I’ve recently had a number of startling revelations: I’m almost halfway done with my Junior year, there are only 2 weeks left until Final Exam week starts, and before I know it I’ll be graduating. Where has the time gone??? I feel like just yesterday I was in your shoes, nervously waiting for my early action decision from MIT… *cue psychedelic time-traveling music and hand waving.*
MIT was my top choice and applying early action was a no-brainer. My anticipation was compounded by the fact that I had a list of 14 colleges that I was planning on applying to, but I had only completed about 5 of the applications by mid-December (under the assumption that if I didn’t get into MIT then I’d worry about the other ones later.) So, I bit my nails with the knowledge that if I got wait-listed or rejected, I would have to spend my Winter Break moping AND writing (approximately) 1,348,234 essays. About a week before decisions were due, my mom discovered CollegeConfidential.com and began showing me people’s ridiculous posts, which only made me more nervous and sure that I would never get in. Not a chance. Nope. For example, there was one guy who set-up a webcam on his mailbox that had some sort of complicated mechanism that I no longer remember (it involved the little flag that the postman raises when there’s mail.) (Do you remember, mom?) So, thousands of people could log onto his website to watch his mailbox for the arrival of a big, beautiful, yellow envelope. As far as I remember, he was admitted.
So as the decision date rolled around, I would run to my car after school and speed (I mean… drive quickly but cautiously under the speed limit) home to check my mailbox with my heart pounding the whole time. A week passed, and so did the day when we were supposed to receive the letters. It turns out that there was a giant blizzard in Cambridge, MA, which delayed the shipping of the decision letters. Oh man, was I upset. My heart couldn’t take the constant anticipation, the daily races home, and the deep disappointment of a mailbox filled with bills and coupons. I got so restless that I began to say that I had been put through so much anxiety that I wouldn’t accept the offer even if I did get in (clearly this was just an ill-planned coping mechanism, but it worked for a few days.) Finally, I got tired of racing home and just told my parents that if the letter arrived at home before I did and if they opened it before me, then I would fine them $1,000. They took my threat seriously. So a couple of days before Winter Break, I was sitting in Computer Science class and I received an email from my parents saying that I got a big envelope from MIT, asking if I would waive the fine and if they could open it. Of course, I caved in, and thankfully the news was good. I had gotten in! I experienced extreme shock followed by disbelief (thinking they must have made a mistake!) followed by “oh my Gods” followed by illicit phone calls and crying in the bathroom. I drove home with Britney Spears on full blast, yelling that I had gotten in.
The next day, I had found out that eight people from my high school had been accepted early action, including 2 of my best friends. The initial excitement was tainted by some impolite comments by some of my classmates who claimed that we had only gotten in because we were girls. Even when I knew of my accomplishments and those of my friends, we couldn't help but feel some degree of self-doubt. In hindsight, it’s easy to recognize that they spoke out of jealousy and that MIT would never accept someone for merely having two X chromosomes, but it definitely hurt at the time.
So I know what you all are going through… in fact everyone around me knows what it’s like. Your parents, friends, and teachers are probably telling you to relax, that everything will be alright no matter what, that there are other schools than MIT…and they’re absolutely right! But it’s also easier said than done. Check out JKim’s blog for tips on what to do while waiting. Speaking from experience, make sure to obey traffic laws and try not to give yourself a heart attack (i.e. stay off of College Confidential!) Really, stressing out won’t change the contents of the letter. When I was a senior going through the application process and someone told me, “if you’re gold then you’ll shine anywhere.” They were absolutely right. Just keep in mind that you are all motivated and diligent for even reading these blogs to find out more about MIT, and you will do well no matter what school you get into! Obviously I got into MIT, but I also received rejections. Different schools look for different qualities, and it’s still early in the application process. Just breathe and you’ll get through it.
Good luck!!! Email me if before/during/after the decisions if you need help.
May the beaver be with you.
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
i hope i last this week without a nervous breakdown............
Posted by: bj on December 5, 2006
I just talked to my friend Nick Hong ('10), about EA decisions and it only brought back feelings of nervousness, etc. Did I put BME or BE ??? Aaah!
But... Your message really helped to put things in perspective. I sympathize. I spent the better part of Thanksgiving break applying to what ended up being 13 schools, though MIT is totally my 1st Choice.
At least I find out online. Thanks again.
Posted by: Kevinr on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Sarab on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Laura on December 5, 2006
Thanks...ur post gives me some perspective..though i still am really anxious about getting in?
Posted by: 0 on December 5, 2006
so, if you are majoring in 2A and you are premed, then are u filling up all your courses?
Say, would it be possible for someone to do biological engineering and business? and then apply for medical school?
And someone told me that if you wanted to go to medical school, majoring in engineering is like suicide for your gpa and extracurriculars...do u agree? Thanks
Posted by: 0 on December 5, 2006
so, if you are majoring in 2A and you are premed, then are u filling up all your courses?
