Congratulations on being accepted to MIT! You're amazing! And your hair looks especially good today! Did you do something new to it? Nope, just didn't shower? Me too. But seriously, congratulations!
In my 9.65 (Cognitive Development) class, we've been talking a lot about the nature of memory and how it's divided into various type (conceptual short term memory, working memory and the visuospatial sketchpad, long term memory, etc.), and one experiment we ran in class involved everyone writing down their memories of an emportant emotional experience, a phenomenon called "flashbulb memories". In this case, specifically recalling the day you found out you got into MIT. What it felt like, what you were wearing, what you did before and after, etc. Crazily enough, even though that was way back in the dark ages of 2006 (in my day, I read my acceptance letter by candle, before saddling up my horse and picking up some celebratory goose fat from the general store), I can still remember exactly how it happened - driving home from school, seeing the tube sticking out the mailbox, SCREAMING MY HEAD OFF, screaming my head off some more, jumping up and down, scaring my dog, running in circles, shooting off fireworks, setting my house on fire, having to call 911, etc.)
(No. Not really. But everything short of fireworks, yes.)
Things are a little different now, since decisions are released online. But you still get a tube and/or big packet in the mail eventually, so whether you're early decision or just found out - what's your story? Feel free to share in the form of pictures, haiku, sonnet, or just plain comment below. Or read some old stories for inspiration (as well as a more comprehensive version of my story, sans fireworks).
Looking forward to meeting you all in a few weeks! :)
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
Posted by: Banerjee on March 18, 2010
And I checked. And I was sleepy and my eyes were blurry and I was yawning and it didn't register.
but YES-- I woke up the family, celebratory dancing ensued. And I nearly missed my flight, but the next 3 days in that holiday county were spent with reckless abandon
Long post. But it could've been longer.
Posted by: Anvisha on March 18, 2010
We sat around for a bit longer, I went and bought a cake and champagne to tell my mother, who didn't know that I was going to get the decision that night. When I first said that I got accepted, she misheard me and thought I didn't get accepted and buried me in a hug. When I told her again, that I _did_ get in, she just screamed
It's been almost four days and it's still unbelievable.
Posted by: Kristjan Eerik '14 on March 18, 2010
When I logged in, I read the first few sentences and got excited. But I had seen this college confidential post in which someone got a rejection letter starting something like "Congratulations! We are sorry to..." So I read the first paragraph two more times before I jumped out of bed to show my parents.
haha, the only one who wasn't happy for me was our cat, who was scared by my mom's screams. I'm so glad this wait is over.
Posted by: Lisa '14 on March 18, 2010
Posted by: Jess on March 18, 2010
No need to say I didn't sleep for the rest of the night.
Sunday was pretty standard. I had breakfast,showered, watched creepy movies until it was time. What happened next is pretty surreal and I will wake up on a Saturday night just to discover all this was a very good (but phony) dream.
reCaptcha:He dazed ... So did I
Posted by: Martin '14 on March 18, 2010
The first thing I looked for was the word "congratulations" but there was none, so instantly I thought I was rejected/ deferred. Then I started skimming the letter- I didn't have the patience to take the time to read it- and I saw the words "pleased to". I thought "pleased" sounds like a good word so I forced myself to read the whole sentence and wha-la! I was accepted. I continued to run out into the kitchen, where my parents were, screaming that I got in. Then my mom started screaming. Then my dad thought there was a burglar because everyone was screaming (he eventually figured it out though). And finally my mom and I spent the next hour calling the long list of people I promised to notify of the decision.
The End :D
Posted by: Morganne '14 on March 18, 2010
Pi day... Despite daylight savings time, I woke up at 6:45. I participated in the March USACO contest to kill some time (but the contest was pretty hard, and I sat there half-wondering about my decision and half-thinking about the Starcraft problem for a couple hours). A friend of mine who was planning to come over to see the decision in person called and asked if it was okay to come over. After some convoluted and anxious waiting, we finally got everything sorted out. She came over, and we had lunch shortly after. Immediately after that, we played DDR (because playing intense DDR right after eating lunch is obviously the smart thing to do). After going through random songs, we found out that it was already 2:02. I trudged upstairs to go to my laptop to check. I didn't really want to check, because I didn't like my chances of getting accepted. My friend offered to first not be in the room when I checked, and also to check my decision for me. I declined both options. I typed in my username/password, and was about to move the mouse to click "Display Decision". I sighed, and clicked the button.
