books posted in Libraries, Facilities, & Computing
10.29.06 Ice cream and an onion posted in Student Life & Culture
10.27.06 Wolverine posted in Student Life & Culture
10.22.06 I like romantic things like music and art posted in Music & The Arts
10.20.06 This doesn't suck posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
10.14.06 O, GRE Battle posted in Life After MIT (Careers & Grad School)
10.12.06 Colin Jackson is awesome posted in Student Life & Culture
10.06.06 Like a freshman posted in Freshman Year Pass / No Record
10.05.06 Pimp my sukkah. posted in Student Organizations
10.02.06 Freedom isn't free. posted in Majors & Minors
10.01.06 It's driving me nuts posted in Boston & Cambridge
09.27.06 I need a fix 'cause I'm goin' down posted in Freshman Year Pass / No Record
09.25.06 Boys like cars and money posted in Student Employment
09.21.06 Flavor of Love posted in Food / Dining Options, Student Organizations
09.19.06 Born Under Punches posted in Majors & Minors
09.16.06 It happens to Helen posted in Athletics, Faculty At MIT
09.12.06 Someone saved my life tonight posted in Residential Life / Housing Options
09.09.06 I don't know where we're going posted in The MIT Campus
09.06.06 The waking of all creatures that live on the land posted in Coursework
09.03.06 When I'm Home posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT
08.31.06 And I realize I'm going home posted in Miscellaneous
08.28.06 Everything's coming up Milhouse! posted in Miscellaneous
08.25.06 The best picture we took in Paris posted in Miscellaneous
08.24.06 Come on, let's go food truckin' posted in Food / Dining Options
08.23.06 I read the news today posted in The Match Between You And MIT
08.22.06 The second-best picture we took in Paris posted in Miscellaneous
08.21.06 Gee, my life's a funny thing posted in Miscellaneous
08.18.06 We open in Venice posted in Miscellaneous
08.17.06 Where are you going, where have you been? posted in Miscellaneous
08.10.06 Turkey vs. Spam sells out posted in Miscellaneous
08.09.06 Swiss Miss posted in Miscellaneous
08.04.06 Ten Things I Hate About Europe posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
08.03.06 More entries about buildings and food posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
08.01.06 Look as good you will not posted in Miscellaneous
07.28.06 Building, building, building, building posted in The MIT Campus
07.27.06 Turkey vs. Spam's Hair posted in Miscellaneous
07.26.06 A Day at the Races posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.23.06 The train in Spain is ungainly, take a plane posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.20.06 It's the terror of knowing posted in Life After MIT (Careers & Grad School)
07.18.06 And sometimes why? posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.15.06 Lodger posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.14.06 "Heroes" posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.13.06 Low posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.11.06 Wir fahren nach Berlin! posted in Miscellaneous
07.07.06 Bonn, Games, Bonn posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
07.04.06 Antietam? I hardly knew him. posted in Coursework
06.30.06 I jumped into the river posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.29.06 Bavarian Rhapsody posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.28.06 Number Münchners posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.23.06 Like a Polaroid Picture posted in Miscellaneous
06.19.06 Wouldn't it be Nice? posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.12.06 Last train to Koblenz posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.08.06 DOMR posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
06.06.06 Hooked on a Feeling posted in Miscellaneous
06.01.06 Piece of my Heart posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
05.29.06 Far and Away posted in Miscellaneous
05.27.06 In a little while, I'll be gone posted in Miscellaneous
05.21.06 #9 Dream posted in Miscellaneous
05.17.06 Aquatarkus posted in Student Life & Culture
05.16.06 Cancel all operations posted in Miscellaneous
05.13.06 MIT Dorms: Really Random posted in Residential Life / Housing Options
05.11.06 Play it again, Sam posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT
05.08.06 Dass ein Ende mit mir haben muss posted in Academic Calendar
05.05.06 Let It Bleed posted in General Institute Requirements
