Need to get out of MIT asap

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I've been looking for a place to ask for help. I am already at MIT, having just completed 2 years. I transferred, so I got graded from the start (no pass/no record for me). My dream is to one day be a Corporate Executive in a technical energy firm (i.e. Exxon).</p>

<p>Here's the problem: I really want to do my MBA, preferably at Harvard. But I feel that MIT was the worst career mistake I ever made. Before I got to MIT, I had a very promising future: I was going to go to graduate school, maybe even PhD, I would have had a lot of job offers. Now, I have such a terrible GPA (a C average, with 2 Ds in my transcript), that I can no longer apply to any graduate school. What's worse, I can't even get a job. No internship would take me because as soon as they ask for transcripts, I know I am out of the question. </p>

<p>I have already done all the traditional "help" MIT offers. I've been in contacting with S^3 throughout all my semesters. I've had one-on-one tutoring. I do my p.sets ahead of time, go to ALL office hours, etc, etc. I still do mediocre at best. </p>

<p>So, after 2 years and no more hopes of graduate school for me, and no prospect of any job, I need to get out of here. I can't transfer out of MIT anymore- it's too late, no one will take me with Ds. And I need to graduate ASAP because I have a family to take care of (I am single, I am referring to my parents.) </p>

<p>My dream is to do my MBA at HBS and be a Corporate Executive. But the longer I stay at MIT, the farther and farther that dream appears, until it really seems like it will entirely disappear. </p>

<p>I know many people who have "failed out" of MIT. Personally, I believe that in making strides towards a "diverse" student body, top-colleges, MIT included, admit a few students who are NOT up to the university standards, but add "diversity". I think this is a tremendous disfavor to the student. The only other MIT student I know who comes from a very similar background as me (even down to the same city), was kicked out after 6 semesters due to very poor academic performance. He too cannot get a job, nor an internship, nor go to graduate school. I also know another guy who dropped out because he couldn't do it and then came back in his 30s to finish his degree. And another one aside from him. Point is, people fail out of MIT, all the time. I guess that's neither not here nor there, but I am a bit frustrated about it, especially when all the people who "fail out" happen to look like me and have similar backgrounds. </p>

<p>I apologize for the very long post, but here's how I need help: I want to succeed in life. I don't want my MIT acceptance to be my "peak" after which everything went to hell. After 4 semesters of extreme hard work and working with tutors, and S^3, etc, I am no longer hopeful that MIT was the right choice for me. But I am already here- I can't transfer anywhere, I don't have the financial resources to go to another school, and I can't drop out, because I need a degree ASAP. I was initially supposed to graduate June 2013. It is december 2012 and I've completed only 3 classes towards my major, with a C- average. Right now, I am Course 2 (mech eng) but I don't like it. I just want a technical background so I can lead a technical company. Should I switch to Course 15 now? Should I switch to Course 2A/15? Should I drop out of MIT and maybe transfer to a state university where I will be able to complete the requirements successfully? Most importantly, at this point, do I even stand a chance in the future to actually do my MBA?</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your input! I appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>Let’s start with the pros of sticking with MIT. It’s true that “people fail out of MIT,” but it doesn’t happen all the time. In fact, very few students drop out of MIT compared to other schools (see MIT’s Common Data set for retention statistics). On the other hand, it’s also true that some students graduate from MIT with a C or C- average. What you don’t seem to realize is that it is always optional to put your GPA on a resume. Sure, some companies will ask for it. But if you have any successful internship experience under your belt, that can also get you in the door of many good companies, especially
with a degree from MIT. According to an earlier post of yours, you have already received job offers from companies as an MIT student (see <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1367174-do-some-firms-favor-big-name-schools-9.html#post14661781[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1367174-do-some-firms-favor-big-name-schools-9.html#post14661781&lt;/a&gt;). If you followed up and actually worked for one of them, this will help enormously.</p>

<p>By the time you’re out of college and have worked for a couple of years, the most important thing that should appear on your resume is a list of work-related accomplishments. If you rise through the ranks of a company and then apply to a top MBA program in a few years, you may stand a good chance of admission. </p>

<p>Let’s look at the pros and cons of leaving MIT. Where could you transfer? Probably a state school, as you suggest. Yes, you might bring up your GPA at a state school. But a degree from this school, with the earlier record at MIT, won’t get you into Harvard’s MBA program. You would need a few years of successful career development at a company, as described above. Again, after a few years have gone by, there will be no need to place your GPA on the resume. You’ll be more or less at the same point you would have been had you stayed at MIT, except for the fact that now your resume will portray you as a graduate from a state school, rather than as an MIT alum. </p>

<p>Take some time to think it over. And if you’re really so interested in business, perhaps you might consider switching to a business-related major at MIT’s Sloan.</p>

3

<p>It is also true that most MBA’s are not accepted straight from university. Most work in industry for a few years then go on to do their MBA’s when what they are learning can be interpreted in a real context. </p>

<p>One thing that is underappreciated about transfers is that they do not have that first semester to work out how their previous study skills need to change to reflect MIT. I certainly needed that first term on pass-fail to figure out how to do well at MIT. And that wasn’t quite enough for me, I had a very rocky start to MIT, and then I settled into a grroove. It can happen. Even if you currently do not expect it.</p>

<p>Join a decent firm and then go on to HBS if that is your dream. A D does not kill that.</p>

4

<p>The first thing to do is to get out of course 2. Course 15 will be easier. Engineering @ MIT is hard, and can be impossible if you don’t have a true interest in the subject material. You could also major in a humanities subject (how are you doing in these classes?).</p>

<p>See if you can get an internship <em>through</em> MIT. Talk to your department administrators, explaining your GPA situation. You may be able to get a position not going through the normal applications. To the other alum, what is the process of application for the so-called “externship” program?</p>

<p>Your dreams of an MBA aren’t over. If you get a good position at a company, they may be able to place you into HBS. </p>

<p>If you don’t feel that changing majors will dramatically help, then get out. I’m not convinced that people who get a C average benefit from going to MIT considering that C average could be a “B” or “A” average elsewhere. Hopefully, your experiences aren’t so emotionally damaging such that you will still be able to do your best in a different major or at a different school. If you didn’t say you needed to support your family, I would suggest a break from school.</p>

5

<p>The process for applying to MIT’s externship program is explained here: <a href=“http://alum.mit.edu/students/NetworkwithAlumni/ExternshipProgram/Application?destination=node%2F17156[/url]”>http://alum.mit.edu/students/NetworkwithAlumni/ExternshipProgram/Application?destination=node%2F17156&lt;/a&gt;. The deadline for applying this year has expired, I believe.</p>