What’s Up With The Mail?!? by Ben Jones
Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. But I'll tell you everything I know.
Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. But I’ll tell you everything I know.
I know that many of you haven’t heard yet, and that it’s enormously frustrating. For this I wholeheartedly apologize. Please hang in there for us; your decision should arrive any day. I know that your frustration is compounded by the fact that people in Alaska have received their decisions while people in Cambridge have not. I can’t explain this, other than to say that (1) the Post Office is dealing with insane amounts of mail due to the holiday season, and (2) we had a major blizzard the day we mailed. Oh, and (3) the post office infrastructure seems to have its own reality, which doesn’t always match up to ours.
Some things I can actually clarify:
- We mailed all decisions (admitted, deferred, rejected) at the exact same time on Friday afternoon, 12/9/05. If someone received a piece of mail that was postmarked on 12/8/05, this was a postal error – I can promise you that nothing left our office until 12/9.
- Based on a variety of factors, I can confidently say that as of this morning, not every admit has received his or her tube. So if you haven’t received anything yet, it does not mean automatic deferral or rejection.
- Applicants from the same school often receive their decisions on different days. This happens every year and rarely correlates with a specific type of decision (i.e. all admitted on monday, all deferred on tuesday, etc.) There is no rhyme or reason to the ways of the post office.
Again, I know this is very frustrating for you all, and I’m thinking about you guys. Hoping you all get your decisions today.
EDIT
Marty O’Brien, the manager of MIT’s Mail Services, just checked in via a comment and I thought it would be best to paraphrase his comment here where more would see it.
When the tubes and letters left our office on Friday afternoon, we in admissions expected that everything was going to be processed via first class mail. Unfortunately, the folks who handle the logistics of processing and inputting MIT mail into the Postal Service were able to process the tubes on Friday but not able to process the letters until Monday. This explains why so many more tubes have been received than letters at this juncture.
I promise you that we were not made aware of this fact until one hour ago; otherwise I would have let you know before now. I feel terrible about this guys. We all do.
I’ll post further updates if they arise.
Thank you so much. I feel much better as I wait.
hey ben,
IT rocks. period.
…still waiting lol
Thanks Ben for clearing up that issue.
thanks soo much…maybe i still have a chance ^_^
thank you for the clarification. It was fun contemplating about the theory behind the delays / weird schedule though.
Thanks Ben.
Could you please also give us some information regarding decisions to places outside the States, like by USPS or DHL?
Thanks, maybe then there’s still hope for the rest of us.
NOTHING TODAY in NJ!!!!
Thanks for clarifying that much, but can you say whether or not everything was mailed the same priority? I’ve heard lots of rumors, but I’d rather hear it from someone who actually knows.
Both Harvard and Penn early applicants will get their desicions today through email, and MIT still nothing in most places. Can the MIT staff tell us our desicions if we call tomorrow Dec 15, because of the mail problems. Pleaaaaaaase and thanks…
No matter what the odd mailing trends mean, I’m still a nervous wreck. Each day I go through inexplicable anxiety waiting, and then…nothing. Hearing that we can make phone calls about decisions starting Friday brings some relief; at least I know where the end of this waiting will be if the mail does not arrive.
I know that you guys could not develop an online notification system this year. However, for the sanity and emotional well-being of next year’s applicants, please make it a priority for them.
Is there a possibility that these so called “tubes” will not fit in our mailbox?
[edit]
I’m going to move Marty’s post to the front page so more people see it…
-Ben
I’m checking in here because I wrote a recommendation for a student who applied EA and I’m wondering when she might be hearing.
I do really sympathize, guys, but it could be worse. MIT has really made big efforts to move their time-line up while preserving the integrity of the system.
Two years ago, Harvard and several other places emailed results on 12/11. MIT had originally planned to mail out on 12/12, but a snowstorm fouled up the schedule. On 12/15, MIT’s website finally announced that letters had been mailed.
I know at least one student (less than 200 miles away) who didn’t receive her letter until 12/19. (Interestingly, the letter was actually dated 12/16 and postmarked 12/17, despite the MIT website’s claim that all letters had gone out 12/15. It was an acceptance, by the way. Who knows what gremlins are in the system.)
Students were told not to call unless their letter didn’t arrive by 12/22. There were some students in that position who still hadn’t heard by then and who had to call (and, no, there were no tubes that year–just big and small envelopes.)