The page loaded, and there was silence for about two seconds. I read the first line of the letter, and after seeing the words "offer you admission", I screamed, with my friend, at the same time (screamed might not be the right word, but according to my sisters who were behind me, it sounded like that). A Facebook status emerged, followed by a phone call, and then lots of text messages to various friends.
Best day ever.
My captcha: $850 lebanese.
Posted by: Nick '14 on March 18, 2010
Once 1:50 hit around,I sat at my desk and waited. It was intense because no one was home; the silence added to the intensity. When I found out that I was accepted I was jumping with glee! All of the hard-work had come in a tangible (well, viewable) result!
I called my immediate family, who, for the most part was elated (we wont go into detail about those who are completely set on Financial Aid being the only guiding decision for college).
Afterward, I was slightly saddened that some friends were not accepted. However, I realized that we all must go our own path for happiness and that maybe it was not meant to be for everyone.
When my mom finally came home, we went out for dinner to celebrate!
I really can not wait until CPW!
Posted by: Nathan on March 18, 2010
Posted by: Mark on March 18, 2010
Posted by: Gina on March 18, 2010
By 8PM, I could no longer focus on homework; I was far too excited. I had that song "Final Countdown" stuck in my head haha
Eventually, I played the perfect Jason Mraz song to calm me down :] and when I read the letter (six times to make sure I didn't misread it) I started screaming and jumping around! It was a very good few days after that :]
Congrats to everyone who got in! I'll be seeing you at CPW! :]
Posted by: Paula on March 18, 2010
Finito.
Posted by: Cameron '14 on March 18, 2010
As the minutes ticked down to 1:59, my guests gradually abandoned their studies and gathered in a group behind me, as I sat on the couch literally shaking with excitement/trepidation/you-know-the-feeling. Finally, at 1:58, I couldn't take it anymore...I sprinted upstairs to my bedroom, chased by the disappointed groans of my friends as the crowd disappated. Perched on the edge of my bed, I used twitching fingers to peck out my username/password..and then I stared at the screen. I can't tell you how much I wanted to scream, but I couldn't breathe - not until I ran downstairs and gasped "I GOT IN!" to my mom, followed by applause and cheers by my team.
Best pi day ever. =D
Posted by: Nell on March 18, 2010
Then I rushed over to my laptop and you know the rest. :D
Posted by: Anon on March 18, 2010
Posted by: Ann '14! on March 18, 2010
A bunch of calls and text messages followed. And it has barely begun to sink in.
Posted by: Michael'14 on March 18, 2010
Posted by: Anonymous on March 18, 2010
I wasn't really expecting to get in, so I just took a leisurely shower, then went into my kitchen to look for something to eat. I suppose it was a bit of an omen that there were fresh, hot bagels waiting for me, but I took nothing of it and cut one and spread on some cream cheese. By the time I got upstairs, I looked at the clock and it was 2:00!!!!!!, feeling like I was about to have heart attack, I loged on (got my password wrong 3 times), and, wait.
At that point I just kind of melted/exploded, I started running around my room, and then started calling everyone I know. It was a good feeling to say the least.
Posted by: Matthew on March 19, 2010
Posted by: genius ('18) on March 19, 2010
Posted by: genius ('18) on March 19, 2010
Oh, that was a good night.
Posted by: Brian on March 19, 2010
At 1:59, I officially decided and told my friend, that I was going to check it, cry and get it all over with. I read through the blogs for while, and then clicked "Display Decision". I shivered and almost burst into tears when I saw the "MIT Class of 2014" part. And I started screaming and my friends started screaming and we all screamed, and hopped around and stretched
About five minutes later I heard a new, invigorated scream. Another one of our friends had gotten in.
