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Mar 12, 2008

Visit Weekend from the Other Side

I love prospective students. Really, I do. You guys are so grateful for every little bit of information we can give you.

“Where’s the closest bathroom?”

“Down the hall and on your left.”

“Thanks! Thanks so much!”

“… no problem?”

But seriously, what I love about the prospectives is that they bring with them a sense of excitement and awe that is easy to lose once you’re in lab all the time. At dinner on Friday, one of the new admits commented to me, “I’m just so interested in everything! Will they let me get 7 PhDs?”

It’s really refreshing. The prospectives aren’t focused on getting out… because they just got in. The best ones are the ones that we’ve convinced to come here by the end of the weekend. (Somehow, some folks are still tempted by certain other schools on the west coast. I don’t understand.) By the time the weekend is wrapping up, they’re asking questions about Boston and restaurants and apartments. They’re already transitioning to life here, thinking ahead, planning, and getting excited. And that rubs off on the older students. As I started to answer questions, I realized what I was saying.

“Yes, Boston IS really awesome. Yes, MIT spoils you with resources. Yes, there are so many different types of people here that you never get bored. Yes, there really are SO MANY opportunities.”

Sometimes it takes fresh eyes to make you realize all of that.

The author has filed this entry under the "Uncategorized" category.

A Response To This Entry:

    Very well written—-it’s true that sometimes you need someone you don’t really know to give you perspective on your own situation. I look forward to your next post!

    Posted by: Malandrino Terribile on March 13th, 2008 at 9:52 pm

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