So relax, you guys have it much better this year. Letters went out earlier and you can call earlier too.
Waiting is hard…I still remember the disappointment every day the mail didn’t bring news.
I sympathize…good luck to all who are still waiting.
(And to those who say that MIT should have an electronic system, other schools have had some real disasters with those—in some cases, they’ve accidentally sent the wrong message and had to straighten things out afterwards. In the most painful situations at some of those other schools, students who received electronic notificaton that they’d been admitted later learned that no, they really hadn’t been admitted.)
It is hard to be sure you’re doing electronic notification really right. And schools that have done it wrong have had some really sad stories. (Not to mention the possibilities for some practical joker to send forged fabricated notifications.)
It is hard to wait, but I respect that MIT is doing the best it can, vicissitudes of the Post Office, the weather, and the holiday season notwithstanding.
Oh well, here I am, still waiting… will it be deffered? decline? oh well, maybe accepted! So I’ll keep waiting and praying for an acceptance!
thanks for your compassion with us and making me feel like things are normal in here!
Wow, so based on Marty’s post it means that all the acceptances were mailed out earlier. Thus people still waiting have gotten deferred or rejected.
I cannot express how angry I am at MIT right now.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
So if I’m 20 miles from Boston, and have not received anything as of today (Wednesday), is it safe to assume the worst (letter instead of tube)?
So basically, we don’t really have a chance if we haven’t received ours yet and are very close to MIT.
If tubes were sent out earlier, then why haven’t ALL tubes been received? Also, what explains the irregular mailing pattern–people in the west received theirs before some in the Boston?
Wow, Marty’s post makes everything make a lot more sense, but I am still disappointed that until now you guys never released this information.
I want my tube.
I want my TUBE.
I WANT MY TUBE!!!
I had to get that out. Thanks for clearing everything up BEn, there’s still hope for me. Buy the way did anyone get anything in Brooklyn yet??
Well, my friend got his tube yesterday (This is central florida btw). I waited for the mail today for a couple of hours…. it finally came about 10 minutes ago… nothing. This isnt very healthy.. I think my heart is going to explode. =(
Yea, I just wish the admissions office would let us call today…
Wouldn’t this sort of thing be released EARLIER!!!
I can’t think of a worse way of finding out I have been defered/denied. This is absolutely terrible. Waiting has made this week hell for me and now I know I stand no chance of getting in. Possibly the worst day I have ever experienced….
HI. I AM AN ADMISSIONS OFFICER FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE. MY SON HAS APPLIED TO MIT EA. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CURRENT SITUATION FROM A 3RD PARTY POINT OF VIEW…. I AM ASHAMED OF WHAT IS GOING ON. I AM DISGUSTIED.
I’M SORRY, BUT IN MY OPINION, THE WAY MIT — THE LEADING TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES — HANDLES THE DECISIONS LETTER IS TRUELY DISPICIBLE.
FIRST OF ALL — YOU ARE ADMITTING CLOSE TO 12%. IT DOESNT MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE — OR HOW GOOD YOU THINK YOU ARE… BUT HARVARD AND YALE HAVE HIGHER EA ACCEPTANCE RATES THAN THAT. THE KIDS THAT APPLY TO THIS INSTITUTION ARE, IM SURE, MORE THAN QUALIFIED. BY LIMITING THE ADMITTANCE TO LESS THAN 30% OF YOUR CLASS TO EA DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE. THESE KIDS ARE DEDICATED TO THIS SCHOOL. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS SIMPLY PLAYING W/ THESE KIDS’ DREAMS.
… THEN COMES THE MAIL. SURE. BLAME USPS. BLAME THE MAIL MAN. BLAME THE SCHOOL. THE REAL BLAME SHOULD BE YOU GUYS. THE HORRIBLE ADMISSION COUNSLERS.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF HAPPY KIDS OUT THERE W/ THEIR NEW “TUBES” — WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT IS THOUSANDS OF EXCELLENT STUDENTS WHO CAN NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT. THOUSANDS OF TOMORROW’S LEADERS WHO HAD THEIR DREAMS TRAMPLED ON DAY BY DAY. HOUR BY HOUR.
MY SON WENT TO THE MAILBOX 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 5 DAYS (THERE’S NO MAIL ON SUNDAYS); AND EVERY TIME HE CAME HOME — “NOTHING.”
