On Wednesday morning, I was diagnosed with a cataract. The eye doctor says I have a nuclear sclerosis in my left eye but since I am fairly young (OK, not as young as all of you, but still... I'm less than 40) it is sort of unusual to have one. I first noticed impairment in my vision in late December when I had my regular eye doctor appointment. The technician had me block my left eye to test the right eye vision and then had me switch to blocking the right eye. When I did this, I noticed everything was fuzzy and I couldn't make out the letters on the eye chart. We did a little more testing and the performance didn't improve. After speaking with my optometrist, we decided to come back and test the eye again in January. Well, January became February, and I was referred to a specialist for a consultation, and Wednesday morning I found myself at one of our fine area hospitals being screened by a neuro-opthamologist.

As one of the pieces of screening, they took refractive images of the inside of my eyes using a machine developed at MIT. The machine scanned the inside of my eye looking for irregularities. Even more interesting, the technician operating the machine was herself an MIT alumna (class of 2004) in her 4th year of medical school. Well, the outcome of the screening is that I do have a cataract in my left eye which will probably need to be removed sometime in the next six months or so.

I'm going to be fine (for me, surgery is a hobby -- just kidding, but really not kidding), but the whole ordeal does put me in mind of many of you and your single vision pursuit of your goal of an MIT acceptance. On the eve of your admissions decision, I thought I would share with you a well-kept secret -- even if you don't get what you think you want, it will all turn out for the best!

I should know... I was one of those high school seniors who was turned down from his dream school.

When I was applying to colleges, I had my heart (and soul) set on a (different) particular Ivy plus school. I applied early decision to the institution, received my notice of deferral, and ultimately was declined admission in the regular round of admissions decisions. I knew I was the perfect fit for this institution; I had been to visit the campus and could really only picture myself happy there. College, to me, meant this place. When I received my notice, I was in a quandary -- what should I do? If I couldn't attend my dream school, would I be happy anywhere else? Would I be forever second-guessing my essay (did my poem making fun of Pat Robertson strike a little too cynic a tone?) or criticizing my SAT scores, my GPAs, my ECs?

Don't get me wrong. I had excellent choices for attendance. Like most of you, I was the kind of student that many institutions would have been happy to accept. Of the six colleges I applied (can you believe it, only six?), three admitted me, and I, somewhat with a heavy heart, made my choice of the three left. I had never been to one of the campuses, and didn't have the heart to go visit another campus, but it was in Boston, and seemed like a reasonable choice.

Little did I know that life has a way of working out for you.

In my Freshmen year of college, I met my fiancée (she would become my wife my sophomore year), got started on my career (I worked as a summer loan processor the summer after my Freshmen year) and found out that I was exactly on the path I was supposed to be.

I guess what I am trying to say is that no matter what the outcome tomorrow, your life awaits you. Don't cloud your vision with only one option. Remember, that things may look fuzzy now, but they will become much clearer as you move forward in your life.

The paths I have chosen not to travel, and those who have chosen not to open themselves to me are as important in defining who I have become as are those pathways and passageways I have traveled. If you can tomorrow, try to see your decision with clarity and balance as a door opening. I find in my life there are no closed doors, only new beginnings.

And in six months or so, you will find (as I hope I will find) that our cataract has cleared and our vision is somehow clearer: that what was faint and obscure opens up to a new beautiful reality.

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

Other being the FIRST* (maybe not by the time I finish)
Thank you, I feel so much better after reading this post.
You are right.
Wendy

Posted by: wendysung626 on March 14, 2008

2nd Nice post

Posted by: Chris T on March 14, 2008

Ya thats I really appropriate post for right now. I'm amazingly calm right now I know that if I don't get accepted tomorrow I'm going to be pretty disappointed but life has a way of working things out.

Posted by: Shauna on March 14, 2008

Thank you for the great post!
I am a firm believer that "life has a way of working out for you".

Posted by: Applicant's Mom on March 14, 2008

second! ?

@Daniel:

Best wishes. You will get well soon and continue to enjoy your excellent eyes.

Best luck to you all tomorrow, also myself.

Am I the second ?

Posted by: HappilyNerdy88 on March 14, 2008

wow, 5th.?

Posted by: HappilyNerdy88 on March 14, 2008

Hmm...that's a little different from my outlook on life. So yeah, tomorrow should be interesting.

Posted by: Ray on March 14, 2008

3rd =) I've never been in the first ten of people leaving a comment, so I needed to let everyone know;)

Posted by: Gosia on March 14, 2008

Oh no, by the time I posted I wasn't third anymore...

Posted by: Gosia on March 14, 2008

Thank you moneyman. Hope you feeling better soon. Over past a few weeks I grow like more and more of your blogs.