Later, we all laughed when my friend's little brother explained our screaming to his friends by saying: "She has won a competition called MIT. The competition is called 'got in'". I finally went back and polished off all the cereal
Posted by: Martekie on March 19, 2010
I read the first paragraph probably around 5 times just taking it in. Then I logged off and tried to play it cool to my mom and say something smart. Failed. She congratulated me and made me show her. Then I attacked my sister as she came down the stairs with a hug and called a ton of people.
It was an exhilirating day!
Posted by: Heath '14 on March 19, 2010
I read the first paragraph probably around 5 times just taking it in. Then I logged off and tried to play it cool to my mom and say something smart. Failed. She congratulated me and made me show her. Then I attacked my sister as she came down the stairs with a hug and called a ton of people.
It was an exhilirating day!
Posted by: Heath '14 on March 19, 2010
My decision popped up so fast that I didn't really register anything. There was a lot of words and I saw CLASS OF 2014 first, and then read the sentence backwards trying to look for the congratulations ahaha.
I didn't believe it at all so I closed my window and tried again. And it was the same
Today I got my big envelope. Not the same as a tube, but its the next best thing!!
Posted by: Angela '14 on March 19, 2010
Posted by: Nausheen'14 on March 19, 2010
I had a video camera and filmed my first exposure to the decision. I saw it, started laughing, thinking "o god im not ever going." Then I invented my (probably delusional) plan to get in.
Posted by: Erics on March 20, 2010
No, actually I went back to sleep.
Posted by: Ph'14 on March 20, 2010
Posted by: christy on March 20, 2010
I clicked at 1:59.
I was expecting a "We regret to inform you...". However, there was none of that nor was there a great big "Congratulations" on the page. I actually had to read the first 4 sentences to realized I'd been accepted. Dearest MIT, it is not a good idea to try and make kids read the first four sentences with that amount of suspense upon their shoulders. May I ask that next year there be a great big, bold "Congratulation" on the page.
I let out a shrieking, "OH MY GOD!". And forced my self to read the 4 sentences again in disbelief. I fell off of the couch and sprinted outside to tell my dad and brother, who apparently had already left. I grabbed my phone whilst jumping, crying,screaming to call my friend who was waiting to hear from me. I blubbered for about 1 minute speaking so quickly, I do believe I broke my own record for words/minute. I posted a giant caps, bold facebook status, and then ran outside to my car to go tell my mom who was at our Forsythia festival. I got outside and attempted to click my heels with joy. I fell, scraped my knee. Got back up, into the car, and sped through Forsyth. Ran through the massive amount of people staring at me strangely and almost tackled my mom. Then we went about bragging to all the people there we knew. Now, I live in a small town. No one from my school has ever gotten into an Ivy league school. There's a newspaper article coming out next week.
Posted by: Jess Haskins on March 20, 2010
Posted by: Miriam '14 on March 20, 2010
Posted by: Flora '14 on March 20, 2010
This past Sunday, I awaited 1:59 pm in the very seat I am occupying right now, reading blog entries, and preparing myself mentally for a "no." Such preparation made the acceptance all the more joyous/amazing/unbelievable... pick your adjective. I am not much of a cry baby but my tear ducts kicked into full gear. I proceeded to call my dad, family members, and friends for the next 2 hours. In the midst of phone calls and texts, I received news that two other classmates of mine were also accepted! Three girls in one shot after 28 years of nothingness. I smiled the rest of the day, which made my face hurt but who cares because I WAS ACCEPTED TO MIT!!! AHHHH!!!
At midnight some friends surprised me with what else but fresh baked apple pie, the perfect ending to the day.