NOT KNOWING HE WAS DEFERRED IS WORSE THAN GETTING THE ACTUAL LETTER. EACH DAY — HE GOES OUT AND GETS NOTHING. GET THE SMACK IN THE FACE. HE WAS LET DOWN BY YOU GUYS NOT ONCE… BUT 4 TIMES!
HE GOT DEFFERED BY YOU GUYS FOR 4 TIMES!
GETTING THE WHITE ENVELOPE IS SAD ENOUGH… BUT IMAGINE GOING THOUGH THE SAME HORRIBLE PROCESS 4 TIMES!!
MIT IS TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED. ITS COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. THEREFORE — WHY TAKE THE STUPID APPROACH AND USE AN ONLINE SYSTEM LIKE HARVARD, YALE, AND UPENN?
YOU PEOPLE ARE CRUEL CRUEL PEOPLE.
Where is Marty’s post? I cant find it anywhere.
Yeah I wish I could have known this earlier so I could have moved on from thinking about MIT to my CALTECH application, an amazing school that seems to get their mailing correct.
Wow. I pretty much want to die.
nevermind… it just showed up
they probably kept it underwraps…. it seems unlikely that the director of mail services would make this public through an admissions officers blog. Most likely the admissions official was already aware of this screwup
Oh wow, that’s nice. So after almost a week of assuring us that “1. We mailed all decisions (admitted, deferred, rejected) at the exact same time on Friday afternoon” it turns out that it wasn’t true. We were right in assuming that the tubes were being received first, and it wasn’t just that people were posting their deferrals/rejections. We post here so much, we would even post if we got rejected. Great, Thanks a lot MIT, those 5 days of stress were so worth it.
mit probably didn’t want to pay for first-class postage for us unimportant deferrals. this is a cheap way for us to find out about it. i wonder how much they are saving.
um… having been in the same position as your son *above* it’s no ones fault, and it’s hardly fair to blame mit, i’m pretty sure i got deferred, and yes it’s a big deal, but will 2 extra days change the decision? no…
well… I will just have to assume…
How much time do we have to send things in to add to our application?
Shoot me…Marty’s post gives me no hope anymore. Although thank you for making me go through 5 days of torture before telling me indirectly and online that I have been defered or denied. I can’t believe this. Why would you ever do this to someone, not to mention some thousands?
Admissions didn’t know. We really didn’t know. I don’t expect you to believe me, and certainly we’re the most likely targets for your anger. I can take that. But please believe me when I say we didn’t know.
Wow. I came home went to this page, saw Ben’s post but Marty’s was not up. I told my mom what Ben said and told her there was still hope. Now she is downstairs and I can hear her and she is so happy. Unfortunately, I’ve now learned the truth and there have been few times in my life where I have felt this horrible. Thank you MIT.
If I get in regular, I’m not going.
But Anonymous, there *IS* still hope!
Only 377 students were admitted EA. There will be hundreds more admitted RD. There *IS* still hope!
If you get in regular, you’re not going?? Way to shoot yourself in the foot.
Ben,
If we can send in extra things for our application, when does it need to be postmarked? I want to make sure I get in.
Thanks
Exactly…I’m going to have to go through this hell all over again. Maybe MIT can figure out how to mail letters for the RD kids. I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone.
Wow, you’re really overreacting.
Ben, if I get deferred and I email you privately, can I have our correspondance added to my admissions folder for review? I feel more comfortable writing a letter to an individual rather than “the Admissions Office.” It lets me be more open and candid about myself.
If we get defered, are we allowed to edit our application? Can we change our essays and updates ECs?
all right. i applied EA like most of the people posting, and i’m pretty upset that i haven’t receieved a tube yet. and yeah, i’m a little disappointed about the whole mail situation, but you know what, that doesn’t change anything. admissions didn’t know what happened. and now they’re being criticized for only taking 377 people EA. what the hell? they make the rules, we apply, and we deal with whatever the decision is. Whoever the anonymous is that posted saying he was an admissions officer from another school: MIT is not trying to “play with kids dreams” or anything…they’re just doing their job. Yeah, i wish they could take more people early, but that’s how it’s been every year. that’s what we get for applying to such a selective school. what’d you expect? everyone who’s devoted to MIT would get in? yes, many would, but there’s a limit, and unfortunately, life is not fair. I’m sorry if i’ve been harsh but this really irritates me when people completely change their opinion on something when things don’t go their way.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=125531
read that thread…it ought to put a LOT of things into perspective, and hopefully help applicants who are, like me, waiting each day.
good luck everyone…we all deserve to go to MIT, but unfortunately, only a lucky* few will end up there.