Posted by: 0 on March 14, 2008

Ray, sorry but I have to edit your comment. Please contact me directly by email if you want to talk. I have to hope you are kidding, but know that we take this issue VERY seriously here at MIT and even joking about this isn't acceptable.

Posted by: Daniel Barkowitz on March 14, 2008

please get well! And Thank You!

Posted by: yukiko on March 14, 2008

Nice article at the right time. No matter which college one goes to, it is always whom do you associate with where ever you go. A person who has perseverance and passion will always succede no matter which college he goes to. It is true that colleges such as MIT may provide naturally all the opportunities, but if a person makes wrong choices while he or she is at MIT, an opportunity is gone waste and someone else might have lost that chance.

Having said that, advance congratulations to all accepted students, make your opportunity a worth while in your life, not just for a brand name.

The people who might have missed the boat, keep the perseverance and passion alive and you will definetely succede and if you have a die-hard wish, one can always try for graduate school.

Also during my daughters college application process, I made a habit of surfing college web-sites, reading bios of faculty, not all the famous faculty persons come all the time from elite universities. But they all have one thing common, hard-working, kept their passion and took learning as life-long journey.

Posted by: A parent on March 14, 2008

Thanks for the comforting words Mr. Barkowitz. =) On a separate note, MIT's financial aid tracking says that I have in all of my forms (yay, finally processed!), except for my parent's W2 forms. This is because my parents received no W2 forms for 2007. My dad is self-employed and all of our income was through my his company's profits (the Business/Farm Supplement and all other forms are in for that). Is there any other way that I should 'officially' notify MIT of this, or do you think I'm ok? I'd appreciate any additional information. Thank you. =)

Posted by: Katrina Biele on March 14, 2008

I suppose this sentiment (correct as far as most of us know) is stuff most of us have met before, but it doesn't seem like a pleibianism...

Instead it seems perfectly appropriate, and though it is expected, here is my obligatory thanks. It's real, just like I think your entry is.

Posted by: Sceth on March 14, 2008

Strange calmness here also.

I know I presented myself as best I could and gave my utmost to the application process and for that alone I am pleased. Thank you MIT admissions team, whatever decision I receive tomorrow I am happy to have been part of this amazing process.

Posted by: Javal on March 14, 2008

*plebianism

Posted by: Sceth on March 14, 2008

It was truly meant with all sincerity!

But what I think is fascinating is that none of you have commented on the fact THAT I GOT MARRIED AS A COLLEGE SOPHOMORE!!!



Katrina, fixed it! Check your email!

Posted by: Daniel Barkowitz on March 14, 2008

'twas known.

Posted by: Sceth on March 14, 2008

Thanks Mr. Barkowitz! I really appreciate it! =)

Posted by: Katrina Biele on March 14, 2008

Hmm you spoke too soon, Mr. Barkowitz:

You got married as a COLLEGE SOPHOMORE..?! That's romantic and serendipitous and all that jazz, but really pretty surprising.

And, good luck with your surgery :D!

Posted by: Shamarah on March 14, 2008

That was really amazing~

Posted by: 0 on March 14, 2008

You said so clearly what I have attempted to pass on to young people I meet everyday. Very great post! Don't worry, don't stress, it all works out for the best!

Posted by: Fellow Admissions guru on March 14, 2008

I'm encountering problems getting to gtadmissions.blogspot.com. Is it supposed to be gatechadmissions.blogspot.com?

Posted by: Sceth on March 14, 2008

Sceth, and I thought it was just me... !!

Posted by: Daniel Barkowitz on March 14, 2008

Very poetic.

Posted by: José P. on March 14, 2008

i hope you get well...i actually have an eye appointment myself tomorrow before the results are out...one last good luck to all you other applicants out there!

Posted by: nitiN on March 14, 2008

I'm gonna go out and celebrate my 2 college decisions tomorrow. One is MIT and the other is my 2nd choice school. I'm gonna have fun either way: acceptance or declination.

Wishing all of yall best of luck tomorrow.

Posted by: Collin MacGregor on March 14, 2008

I'm thankful to have been part of this amazing application process. Whether or not I get accepted tomorrow, your saying really inspires me of where I will stand in the future.
I hope the strength of deire may follow me, and you, and the rest of us applicants, no matter what the outcome tomorrow is.
Again, thank you Mr. Barkowitz.

Posted by: 0 on March 14, 2008

Thank you for the post Mr. Barkowitz, it is very inspiring and no matter what the outcome is with all the support offered at MIT blogs n by our families I believe we should be able to accept it and move forward. Hope you get well soon!

Thanks again,
Apoorva

Posted by: Apoorva Sachdev on March 14, 2008

You write excellently.
Thank you. Hope everything clears out for a better clarity. Take Care.