05.04.06 Bicycle Race posted in Miscellaneous
05.01.06 Dancing Days posted in Student Life & Culture
04.30.06 The Song Remains The Same posted in Music & The Arts
04.27.06 Springtime for Interns in Germany posted in Experiences Abroad: Study, Research, Employment
04.24.06 Go, ninja, go. posted in Athletics
04.21.06 Almost Famous posted in Athletics
04.17.06 Don't stop me now! posted in Athletics
04.14.06 They may take our lives... posted in Boston & Cambridge
04.12.06 Profiles in Courage posted in Incoming Freshman Class Profile
04.06.06 CPW 4 U posted in Miscellaneous
04.05.06 Fame posted in MIT Inventions & Breakthroughs
04.04.06 Mitra, it's your birthday. posted in Miscellaneous
04.01.06 Since U Been Gone posted in Miscellaneous
03.27.06 Google Maps is NOT the best. posted in Miscellaneous
03.25.06 Super Adventure Club posted in Miscellaneous
03.24.06 Knowing me, knowing you posted in Faculty At MIT
03.22.06 It's bigger than you, and you are not me. posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT
03.19.06 All my pasts and futures posted in Student Organizations
03.17.06 Antici posted in Miscellaneous
03.15.06 Ides of March posted in Miscellaneous
03.13.06 Pervnert posted in Miscellaneous
03.10.06 The Parafilm Effect posted in Miscellaneous
03.06.06 A person can develop a cough. posted in Faculty At MIT
03.03.06 Making it work. posted in Majors & Minors
02.28.06 Citius, Altius, Mens et Manus posted in Hacks & Traditions
02.25.06 VSEPR posted in Miscellaneous
02.21.06 Tuesday is the new black. posted in Miscellaneous
02.18.06 The Greek Way posted in Student Organizations
02.15.06 Our students, their stories. posted in Student Life & Culture
02.14.06 Dies Irae posted in Miscellaneous
02.10.06 Ho-dee-hi, hi-dee-ho, ho ho. posted in Miscellaneous
02.08.06 I will begin again. posted in Coursework
02.06.06 The kindest cut posted in Health & Safety
02.02.06 Summerteeth posted in Undergraduate Research Opportunities
01.31.06 Underneath your curves posted in Miscellaneous
01.29.06 Love, organically posted in Faculty At MIT
01.26.06 Time passes posted in The Month Of January: IAP
01.24.06 SMRT posted in The Month Of January: IAP
01.23.06 Seen and Not Seen posted in The Month Of January: IAP
01.18.06 So I said to Einstein... posted in Faculty At MIT
01.16.06 It rocks to be me. posted in Miscellaneous
01.12.06 This is a song about being happy. posted in The Month Of January: IAP
01.11.06 I Am Evil Homer posted in Faculty At MIT
01.06.06 I won the game! posted in Miscellaneous
01.03.06 The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) posted in Miscellaneous
01.02.06 Jeux sans frontieres posted in Student Life & Culture
12.28.05 Tuesdays with Menorah, eek! posted in Student Organizations
12.27.05 Song of Myself posted in Music & The Arts
12.26.05 I know my calculus... and U2. posted in Miscellaneous
12.22.05 Art? posted in Music & The Arts
12.20.05 Psycho kitten, que'st-ce que c'est? posted in Miscellaneous
12.16.05 Indiscipline posted in Food / Dining Options
12.13.05 Reality is merely an illusion... posted in MIT Inventions & Breakthroughs
12.11.05 MIT is easy if you study rastrology. posted in Student Life & Culture
12.10.05 Vast Oral Tradition posted in Boston & Cambridge
12.06.05 One and one and one is three posted in Miscellaneous
12.03.05 It was the blurst of times? posted in Miscellaneous
12.01.05 I'm just curious as to why you keep invoking William Faulkner. posted in Student Life & Culture
11.27.05 Essay-M posted in Miscellaneous
11.24.05 The Decisive Battle posted in Miscellaneous
11.22.05 Our loving, our friends, and our labor posted in Coursework
11.21.05 One wonderful day posted in Internships
11.17.05 Fixing a hole posted in Coursework
11.13.05 Tribute posted in Music & The Arts
11.12.05 Not in our stars, but in ourselves posted in Hacks & Traditions
11.10.05 4 posted in Student Employment
11.07.05 What's going on inside my head posted in Miscellaneous
11.02.05 Nothing beats a wet beaver! posted in Student Organizations
11.01.05 Temporary Band Entry Title posted in Music & The Arts
10.30.05 Hummingbird in a Cube of Ice posted in Student Life & Culture
10.29.05 Amsterdesk posted in Student Employment
10.26.05 I'm a driver, I'm a winner posted in Student Organizations
10.24.05 Pommes et manus posted in Student Life & Culture
10.22.05 Yes, eat all our shirts! posted in Student Life & Culture
10.20.05 Time in a bottle. posted in Undergraduate Research Opportunities