*Note that i said lucky and not select. We’re all great students, its just luck of the draw after a while.
While we are all very angry and upset about this, just think of the poor people that will have to answer hundreds of phone calls Friday and in many cases tell hardworking students all over the country that they were rejected. That may be in the top ten worst jobs I could ever imagine.
So, thanks for the all the enormously hard work reviewing all of our applications.
so i live in CT and if i had not received a tube yet does that mean that i am deferred/rejected? i live in a small town… i do not know if this plays a part with the mail but i have been waiting…and waiting… checking the mail and feel even more dismal when nothing is in.
I’m not blaming the admissions officers, but you have to admit it’s a pretty messed up way of finding out.
So is there still a chance that I can get a tube?
yea exactly, i don’t imagine telling kids they were deferred/rejected is the easiest thing to do… but to echo what others have said, when should we send stuff in?
is there a chance of still receiving the tube? i live in ct in a small town.
You (the people who work at MIT admissions) should all be ashamed. You should all be punished for this. I hate you all.
there’s always a chance of receiving the tube. it’s still the same chance…12%. but guys, start planning like cujoe and others have, and instead of wasting your time and energy hating the admissions staff, try and figure out what to do to get in. go easy on the staff..they already feel bad enough. keep in mind that they dont have to keep blogs or anything like that, and if we were applying to another school, yeah we might have found out online or something, but we would have no idea how any of the process works.
At least I can stop waiting now, my letter should get here eventually. Time to start getting ready for the enxt deadline. 01/01 will come pretty soon everyone.
Hey guys…seriously calm down. Marty said that a couple of the letters were misplaced. I’m pretty sure they are all still in the same spot they would be if the letters were shipped out correctly. I mean. MIT is a wonderful institution, they have some of the best (if not THE BEST) engineering and comp sci. courses in the world. It’s not the end of the world. Yes the wait is agonizing but most of you are overreacting as if you will die if you do not get accepted. What is done is done, accept the fact. I’m still waiting out here on the west coast. You have to learn to accept that people make mistakes. Move on, there are other great colleges out there. Don’t bet your life on this one. The only reason you are freaking out is because you are placing too much on the line for this. Well thats all I have to say. Hope you all receive acceptances though! =)
It was preety obvious that all this happened by this point. I think it might have been for the best if Marty O’Brien didn’t post anything at all. Is there any chance the phone service will be made available tommorow?
People who are criticizing the “CRUEL CRUEL” admissions officers need to be a little more fair and a little less CAPITAL… cough cough.
For your information, Admissions Officer From Another School, I am one of these kids to whom MIT has not sent a letter or a tube as of yet. I too have waited five days and checked for four. And I think that is is *appalling* that you, as an admissions officer, would come onto this site and claim that simply because of a screw-up the admissions officers are “HORRIBLE”. MIT did not “TOY” with anyone.
I understand your frustration. Believe me. I think I just might be going through it a lot more than you are. But your post was uncalled for. And it likely made the attitudes of the kids who are still waiting worse. Think about that for a while.
and to Ben, Matt, Nance, and all the other admissions officers. Thank you for making this a worthwhile experience. You guys are all truly wonderful and I know you care about us. Waiting is hard, but I’ll get over it. Just pretend I never applied =P
Wow Ben,
I’m sorry certain people would leave such bitter, hateful comments as they have. You and the rest of MIT Admissions have shown nothing but genuine compassion for each applicant, regardless of decisions, and to think that you all are “up to something” is completely insane. You guys are worlds beyond any other admissions team in terms of accessability (everyone should be honored that we even have the opportunity to correspond with you), and it’s obvious (to me) that this situation was completely out of your hands.
Thanks for all you do and have done.
The big question is do all of us still have a chance of getting a tube if we haven’t received it yet?
