MIT students have a love/hate relationship with the school. They love the people and the atmosphere and hate the boatloads of work. Correction: Some people like the work and learning things, but most people hate being ignored by certain “research-oriented” professors. Most students who come to MIT had some tough decisions to make about schools before making a final decision, like “Should I go to Harvard or MIT?” and “Should I go to this in-state school with a full scholarship and a free computer or go to MIT and pay for almost everything?” Overall, every student, at some point, will think that they made the wrong decision, but it’s the fact that these people made the decision to attend MIT that sets them apart from the rest. Whether they knew what MIT was like or not, students here were willing to take the chance. As a result, the people at MIT are the most creative, helpful, brilliant, and unique in the world. MIT admissions doesn’t admit people accidentally—no matter how dumb you may feel when you fail your first exam. Everyone at MIT is incredibly down-to-earth, and everyone has the potential to do great things, even if everyone is deprived of sleep. It’s okay—you’ll find that some of the best work happens between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.
MIT will teach you how to survive on your own in the real world, and it will teach you more about yourself, too. Don’t expect to be babied—MIT is one of the most challenging schools in the country, but it is also one of the most rewarding. It is an opportunity that few are given, so don’t waste your time. While you are here, you will grow up and become an adult. You will form some life-long relationships, and if you survive, you will thrive anywhere.