[4437] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: failing miserably
danb@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (danb@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Mon Mar 14 11:17:34 1994
i think sophomore year will probably be the worst year for me as well
(which is ironic, since my grades will probably wind up having been highest
that year), but that was also because i was having really strong second
thoughts about studying at mit myself. not because i couldn't take the
workload, but because i wanted (want) to be studying in the humanities and
just happen to be somewhat better at math and science.
there was even that brief period when i was considering transferring to
harvard...
one of the nice things about mit, though, is that it has started to relax,
at least for me. i get 7-8 hrs of sleep/night these days, and feel like a
zombie when i don't get 6. of course, i'm a math major, and i take lots of
fairly non-threatening classes, but it can be done.
i think my biggest suggestion is to remind yourself next term (if you do
decided to be at mit then) when you're choosing your classes of how you
felt last week. that may sound evil and unpleasant, but it will possibly
cause you to be more realistic about saying 'oh, i can handle 75 units; i
did fine in 60 last term...' well, perhaps a term with 48 will provide
some nice perspective, then, and let you discover some of your other
talents and interests and give you a chance to venture out through boston
and go to the arboretum regularly (orange line to forest hills; don't miss
it). there's more to life than your classes, and i'd really hate to tell
the children i'm never going to have that i spent 4 years in boston and
never saw a concert at symphony hall.
and don't give up yet. i may never have failed a test at mit, but i do
remember that midterm in 18.901. and the last problem set, which i got a
70 on after spending ~35 hrs on the 4-problem ps.
good luck.
-dan