Say, would it be possible for someone to do biological engineering and business? and then apply for medical school?
And someone told me that if you wanted to go to medical school, majoring in engineering is like suicide for your gpa and extracurriculars...do u agree? Thanks
Posted by: 0 on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Zayyar on December 5, 2006
i think it was on Matt or Ben's blog..
Posted by: Reg on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Anjanie Sriram on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Drew on December 5, 2006
Posted by: o_o on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Anonymous on December 5, 2006
ps. never ever have gone on college confedential. its a creepy place.
Posted by: Estefi on December 5, 2006
So when do you start applying to grad school? Is grad school equally tough to get into, do you have to start preparing in your junior year of college for grad school?
Good luck on your finals.
Posted by: Brandy on December 5, 2006
Thanks Melis
Posted by: Robert on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Eileen on December 5, 2006
Posted by: andrew on December 5, 2006
Brandy: Since I want to do an MD/PhD, I have to apply to medical schools and grad schools. So, the medical school application process starts in June of your Junior year and the grad school applications are usually due in the Fall of your senior year.
Eileen: Andrew is right, 8 people from my class got into MIT (so 8 out of 100...not bad) early action. Sorry about the confusion.
Posted by: Melis on December 5, 2006
I'm going to use your x chromosome line, hopefully in reference to college acceptances and/or...well take your pick haha.
So glad to hear I'm not the only one who procrastinated college apps before the early action response.
Thank you so much I really needed to read this.
Posted by: Larisa on December 5, 2006
Posted by: andrew on December 5, 2006
The beaver IS with me! I have Tim as my wallpaper! (I used to have a picture of the Brass Rat)
Posted by: Zaira on December 5, 2006
Thanks a lot for this post, we all need it, MIT is pretty much everything I can think about. I even dreamed about getting rejected last night! ALL NIGHT. It definitely sucked, but if I get rejected, at least I know I can live off of my weird pseudo-psychic abilities.
Gook luck to all of usss!!!!!
Posted by: milena on December 5, 2006
Kind of like doing one's homework in order to ensure a snowday.
Posted by: Kevin on December 5, 2006
Posted by: 0 on December 5, 2006
Posted by: dally on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Jessica on December 5, 2006
Posted by: Anna on December 6, 2006
Good luck to all EA applicants!
Posted by: Mom on December 6, 2006
My friends can't wait until this whole EA thing is over too. I keep on coming each day to school and counting down for them.
Thanks for your post, it definitely was a help. Just gotta breathe. Good luck to everyone else.
Posted by: Kristina on December 6, 2006
I can vouch that 8/23 of her HS class made it to MIT EA- I was one of them. What's better, the year after us (so '09 MIT) was 7/~25, with 5 girls I believe. Go XX! (I'm not a girl, just a fan ;D)
Anyway, my only other advice to all you prospective Beavers (MIT -or- Caltech, woo!) - take a deep breath before you open the mailbox. It's only college, OK? Only college. You're all going to college, anyway.
Seriously, just that you're reading this, like others have said, shows that you're well-motivated and know how to find good resources. No matter the college, I'm sure you'll all be successful there.
Posted by: John on December 6, 2006
Posted by: John on December 6, 2006
whoo. I'm already experiencing insomnia. And hey, senioritis seems to be rearing its ugly head, too. Both of them. I'm f*****.
=P
Thanks for the post. And yeah....after Saturday, we'll all return to our normal lives, whatever the outcome.
Posted by: Yossarian on December 7, 2006
All this reminiscing is making me miss Senior year...it was the craziest year of my life (sad, eh?) Hope all is well on the West Coast!
Posted by: Melis on December 7, 2006
Posted by: Ben on December 7, 2006
Posted by: Alli on December 7, 2006
Posted by: Melis on December 7, 2006
Posted by: Aaron on December 9, 2006
Good seeing you around. We should hang out more. Nudge. Maybe I'll come visit you. That would be fun.
Posted by: Minh on December 9, 2006
Posted by: abib on December 13, 2006
contact me at
kanika_thegreat@yahoo.co.in
thnx
kanika,INDIA
Posted by: 0 on December 16, 2006
i think i have big blunder in my secondry school report which also incorporates kind of an evaluation by my principal..the problem is that i asked her to fill out the form but in the field that asks for the academic accomplishments of the applicant she put a check on the average box ..i was heart broken to see that because i stood 3rd in my class in the first quarters and i was awarded the best student award after grade 9 and i have alwayz maintained great grades ,,,so i requested her to correct that because it was giving a false impression of me ..a really degrading one for me to be called 'AVERAGE' so she used a blade to rub off that check and tick on the 'outstanding' or whatever was the exact word for a very good student..my form looks like it has been tampered with..could that result in something serious like my application not even bein considered ???? i dont want that to happen
please help
Posted by: international applicant on January 1, 2007
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