@Admissions Officers( from those who pick up our application to everyone who spend time evaluating us and sending us the decisions) Thank you for everything

Posted by: Libin Daniel on March 14, 2008

A very interesting perspective on things Get well soon...

P.S - You got married as a sophomore???????????????????????????????????????? Wow! :D

Posted by: Shruthi on March 14, 2008

I am an international student, whose chances are much much lower than many of RD applicants. I do sometimes realize that I'm hoping for too much or being too optimistic. Daniel, this post really does make me feel much better. Hope I do digest the message in the right perspective. Yet, I still wish, really wish, that MIT is the next beautiful opening, considering my recent failures. Great Post, Daniel. Get well soon.

Posted by: Anonymous on March 14, 2008

if my eye didn't hurt so bad, I would cry at the level of comfort this post brought me. Thank you Mr. Barkowitz for the assurance. MIT is everything I want, but even if I'm accepted, it may yet be impossible for me to attend. You've, in a very small way, helped me cope with that.

Posted by: Matt on March 14, 2008

Your story rings lots of bells for me, a class of '84 reject from MIT who ended up somewhere else instead, where I met my future husband 2nd semester freshman year. Our oldest inherited a much better version of my would-be-scientist's brain (although I majored in engineering, I ended up with an English PhD), but whether or not he's admitted to or decides to attend MIT, it's the process of and the passion for learning and service that are essential to living a meaningful life: not where you go to college. Best of luck to you and to all who applied; wherever you end up, it's sure to take you by surprise!

Posted by: Mom (and MIT reject) on March 14, 2008

"D" Day..FIRST!!! T-12 HOURS

Posted by: Jan on March 14, 2008

Thank you.

Posted by: Rachel on March 14, 2008

Yeah that makes me calm down so much.... Wherever I may end up, it's all for the best!!!

Posted by: Shion on March 14, 2008

Get well soon, Daniel! thanks for a great article.
I don't have a great record like other students so I already knew the result. Best of luck to everyone.

Posted by: Diana on March 14, 2008

Hi Daniel,
thanks for this refreshing post--it helps at times like this where I am tied up/ a little tense.
Thanks a lot. I hope your cataract gets better.
All the best!
-Samisab

Posted by: Samisab on March 14, 2008

Best of luck to all of you tomorrow!

Posted by: Fred on March 15, 2008

Great post, Daniel. In my opinion, this is one of your very best. I am amazed at how you managed to write such a great post among the visits to the eye doctor and the craziness of the last days before posting decisions! This only shows how awesome you are.

Get well soon. And to all MIT 2012 hopefuls, good luck. Keep your spirits up, no matter what!

Posted by: Another Anonymous on March 15, 2008

Thank you.

Posted by: 0 on March 15, 2008

Nice Post, thank you!
ka

Posted by: 0 on March 15, 2008

Thank you, Mr Daniel!! You are absolutely right!!
No matter what the decision is...It's just a matter of what path we would take, to reach that very same goal =)

Posted by: senna on March 15, 2008

Hey, thanx Daniel..
you rule!! and the fact that u got married as a college sophomore..

Posted by: Yash.. on March 15, 2008

Beautifully written, and an amazing message. It calmed me down more than my piano does, and that's saying something. Thanks very much mr.d!! Oh and hope you get well soon.
Good luck to all the RD applicants!
~9 hours~

Posted by: 0 on March 15, 2008

Beautifully written, and an amazing message. It calmed me down more than my piano does, and that's saying something. Thanks very much mr.d!! Oh and hope you get well soon.
Good luck to all the RD applicants!
~9 hours~

Posted by: Kamya on March 15, 2008

Wow! That is the most beautiful thing I have ever read...I mean by the end of it I was practically bawling, but I guess I'm just too sentimental.
Thank you so much for the immensely encouraging post Daniel. Now, I really do believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Posted by: Natasha4 on March 15, 2008

Thank you for one of the best posts that I have ever read.

You have planted a most valuable seed.

All best wishes for your eye surgery.

Posted by: mother of a "hopeful applicant" on March 15, 2008

Thanks a lot

Posted by: Arun on March 15, 2008

I have had a cataract in my left eye since I was born, but mine isn't getting worse as I age so they haven't done surgery on it. It's still kinda annoying because glasses won't fix it.

Posted by: Michael on March 15, 2008

Daniel,
What a beautiful way of looking at things. Life is after all how we choose to view it. It sounds that your visual issue is only physical. You have shown time and again how clearly you see life and are willing to share your point of view to help others.
I want to thank you in advance for all of your efforts and shared knowledge. It's odd how just three hours before decision notification there is a peaceful calm. Good luck with your surgery.

Peaceful Mom

Posted by: Peaceful Mom on March 15, 2008

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