Posted by: Christiana '14 on March 20, 2010
Sunday morning I went to church and stayed there as long as I could to put off being home for too long. I managed to get home around 1:35, changed my clothes, and cleaned my room a little. At 1:50, I went downstairs and sat at my kitchen table, facing away from the clock and towards the lake behind my house. Calmly, I painted my nails and tried to empty my mind of anything except what I was doing. I finally finished a few coats and was blowing on my nails to get them to dry enough to type when I looked at the clock. 1:58pm. My parents and brother came down and stood around me, we prayed, and then I mustered up the courage to hit enter.
After skimming the first line a tiny "ohmyGod" escaped from me, my mom started crying, my dad hugged me, and I started sobbing. I spent the next 2 hours on the phone calling family and friends, more time than I usually spend on the phone in a month.
I still haven't fully wrapped my brain around it.
Posted by: Mary B '14 on March 21, 2010
1)You did look super cute with your unwashed hair the day of this blog post.
2)I will share my acceptance memory because all of these are are so precious: It was way back in 2004, and I was following Matt's and Ben's blogs religiously, and I remember the picture from Matt's of a hand truck with 2 mail crates of big envelopes set to be mailed on Friday, December 10. From this I deduced that there was a good chance my letter would arrive in the mail on Monday, December 13. So, I decided to play hooky and stay home from school that day to "work on an AP Government essay or two" (I was notoriously bad at turning those babies in on time), and I, of course, didn't tell my parents my true agenda. I somehow even managed to get my friend, Mara, to come to my house to "study" with me. I should also mention that my year was the last year of EA to not get tubes (do they even still get those now?); it was made very clear on Matt's blog that admitted students would get a big envelope and rejected and deferred students would get a small one. It was around 1:00 p.m. when we heard the metal clinking of my mailbox. I ran outside and saw the big envelope with the yellow MIT graphic on it. Lots of girly screaming ensued... I called my parents and my grandparents (One of my grandmas couldn't stop crying about how proud her parents would have been of me, which I do appreciate but to give some context, my grandma went to college in the '50s, so she was pretty cool herself). I then called my school's headmaster. I went to a small private school and I was part of the second graduating class, so an MIT admission was a pretty big deal (and yes, I may have abused that for the rest of the year). I'm fairly certain they made an announcement over the loudspeaker about it, because everyone knew and fast. Well actually, that would be grossly inappropriate, so let's just blame it on gossiping. Mara and I then drove to school to get there for the last few periods. We conveniently had choir practice instead of class; it was a full choir practice, like a third of the entire school. We walked into the room mid song and tried to sneak into our spots on the risers. But no, that wasn't gonna happen. Singing ceased and everyone starting cheering for me. Now, I don't mind attention, but this was ridiculous and is why I still sometimes think a PSA was made. Other than the obvious visits to my favorite teachers and my college guidance counselor, I don't remember much from that day.
But! I was then mentioned on Ben's blog (http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/the_selection_process_application_reading_committee_and_decisions/there_is_no_formula.shtml) "It makes me think of the girl who chose to commute an hour each way to attend a certain school, and the amazing friendship she developed with the bus driver that reinforced her dream of becoming a teacher." That was me! And if you scroll down to the comments, you'll see one from high school Jenna. But then, as always, I brought the drama in his follow-up post (http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/the_selection_process_application_reading_committee_and_decisions/clarification_on_last_post.shtml). I'm pretty sure my high school still talks about this at their college info nights..."One of our students was even featured on the MIT website!" My high school is so silly.
I then continued to find great friends in other EA admits, through the MIT09 Chat on AOL with our bot moderator SexyNerdBot. And even though those friendships barely made it to Orientation (though we were quite the posse at CPW), the admitted student process was a great ride, as was MIT. Disclaimer: I made tons of great friends during my time at MIT, and just because I found a different niche from my prefrosh friends doesn't mean you will or won't.
It's great how easily distracted one can be by nostalgia at work.
Jenna
ps- I may be an MIT graduate but even though it says "(you may use HTML tags for style)" I cannot for the life of me figure it out, so sorry for that
Posted by: Jenna '09 on March 22, 2010
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Posted by: Andrew on March 22, 2010
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