Ben, thanks for posting that. I was wondering if deferred applicants (am hoping for deferral) are allowed to supplement their application in any way, between now and when we get reviewed for regular action, and if so, what the process would be for that. Thanks
Guys, I know we’re all upset but it really wasn’t their fault, don’t yell at them – just think, some schools wouldn’t open their admissions process to us, let alone admit that something happened not according to plan. And yeah, I’m as disappointed as the rest of you – I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I came home friday… but I think that we are all great kids and we’re better than that… applying to mit we knew that we weren’t all going to get in, and even if we hear a few days late, it doesn’t change the decision made.
anyway, cheer up, things could be worse. personally, i think i am just going to stop worrying, and call friday morning. i’ve already convinced my math teacher that at 9:01 he should let us take a time out from class to call…
Where there is a will….there is a way….
I am not a writer in any sense of the word. I am the mother of an applicant and I have been reading this blog, Matt’s, Nance’s and the CC forum for the last 2 weeks or so. Kudos to the admissions folks and the amazing job that they have done communicating the process. I especially was impressed by the kindness, empathy, and words of Marilee.
This mailing error is really a rather horrible situation. My son has come home each day asking me if there is anything from MIT. Zippo. Nada still. There is true pain there. However, having read these blogs as long as I have I believe Ben when he says that the admissions people just found out. Apology accepted. This stuff does just happen in life sometimes and I am sure they feel awful.
I’d like to talk about something else though. Something I wish to get off my chest.
I am dismayed that this year and next apparently represent the largest college applicant pool ever nationwide. As I understand the situation this is somewhat a result of more people going to college, a lack of additional colleges having been built, students taking longer than 4 years to graduate, but mostly I hear the problem is due to the baby boom generation’s offspring. This last thing I cited is an anomaly. What I don’t quite understand is the lack of preparedness by the colleges nationwide to accommodate this aberration.
I entitled this post “Where there is a will….there is a way” for a reason. All the wonderful words spoken in these blogs will not help these brilliant young students. I don’t understand why colleges don’t offer up more triples. Yes, it will be cramped. However, offering this up in advance gives people the opportunity to just say “No” if they are not interested. Allot a certain number of rooms as triples. I did read somewhere where someone said triples were awful. The gist of the post was that people need space. I don’t know how horrible that kind of situation really is when you consider perspective on things. A horrible situation is what happened in New Orleans. How is living in Africa these days? or living in Baghdad? Allot a certain number of rooms and allow the individuals to decide for themselves. I also would suggest that you require people who wish to accept under these conditions to actually visually see what these conditions look like.
Another possibility is allowing for some off campus students.
Another possibility is requiring a semester co-op for a certain percentage of students alleviating the numbers on campus at any one given semester.
Yet another possibility is sending some students to Tulane for a semester, helping New Orleans rebuild. Now that would be a REAL education.
I am of the opinion that a premier college education to each additional student is a gift to us all. Add x% more acceptances this year (and next year). This is MIT. I am going to be rather blunt. “Figure out a way”.
One other thing. Challenge the other colleges nationwide to do so as well.
Venting completed.
I think this whole thing is rather disgusting. MIT, the most reputed techonology school, couldnt do online decisions? Now look what has happened, kids across the country know they are not in, not by letters, but rather by realizing that if they didnt get a tube by now, they wont get one….really, for a top 10 school, this is pitiful
exactly i want to know the answer to the above question is there a chance of still getting the tube? i live in ct
Ben,
Don’t worry, I’m not angry at you. This certainly was not your fault at all. I haven’t received anything yet in St. Louis, Missouri, but I haven’t lost all hope. Even if the letters were processed by Monday, chances are any letters should have arrived by Wednesday. That means there’s a large chance of some sort of discrepancy in the postal service, which could be either good or bad.
i meant the question if there was a chance of still getting the tube
Early Action Applicants:
I know that this time is especially stressful, and based on the recent news handed down to you, I can understand why you are further stressed out. However, the reactions some of you are giving (which seem to come mostly from anonymous sources) are truly unfair.
The admissions office has done all it can to make this run as smooth as possible, but like all else, it isn’t perfect. The snowstorm that hit Friday was terrible and it led to everything in the city to be slowed down. The fact that the mail was treated as it was has nothing to do with the admissions office becuase they want nothing but the best for you.
The reason why decisions aren’t posted online has been stated by Ben in a previous post. One day, they will have the technology that will make it safe to post the decisions so that no one except you, the applicant, can see it. However, until that point comes, you all have to wait by the mailbox like many others, including myself, did for months waiting for decisions.
