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How I got into MIT: Alumni and students share their acceptance stories

MIT alumni and students share their memories of getting accepted to MIT on Pi Day. Learn more on Slice of MIT about Pi Day traditions at the Institute: http://bit.ly/2T5Be0Z

MIT Alumni Association

7 years ago

I didn't think that I was going to get into MIT, My friends encouraged me, And I did. I just said, "Oh what the heck, I'll apply, but I'll probably never get in." I'm like, "They'll never choose me, you know?" You just assume you're not going to get in, like, nobody gets in. But MIT was absolutely number one. By the time Pi Day came around, I know I was, like, counting down the days, waiting for it to come. And then the actual date didn't feel like it was already here. On that day, I was like, T
hey didn't have so much hoopla. and see whether you were accepted or not and I was too scared. I had gotten rejected from other schools. I was like, "It's going to be a rejection. It's fine." And I open the mailbox and I pull out this letter from MIT and it was thin And it told me that, "Congratulations, John Adeyeye. You have been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of technology." It was my acceptance letter. Boy, I jumped around and was pretty happy. I emailed the MIT Admissions office r
ight then. I was like, was able to tear all those up and be done. and she said, "Oh my God!" Except she said it in a way that I thought she was having, like, a heart attack. And I got really scared that I just, like, killed my grandmother with, like, some of the best news in my life. And I also realized I needed to study really hard for my physics final so I didn't get rescinded. I think I was the first from my high school to ever be admitted to MIT. It was an amazing feeling. I even left my cla
ssroom just to, like, just scream outside. I mean it was total shock it really was total shock. I know for fact what it feels like to have a dream come true-- to have a lifelong dream come true and I don't think a lot of people ever get to have that moment. It feels like everyone's just trying to collectively learn as much as they can and everyone's willing to help each other. in a diverse way of thinking about solving problems. It's who you're surrounded by that really makes the difference

Comments

@corneldutta

"How I got into MIT?" Nope. This video is about "How I felt after getting an acceptance from MIT"

@voiwithad

A MIT acceptance letter to me is like a Hogwarts acceptance letter.

@ansrhl9448

For everyone who couldn't make it to MIT: Everyone at MIT is a good engineer, but a good engineer can come from anywhere.

@WhitneyShelton

My parents' reaction if I ever got into MIT: "You're a wizard, Harry!"

@Neutron91939

I got into MIT . . . . . . through the gate

@random-0

best line ever " you are going to learn same math , or anything but the real thing matters is who you are surrounded by make the difference"

@ArpanDatta101

Nobody answered the question.

@doctoralimd

That last statement was absolutely on point. Going to a great school is not about getting a good education, because these days you can get a good education from home or your local public university. At a school like MIT you have access to world renowned professors, leaders in their fields, and an awesome group of colleagues to spend 4 years with.

@TheRishabhkumar

"When I got into MIT"

@mahmudulshuvo7826

"It's who you surrounded by that makes the difference!" This felt like the most positive thing I've ever heard in my life...

@LuKang09

Since 8 years old I’ve been wanting to go to MIT, and I even wrote a letter to the school. When I got one back, the joy I felt was immeasurable

@ronwilliams357

I got in with only 1320 SAT (740 math 580 verbal it was called at the time), 3.8 GPA (top 10% but not valedictorian), small town no-name public school, white male, hardly any extracurriculars, no sports, BUT I did get an 'A' at a local university where I took Calculus my senior year, and an 'A' at Harvard Summer School my junior year for intro to computer science. I think that helped (showed I was prepared for college level material), plus I had started a computer supplies and repair business that was doing pretty well. They were and maybe still are really big on entrepreneurship (most my friends from there have gone on to create multiple major startups). Just shows you don't have to be an absolute genius to get in, they're looking for people with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. BUT be prepared to work hard/play hard. Fast classes (few people ever have questions, they just understand everything) and 4-6 hours of homework every weeknight. It's intense but wow the prestige it carries on your resume. I got job offers at every job I ever applied to.

@satyamptodkar2479

Shouldn't the title of video be a little different than what it is?

@luvsilly60

I got in. When I was in Cambridge, I walked right in. I did the same thing at Stanford and bought a T shirt.

@arzouawlad1629

MIT is my dream school since I was a sophmore. I never thought I would be able to apply. Now watching this exactly one week prior of the pi day :) Will add an edit to the comment no matter what the decision is.

@casselizabethxx

Going to start studying real hard to get in. Rising 9th grader here!

@janexianne8584

MIT is really worth dreaming for.. I wish I could step in there.. 😭

@mahmouddesokey3818

You may learn the same material anywhere but It is who you are surrounded by that makes the difference .

@user-ht7ln1dn6p

It was my first choice, and going there changed my life immeasurably for the better.

@bicboie96

Right now I'm in Grade 11th and my dream college is Mit Looking forward to it,hope so my hardwork pays off.