[236] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
admissions policy...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Fri Apr 27 11:57:17 2001
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To: mit-talk@MIT.EDU
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Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 11:56:26 -0400
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@MIT.EDU>
Just thought I would toss out a few relevant details...
My friend worked in admissions for several years. Her
analysis is that 85% of the applicants that apply to MIT
are sufficiently qualified to succeed here and contribute
to MIT. Only 10% can be admitted, however. The "top" few
percent (by whichever metrics the admissions office chooses to
weight) stand out. The remaining 7-8% of applicants that will
be selected are extremely hard to decide on. So, in short,
everyone here is MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO BE HERE and the
vast majority of those turned away are also MORE THAN QUALIFIED
TO BE HERE. So, we may not be "the shit" for getting in where
we got in, but we certainly have as much right as anyone else to
be here, so don't let anyone tell you different!
Many people did not get into MIT for reasons such as, they are
from the north east of the US, they are from a foreign country,
they are NOT from a foreign country, they were not involved in
activites other than math-team, and a million other very crazy
seeming reasons, but the truth is WAY too few slots and plenty
of talented, capable, motivated people in the world who would both
benefit from being here and contribute to the overall environment...
To narrow it down to "I didn't get in b.c. I was a white man" may
sooth the ego, but misses the great randomness and complexity
of the process...
Aimee
