for all you top collegers

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
21

<p>
[quote]
I wasn't trying to show that people who aren't smart get into good colleges. I was trying to show that people who ARE smart but make dumb mistakes get into good colleges.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Funny, I was under the impression that smart people are capable of failure too.</p>

<p>I understand what you're trying to do and say, but you really do come off as "I'm so hardcore! Look at all these 1337 things I did! But oh yeah, I did make a couple of silly little bloopers along the way. But see, I still got in!"</p>

22

<p>
[quote]
come! more failures! better failures. NO PANSY EXCUSES.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Amen to that, Ben. :)</p>

<p>This is all pre-college stuff:</p>

<p>I got a 2 on AP Calculus BC.</p>

<p>In high school precalculus one time, I somehow didn't realize that the sheets being passed around were for a pop quiz, not an extra page of homework...until time was called on the quiz ten minutes later. Try explaining that one to your teacher.</p>

<p>I got last in my age group at county summer-league diving championships - twice.</p>

<p>I went from being 3rd on my high school cross country team as a freshman to being about 12th by the time I graduated.</p>

<p>In 7th grade science, we had to design and build models of roller coasters (an interesting way to study physics at that age) and mine was built so badly that it collapsed.</p>

<p>The only high school math class I got an A in was statistics (slightly lame, but I'm sure some people here think that's shocking for an MIT student).</p>

<p>And in case you're curious about how I did in the applications game, I got into MIT, Vanderbilt (with a merit scholarship), U of Chicago, Rice, NYU, Duke, and Johns Hopkins.</p>

23

<p>Ermmmm, freshman year during the local Solo and ensemble contest I got the lowest possible score of five out of five (one is highest) for a violin solo, where I was so nervous I had to ask the judge to tune me, and I broke my A string about a page from the end of my piece. I never did go back to that agian.</p>

24

<p>I got a B- in acting in 10th grade. I thought I was good at acting. It turns out I am bad at acting.</p>

<p>I got totally rejected by Yale.</p>

<p>P.S. I have zero life skills.</p>

25

<p>[edit]</p>

<p>Failure: i got rejected/waitlisted to every school i applied RD! =D </p>

<p>"Pansy excuse": i got accepted (eventually) to every school i applied EA! </p>

<p><em>smirks</em></p>

26

<p>Oh come on, give the kid a break. He did ask the University of Chicago admission office a question about the MIT admissions process. I thought that was pretty funny.</p>

<p>Um...not a failure. But funny. =)</p>

27

<p>As for asking an SAT score that I know that got into MIT, I know someone who got a 1230 (old scale). Is that like a 1840 or so on the new one???</p>

28

<p>Well, if you look back at my list, some of the things on there were pretty significant mistakes.</p>

<p>"Look at all these 1337 things I did! But oh yeah, I did make a couple of silly little bloopers along the way."</p>

<p>I never implied that I did 1337 things. In fact, a surprisingly large portion of the things I did in high school are on that list...because I screwed up a surprisingly large portion of the things I did in high school.</p>

<p>LauraN - Yes, I didn't even realize my mistake until a U of C admissions person sent me a clever reply.</p>

<p>Some more (hopefully less trivial) mistakes: I...</p>

<ol>
<li><p>pretty much sat around and did nothing for like 70% of all 3 high school summers.</p></li>
<li><p>never broke 5:00 in the mile but ran under 5:02 like 4 times.</p></li>
<li><p>never broke 11:00 in the 2-mile and got beaten by a freshman teammate as a senior.</p></li>
<li><p>missed going to districts in the 800 as a senior because a (different) freshman passed me with like 20 meters to go.</p></li>
<li><p>told my vice-principal he was stupid/evil.</p></li>
<li><p>killed people.</p></li>
<li><p>publicly admitted to killing people on CC.</p></li>
<li><p>totally lied about killing people on CC.</p></li>
</ol>

29

<p>very very very good. still some minor flaws but much better failures, excellent.</p>

30

<ol>
<li>I hurt a guys feelings once... :-(</li>
</ol>

31

<p>
[quote]
2. never broke 5:00 in the mile but ran under 5:02 like 4 times.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>In general, not a bad list, but this one makes me want to smack you (in a friendly, half-joking way, of course). :) I wish that I could have ever run a mile faster than 6:00!</p>

32

<p>I wish I could run a mile in 11 minutes.</p>

33

<p>I was thrilled the day i finally broke the 8 minute mile, hahaha</p>

<p>of course this is why i dont run xc or track</p>

34

<p>HAHA, reminds me of the days 6th grade days... Why couldn't MIT have a mile or distance test, instead of a swim test? <----- Stupid question of me to ask because swimming is much more practical, but I suck at swimming... (I know there are lessons, but my legs just get tired earily). HEY there goes another fault of mines.</p>

35

<p>


</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Dang homey, you're slow. Although I shouldn't be talking my PR's (personal record for all you non runners) are only 4:56 and 11:02...</p>

36

<p>Why thank you. I was much better in Cross Country (individually qualified for state twice)...but I was always way too busy in the spring to put much effort into Track. At the tail end of my senior Track season, I actually abandoned distance altogether and took up the 400...and very nearly went to state in it. That was pretty weird.</p>

37

<p>Of course, no athletic failure is going to keep you from getting into MIT...though there IS one that could keep you from getting OUT of MIT.</p>

38

<p>


</p>

<p>And what is that? </p>

<p>Thats crazy about the 400, I don't think i've ever broken 60...</p>

39

<p>All MIT students are required to pass a swim test. If you don't pass the swim test, you (seriously) don't graduate.</p>

<p>Swim</a> requirement info
Article</a> in the campus newspaper</p>

40

<p>no need to panic, if you can't swim you can take a beginners swim class instead. i can feel all the frightened eyes peering at me during my tours.</p>