“One day, they will have the technology that will make it safe to post the decisions so that no one except you, the applicant, can see it.”
Not to beat a dead horse, but that technology’s already here. It’s been here for quite a few years now. A lot of the other colleges have it. (It’s called secure web pages and/or email!) And if *MIT* hasn’t gotten around to discovering this technology, well…
As for having a technologically better admissions notification program, it’s not just a matter of having technology, but having reliable technology. Microsoft has technology to do a lot, but given their history of bugs and problems, I would not trust their technology in certain instances. So what really matters is if MIT can implement this technology with no screw-ups at all.
For those of you posting anonymous comments attacking MIT Admissions/MIT’s post office/USPS…
Would you say these things to Ben’s face?
I didn’t think so.
For the one who claims to be an admissions officer at another college? If I were dean of admissions at any college, I’d fire any officer who did something like that, on the spot. Besides, your claim of being an admissions officer is weakened by the fact that you posted anonymously, in all capitals, with spelling and grammar errors.
So in general – take it easy on MIT. It wasn’t their fault that this mistake happened. The decision was already made. You’ll find out when you get the mail tomorrow, or you can call Friday. It’s only one more day. I think everyone here will survive.
And if you STILL want to post such caustic comments, grow a pair and SIGN YOUR NAME TO IT.
To Ben and the rest of MIT admissions:
I understand that what happened was in no way your fault. I’m a little disappointed that I should probably expect an envelope instead of a tube at this point, but that’s life. You guys have one of the toughest jobs in the world, and I’m in awe that you have dealt with this responsibility so well. Keep up the good work.
I respectfully disagree with the anonymous admissions officer.
I applied EA to MIT. MIT has basically been my dream school for the past 12-13 years, ever since I started caring about colleges. In fourth grade, when I was flipping through my teacher’s college guide, she asked me, “What are you looking for? Harvard?” I had no idea what Harvard was, nor do I have any intention of applying there during the RD round. In all likelihood, I have been deferred. Do I think I deserve to be deferred? Of course not. I don’t think any applicant thinks he/she should be deferred.
However, I don’t think MIT admissions should get so much blame. First, although I most certainly don’t want to get deferred, I respect MIT’s decision to admit a relatively small group during the EA round, as it gives the RD applicants at least *some* chance of getting in. Plus, the overall admission rate for EA applicants was over 20% last year, which is really high. At all of the
‘Admissions officer from another school’,
I would have expected any admissions officer from any school to be calm, courteous, and most of all, to think about their actions. The way you accuse MIT’s admissions officers of ‘playing with kids’ dreams’, or being cruel, is ridiculous. I would expect you more than the students posting on this blog to control your anger, but you don’t seem to be able to. As an adult, an admissions officer, you should be responsible, and not jump to conclusions.
hey Ben,
Thanks for clarifying and opening up the issue. Again, I really appreciate how you guys tell us what’s going on with full sincerity and integrity.
As an EA applicant with no reply yet, I can fully empathize with the empty and horrible feeling of seeing nothing in the mailbox. No news is sometimes worse than bad news. It pushes some of our barely-kept patience out of control. :]
But this post helps me be determined and move on. I still love MIT way too much, and an error from the mailing services isn’t going to falsely change the institute’s image. And I trust things will work out what’s right for me during RD.
Lastly, just for clarity’s sake, does the information in your edit section officially make statements #1 and #2 no longer true?
Thanks again. Don’t beat yourself over it. :]
Hey guys, isn’t it terrible that MIT only accepted 377 EA applicants and the “Admissions Officer’s” son may not have been one of them?
Did anyone else notice the absurd number of grammatical errors in that person’s post? I find it unlikely that any Admissions Officer- at ANY school- would have such atrocious linguistic skills. This person is obviously an MIT reject who feels compelled to whine on the public comment board. Now I think I’m fully vented
Ben and all- keep up the GOOD WORK.
It was something of a disappointment to read Marty’s post after yours, ben. But I guess, the decisions are well, decided anyway at this point. As time drags on, the probability of my receiving a tube dwindles to nothing (it’s already pretty low). Even, so, I hope against hope that there’ll be something in my mail tomorrow, be it acceptance, rejection, or deferral. I die a little on the inside every day. Hehe anticlimactic!
Well, I hope its just USPS, although the reasonable me says otherwise.
