@cchiong19 Lodging a complaint with the dean is probably a good idea. The school should find out about how hard the group dropped the ball. I wouldn’t expect it to stimulate a change for this year, though. The competition still requires a judging panel, which they would still need to find, and all the complaints in the world can’t make bodies appear if the committee members didn’t do their jobs.
I agree with @EmpireOfDirt we should lodge a complaint.
what we should NOT do is whatever @cchiong19 is suggesting. You are delusional if you think we can “pressure” them into holding the competition. THEY CANNOT. they do not have judges. Please be informed before you talk nonsense
Hi there, former MIT Inspire finalist here. I checked the website out of curiosity, since I knew last year’s competition was around this time, and saw it was canceled, so I came here.
Just wanted to say that you should definitely talk to whoever sponsored you for this competition about what happened, and I really suggest getting either (a.) a rec from the teacher whose class subject most aligns with your project’s topic, and who elaborates on your paper’s quality/content, or (b.) an outside rec from your advisor (if you did external research). They should absolutely mention your project in your rec, as it speaks to your genuine love for the academic fields that excite you. I do think my research helped me a lot in this process, not because I was a finalist, but because of the initiative, determination and passion it took to write a 20-page paper on literary ethics; very few applicants are doing independent humanities & social science research… or any kind of research that it is entirely your own and not your parents asking their professor friend to let you mess around in the back of their lab. A lot of schools like Yale, Stanford, Tufts, etc. have “intellectual vitality” or “intellectual curiosity” essays, which your project gives you a great topic for, regardless of whether or not MIT gave you an award for it (and it might even work in your favor – you did this because you love your topic, not for some guarantee of a medal at the end). I know I creatively incorporated my topic in all of those “It’s cool to be smart!” essays. I also included a description of my project in my “Additional Info” section, which you can as well.
I know this sucks, but you can definitely still make your hard work known, and maybe even spin it to your advantage.
I only want some questions answered. I know that these delays and eventual cancellation has been disappointing for all of us and if they told us something specific that went wrong or such it will be helpful.
Sorry if I’m sounding too pushy for recognition, its just that I’ve tried to do a competition in the past and it was canceled similarly canceled due to mismanagement, and I hate to see this happen with this one.
I agree with @writergirl0316. If you’re like me and you had your history teacher advise you for the project they will definitely speak about your interest in the MIT Inspire project. I’m only a junior, but I’m pretty sure there’s a section in the college app which lets you add any additional projects/papers you’ve written, and if your paper theoretically was to be a finalist/winner, the colleges would know either way @cchiong19.
I contacted the assistant dean and I was told that if she hears from more students, parents and teachers, she will hold a meeting with the faculty advisors to see what they can do to help. If MIT administration is involved, they can find faculty members who are willing to help to be the judges. Cancelling the competition at this final stage is not right and I hope MIT administration has the courage to make it right. So, please contact the assistant dean to voice your opinion. See post #176 for contact information.
Thank you very much. You are absolutely right!
@lovetohavefun thank you!
I just emailed the assistant dean / director as well so let’s hope she responds back with good news! Everyone please gently send her an email or call her, it’s the only way the competition will reopen!
@bsmdstudent101 Thank you for doing this! I hope more students, teachers and parents will do the same as we did.
I have received many of your emails and I appreciate you reaching out. I understand your frustration and concern and have shared your feedback with the faculty advisors. I have also reached out to the faculty advisors to see what can be done at this point - if anything. Again, I value your feedback and do understand your concern. I have heard you all loud and clear, and again, have shared this with others.
Leah Gallant, Associate Dean
Please…reopen this compe
Please…reopen this competition.
To all fellow participants,
Just like everyone else, my partner and I are very frustrated and disappointed by this cancellation. Although many have attributed to the fact that the student-organizers are probably busy with the rigorous curriculum at MIT, there truly is no excuse this; the lack of preparation and management is unwarranted. We think that all of us deserve to have our research projects recognized, regardless of what institution it is through.
With that being said, there is still a way for our hard work to be rewarded. We, along with those who would like to help, are ready to commit to organizing an alternate forum. It can be a competition, with a finalist round and judges, or rather a showcase of our projects for those who would like to come out. I live in the DC area, and it is abundant with institutions and adults willing to sponsor something like this. For those who would like to collaborate with us, feel free to email us at hchaswal@gmail.com + lukeostyn3@gmail.com, and please spread the word!!!
Even if you are interested in just participating in something like this, contact us! We would love to get the ball rolling this as soon as we can!
@yungcurrybowl just wondering, what kind of ideas were you thinking about organizing? I think your idea is really cool!
@cchiong19 @lovetohavefun Please ignore @love2cheeses snarky comments. I get the sense that she is an adult and her kid was one of the failures who dropped the ball at MIT. THANK YOU for the assistant dean’s info. I think I’ll call their sponsors today so they are aware of what happened. What MIT Inspire did was very uncool, incompetent, and un-inspiring. That was about 40 hours down the tube for me, not to mention all the work my mentor did.
@likelaughter WOW, really? I hope the sponsors you contact will share your name with MIT Admission Office and other top colleges. I feel sad our young generation behaves this way. FYI, my K2 was a finalist last year and did submit again this year. K2 spent much more time than you did, but we cared more about what K2 has learned during the process, not that much K2 had to win something in order to put on the college apps. I have another child who is in college. I know how stressful college life could be, therefore, I am just grateful the new coordinator was willing to take over after the founder graduated. We are glad through the research, K2 learned so much which could only be benefited for life. Getting into a good college is only a very small part of one’s life. Is it worth to behave and write the way you did? Plus, my K2 could still put on the CV that K2 did this project. Think about it, be wise and be kind.
Our generation understands that taking ten minutes to let hundreds of participants know they’re too busy to run a prestigious competition is reasonable.