<p>Passion by it's nature is a nebulous word. It's life life: you can't really define it, but you can certainly characterize it. You're probably right in that it doesn't apply to most seventeen-eighteen year olds. </p>
<p>However, those seventeen-eighteen year olds are not the ones at MIT. Sure, there are some that are far more passionate than others (or as you implied, exhibit stronger characteristics of passion... see Anthony's</a> story), but for the most part, if you got into MIT, you're passionate.</p>
<p>It varies for each person, of course. Some have strictly defined, well-developed passions (trains, in Anthony's case), others have more broad, unexplored passions (for instance, one of my friends, MIT '09 enjoys aerophysics, and has done research at NASA, but still doesn't know his niche).</p>
<p>Regardless, you need that passion. If it's already matured, then MIT will help you reinforce it. If it's just an inkling, MIT will give you what you need to turn it into something great.</p>
<p>benjones...
Thanks for clearing that up! You folks need to get the HS Guidance folks up to speed on this. In my son's case, his GC (and also head of guidance) informed us (the parents) that MIT will think he doesn't really want to go there if he applies to others EA! Bad advice...and frankly, If I think about it too much... :mad: Oh well... got to get over it.</p>
<p>MIT really is his first choice and there is always RD...so I'm sure he'll be fine in the end.</p>
<p>Thanks again! I've caught up on MIT admissions blogs and your posts in the last few days...Keep up the great work!!</p>
<p>No problem! I'm down here in NY at the College Board conference and today attended a seminar on the whole "early" concept - ED, EA, single choice, - even "rolling early". ROLLING EARLY? I laughed out loud. The system is getting so crazy.</p>
<p>MIT's stance on this (which as I discovered today is shared by many schools) is that the students should hold the power here, not the colleges. I can only officially speak for MIT, but we certainly feel this way. It was nice to see today that we're not alone.</p>