Happy holidays, MIT
doood…what in teh world is going on here??? you anon guys are being pathetically immature…after all MIT has done to make this process somewhat humane..you turn around and bash them for something that’s not their fault??? i understand being frustrated…i’m in the same shoes as you are! but seriously…read back on what you guys have said..is it really justfified???? that sort of reaction makes me think maybe you don’t deserve MIT..idk..it’s just sick..
Could you please consider putting an extra item with our status in the Application Tracking Section?
Please? Because many people probably wouldn’t want to find out over the phone.
For those of you calling it torture, flipping out about the mail situation (either the wait or the difference in mailing times), saying that it means all that all the tubes have been recieved, and feel that capitalizing the whole post like a 5 year-olds handwriting all I have to say is act like you actually belong or have the ability to live in a college environment.
I’m am appalled with your posts and your attacks on people that are doing their job and more, and have all the right in the world to send the acceptances 2 weeks in advance on purpose if they so choose. They said all mail would be out by or on monday the 12th and they did that. You can not ask more of a person than to give you their word, and they have done precisely that.
I have been waiting since friday for my letter or tube as much as any other applicant here, and I’d have to say, I have no problem waiting till friday or till march to receive an acceptance. MIT is my first choice school, and as long as it arrives in time for me to attend, I won’t be going anywhere else.
The mother that posted made a comment about increasing the acceptance by making rooms triples and what not. I agree that it makes sense, but at the same time the effect of that and other restrictions would not necessarily improve the quality of life of the students and that is as important if not more important than the number they take in my opinion. Going to college, like driving a car, might be a right of passage, but it is considered a privelage in this country and not a natural right.
As to the comment about technology, yes the technology is there, but is an earlier decision worth telling the thousand or so students a few days earlier, if odds are that just one of those students will be told the wrong thing? There are ways to make it work, MIT just doesn’t believe that the risk involved is worth it.
My name is Drew, I am an early action applicant and I have yet to receive any news from MIT. Personally I can wait till friday to know, and for those of you who can’t or have decided against attending MIT as a result of these events, I say good for you, because if that is enough of a reason, than you really did not want to attend in the first place, and need to mature before even considering college and the world.
*sigh*, Life must go on, but will our dreams?
Hi Ben-
Maybe it would be better to let only *registered* users post on this website. It would definitely eliminate some people maliciously venting on here because they are very bitter. Yes the wait is not fun, but it’s a part of life, sometimes you just can’t get instant gratification. Yes, every parent thinks their child is the most amazing and qualified applicant, but hey, this is MIT, sometimes you just have to accept that some students may have just been a tad more qualified, whether it is academically or just by their passion. So I understand you may be upset, but please do not misplace that blame. (no one should be blamed)
Also, maybe you want to have people start registering before more angry parents of rejected or deferred students don’t come on here and reflect negative energy.
Parent–did you child get into MIT?
i agree wholeheartedly with drew.
seriously people, calm down. my two best friends have both gotten in to mit and will be going most likely without me. yeah… it’s tough to think about them having fun without me and getting to go to our “dream school,” but really! there are MORE schools in the world! blaming the admissions officers is not going to help in anyway. they’ve done their job… maybe we don’t like it or wish it were different, but there’s nothing to be done.
move on
Hey Ben,
I am applying to MITES this year, and I wanted to know how many MITES 2005 applicants got in.
thanks
Furthermore, are we supposed to be happy that we didn’t get in? are we supposed to reflect positive energy that we go rejected or defered? Place yourself in our position. How would you react? How would you feel if you put all your hard work into getting into your dream school, only to be shot down because your academia scores and ec’s are exceptional enough? How would you feel if someone dumbed down your capabilities? Have you ever considered that Parent?
Charles… I am in your position. And I have none of your negative energy. Just thought I might let you know. Sorry about the circumstances, but…
Oh wow, you people are insane. I thought I was overly pissed (see earlier angry entry), but saying that the whole thing is a giant conspiracy? You’re nuts. I agree with “Parent,” not allowing anon’s to post would save us all a lot of annoyences. Waiting sucks, and it really sucks about the misinformation regarding the letters, but there’s only so much you can do. Ben, you’ve been boys throoughout the whole process, so you’re still ok in my book.