10.15.05 No time for your stupid question. posted in Boston & Cambridge
10.13.05 Borne back ceaselessly into the past posted in Miscellaneous
10.10.05 Library Battle: Harvard vs. MIT posted in Libraries, Facilities, & Computing
10.07.05 TMI WRT MIT TLA's posted in Miscellaneous
10.06.05 Spreading Santorum around MIT posted in Miscellaneous
10.05.05 I like to break a mental sweat, too. posted in Athletics
10.04.05 Lie la lying down posted in Advising & Support
09.30.05 More humanities than a humanities major posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT
09.27.05 Question me an answer. posted in Majors & Minors
09.24.05 Three cheers for the MIT Marching Band posted in Student Organizations
09.22.05 See me, feel me, milq me, heal me posted in Boston & Cambridge
09.20.05 MIT students do it all night. posted in Work/Play Balance At MIT
09.18.05 Ancient Chinese secret, eh? posted in Miscellaneous
09.17.05 You can get anything you want... posted in Miscellaneous
09.14.05 Chicken Burrito for the Lab Rat's Soul posted in Food / Dining Options
09.13.05 riverrun, past Eve and Adam's posted in Miscellaneous
09.11.05 A way a lone a last a loved a long the posted in Miscellaneous
09.08.05 You stay classy, Sam... TA, go! posted in Coursework
09.06.05 A thousand million questions posted in Miscellaneous
09.05.05 Cool running posted in Athletics
09.03.05 Every square is a rectangle posted in Student Organizations
09.02.05 Friday Afternoon Props posted in Miscellaneous
08.31.05 Rush, rush posted in Residential Life / Housing Options
08.30.05 Livin' La Vida PRoCa posted in Miscellaneous
08.27.05 An Overture to the Commencement of a Very Rigid Journey posted in Miscellaneous
08.26.05 Symphony 9, Op. 95 "From the New Blog" posted in Miscellaneous
08.19.05 My life in the bush of ghosts posted in Food / Dining Options
08.18.05 Railroad reading posted in Miscellaneous
08.17.05 Is this the real life? posted in Miscellaneous
08.16.05 A waffle house is not a waffle home posted in Miscellaneous
08.15.05 Train in vain posted in Boston & Cambridge
08.13.05 Living in the Past posted in Boston & Cambridge
08.11.05 Paint Work VII posted in Notable Alumni
08.10.05 Dig if you will a picture. posted in Miscellaneous
08.08.05 Paint Work I posted in Residential Life / Housing Options
08.07.05 What pretty hair... posted in Residential Life / Housing Options
08.05.05 Power of suggestion posted in Student Life & Culture
08.04.05 Pop quiz, Viktor posted in Faculty At MIT
08.03.05 Boston Calling posted in Miscellaneous
08.01.05 Beauty and the Geek posted in Miscellaneous
07.31.05 Sun off a beach posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.30.05 I started a joke... posted in Miscellaneous
07.27.05 I love Miu more than ice cream. posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.26.05 Reactors are my friends. posted in Undergraduate Research Opportunities
07.25.05 This is wondrous strange. posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.23.05 I'm only happy when it rains. posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.22.05 Somebody Else posted in Community Service
07.21.05 Please, Mr. Postman posted in Miscellaneous
07.19.05 Kick to the limit! posted in Student Organizations
07.18.05 You don't know what a robot is? posted in MIT Inventions & Breakthroughs
07.17.05 Sweet Transvestite posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.16.05 A quick one, while he's away posted in Miscellaneous
07.14.05 I'm a pedestrian! I'm a motorist! Pedestrian! Motorist! posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.13.05 Maine, Episode III: Ain't No Mountain posted in Miscellaneous
07.12.05 Maine, Episode II: Amazing Rain posted in Miscellaneous
07.10.05 Maine, Episode I: Hey Joe posted in Miscellaneous
07.07.05 Pageant and pomp and parade posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.05.05 Three of a perfect pair posted in Boston & Cambridge
07.03.05 See her picture(s) in a thousand places posted in Miscellaneous
07.02.05 She came in through the bathroom window. posted in Women At MIT
06.30.05 Doctor Who? posted in Undergraduate Research Opportunities
06.22.05 Hail to the king, baby. posted in Miscellaneous
06.18.05 Have you seen your mother baby standing in the shadow? posted in Miscellaneous
06.15.05 One thing every woman's missed in Massachusetts Bay posted in Miscellaneous
06.08.05 Aisumasen, Yoko San posted in Miscellaneous
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