I haven’t receieved anything yet. I was just placing myself in others shoes. And it’s not negative energy. It’s just my disappointment in how a parent could be so out of tune with the working’s of a child’s mind.
so does the thing ben said about not all admittances being recieved yet still hold?
can i retain at least a smalllllllllllllllllllllllll tidbit of hope?
Yeah… this is certainly a killer wait. Anyway, I’ve given up on the mail… If it comes tomorrow, it comes tomorrow. If not, my guidance counselor has already calmed me down a few times during the day and has offered to let me use the phone in her office to make the call during the school day. (No cell phones allowed on school grounds… yeah it sucks… especially when waiting for such dramatic news).
Anyway… just my thoughts on the subject. I’m starting RD applications now because with everything that’s been going on I’m expecting a deferral.
For god’s sake, y’all. Calm down.
I’m crushed.. It’s official.. there’s no chance.
crushed is an understatement
Hey Charles,
We are still waiting for the decision just like you. Maybe she will get in, maybe she wont, but regardless, it doesn’t mean her dreams are being shot down or deferred. She is who she is no matter where she goes or does not go.
Please people, if you even applied to MIT, you must have been pretty damn amazing yourself. Don’t let ANYONE ELSE tell you how good you are, that’s for you to decide.
Firstly- Ben says above that he knows some tubes have not been recieved yet. He also said that people in Cambridge have not recieved theirs while people in Alaska have.
That means that just because you haven’t recieved one yet doesn’t mean you won’t. It doesn’t matter when the tubes were sent in relation to the letters- the US postal system isn’t the most reliable thing in the world. Letters have turned up from WWII.
Secondly- Stop blaming the admissions officers. They did their work, when the post office processed the notices has nothing to do with them.
Thirdly- People are talking about how they want MIT to expand, to allow a lot more applicants. Well it wouldn’t be so special then, would it?
Last- For all of you sending out hate mail, well its no wonder you haven’t gotten a tube if that is your reaction to a setback. If you want to have success in your lives, learn to cope.
Ben, Matt, Nance- Whatever happens, thanks for putting all of your time and effort into the decissions. I may be admitted, I may be rejected; but at least I know that you gave me a decent hearing.
Keep up the good the work, and don’t let the jerks get you down.
BEN! (since im posting on yours, but actually, this is to the whole admissions committee)
I must say, MIT is absolutely amazing and I love you guys. You work so hard, and you made the whole process a TON better and more fun. I know a lot of my friends who applied to other top schools, and MIT just seems so much more caring and friendly and personal with their admissions process. Even though I know people have written about his, but i’d like to tell all the people with their dumb angry comments to back off… CHILL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really, obviously isnt MIT’s fault. Yes, the mail isn’t being delivered. Thats called teh post office, not MIT. And Ben siad, they meant to send the letters all priority. Honestly, why would he lie?
My best friend hasnt gotten anything yet, and Im freaking out with her, but she’s not blaming anyone except her mailman (who is evil anyway… shes had a lot of porblems with him
). MIT is AMAZING and so are the admissions officers, and they deserve all the credit for their hard work and more.
And whoever said that MIT should bring up their early acceptances to please people – thats ridiculous. Even though it casues a lot more nerves, the end is the important thing, and i think its great that you guys discourage people from applying early if they’re not ready. And DUH Ivies have a high early acceptance – they’re DECISION, or at least single choice EA, which means they care about their stupid yield more about the students they admit. And its really sad that there arent more spots, but there ARE more schools, and I havent met a single person who worked hard in high school and isnt having a blast in college. EVERYONE WILL BE FINE!!!!!!!
And, once again, I LOVE YOU GUYS and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. It really makes me feel so much better about all the work I put in on my application.
Wow. Anonymous truly does not forgive.
I’m still hoping beyond hope that I get a tube. If not, well MIT isn’t the only college in the world. Though it’s been my first choice since I was a little kid, I can still live if I don’t get in. Besides, there’s always graduate school.
“If I get in regular, I’m not going.
Posted by: Anonymous on December 14, 2005 03:52 PM”
That’s ridiculous. You’re so full of yourself.
It’s not over…
I won’t let it be…
And you all sholdn’t either
Sam –
Of course there’s still the chance that you will get your tube.
I, however, live in Brooklyn and got mine yesterday. I also know others that live in Brooklyn and got theirs yeterday.
Then again, Brooklyn post offices == sketchy. And extremely random.
Seriously, good luck with that.