Walk around the blogs

Walk around the blogs There are currently a little over 2,500 blogs entries on this site. I dont know about you, but I think thats a lot to take in all at once. I still havent even read all of them. Which is my loss, really. Maybe someday I will. With over 2,500 blog entries, you might think that finding the information youre looking for is like searching for magnetic monopoles. Fortunately, the blogs also come prepackaged with a convenient way of navigating to just the topic you want. You know that bright, rainbow-colored bar a the top of every page? Its not just for decoration its your key to the rest of the site. Each page of the site contains, first and foremost, the wise words of the MIT Admissions staff, explaining the facts about MIT: the majors available, student organizations, the tradition of hacking, the near-infinite research opportunities, MITs mission in the world, and so on. Pretty much all admissions sites Ive seen have this sort of structure. The awesome thing about MITs admissions site, though, is that youll also find a bunch of related blog entries hanging out on the left side of each page. So if youre checking out the page on student life and culture, for example, you have almost instant access to real stories from real students about what being a student at MIT really means to them. All the entries on these blogs are good. But time is precious, and no one really does have time to read 2,500-plus entries (especially if youre new to the site hi, new people!). So Ive spent the past few hours going through the blogs and pulling out some of the entries I enjoyed the most when I was a prospective student (back when, you know, Pluto was a planet). Ive also tried to include some entries to help you out a little bit in the application process, as well as to provide a basic introduction to life and academics at MIT. And for the record, this entry is mainly aimed at the prospective Class of 2013 yes, the Admissions Office is already getting ready for you! But rest assured, 2012ers, that I have not forgotten you. And, who knows, you may find a few of these entries interesting as well. ;) Enjoy! Applying Ben: Its More Than A Job One of the most touching, meaningful things Ive ever read. (Its first for a reason.) Matt: Supplemental Materials Everything you needed to know but didnt know how to ask. Paul: Top Ten Common-Sense Application Tips Some advice from me. Snively: Discovering Yourself Some advice from Snively. (Plus a spreadsheet!) Anthony: We Wear Matching Hats This entry is worth it solely for the photo at the bottom. Nance: Ive Got 99 Problems Admissions Is Not One 52 things not to do. Chris: Notes on the Interview Its a long one, but a good one. Ben: Many Ways to Define the Best Ben offers a reflection on AP classes. Meet the Admissions Office Stu: Reflections Words of wisdom from MITs very own Dean of Admissions, Stu Schmill 86. Paul: Birthday Boy Ben Some friends and I invade Bens office. Ben: I Am Not As Lame As I Appear This entry still makes me laugh. Daniel: MITs Financial Aid Enhancements are Released! Sweet. Academics Melis: A Day in the Life Semi-charmed life. :) Bryan: A Tale of Two Majors You cant do everything at MIT. But you can do enough. Laura: Tests @ MIT Rule number one: DONT PANIC. Keri: Well, at least you didnt fail, right? A blow-by-blow look at being a second-semester freshman. Chris: Mini-Guide to the GIRs An introduction to MITs core curriculum for freshmen. Paul: What Though the Odds My experiences with MITs freshman physics. Lulu: Advice youve heard before and a story you havent Instead of saying, go to class, my advice will be as follows: pick classes that youll want to go to. Sam: Its bigger than you, and you are not me Sam was quoting song lyrics before I was even reading these blogs. Student Life and Culture Mollie: Who we are This is the best place in the world. And its been worth every second. Ben: Welcome Susan Hockfield MIT celebrates the inauguration of its sixteenth president, Dr. Susan Hockfield. Derrick: Sometimes we have fun No, really. =) Lulu: Desired things This is, really, one of the most beautiful things Ive read. Mitra: Nightmarket A delicious tradition. Melis: 10 things I love about MIT Reason #11: MIT students make awesome lists. Bryan: Making the Switch Bryan talks about making friends at MIT. Laura: Knife fight with a biker gang Just what it sounds like. ;) Jessie: I?TFP The people who hate it the most, love it the most, and its not contradictory. Mollie: Choice and the MIT Lifestyle Why yes, we do have parties at MIT. Karen: Bread at Desk Late-night reflections are the best kind. Lulu: Come Together The power of people. Campus Anthony: Avoiding moonlight on an empty stomach An introduction to MITs famous tunnels. Ben: Driving on the Infinite A guide to MITs equally famous Infinite Corridor. Paul: All these days I spend away Making MIT my home. Snively: The Coop MITs very own bookstore. (It rhymes with hoop.) Sam: I dont know where were going Getting lost on MIT is easier than youd think. Its also kind of enjoyable. Residential Life Jessie: Why does my kid have to move again? An introduction to MITs uniquely amazing housing system. Paul: Simply Brothers A reflection on being initiated into my fraternity. Melis: Sororities @ MIT A very thorough introduction to sorority recruitment. Jessie: Beyond the Iron CurI mean, Mass Ave Thoughts on the two sides of MITs campus. Jess: College Shopping List A slightly unconventional but totally awesome guide to moving into MIT. Technology Karen: Inbox Insanity This entry is so true. And kind of sad. Snively: Laptops! Some thoughts and advice on personal computing. Evan: The Zone Cell Challenge Evan has fun hacking other peoples servers with permission! Snively: ROFLCON! The internetz come to Boston. Traditions Matt: The Years of the Rat An introduction to the lore of MITs famous class ring, the Brass Rat. Matt: The MIT Spring Concert Famous bands rock out at MIT. Keri: Steer Roast 2008 Nuff said. Paul: Takin My Time Piano Drop. Its kind of a big deal Humor Laura: Mechanical Sense of Humor Sometimes engineering can be fun. ;) Ben: LOLZ CATS Seriously, just read it. (KTHNXBAI!) Jess: Benzene Back Being aromatic is where its at Sam: Love, organically Cyclobutene is NOT FLAT. Keri: Trans-Consciousness Messaging Protocol! xkcd is almost required reading for MIT students. (By the way, I lost the gameagain.) Jess: For love of Baxter Catnapped!? A Little Advice Ben: 50 Things Bens advice to Class of 2010 when they were prefrosh, this post is still relevant today. Mitra: The most important blog entry ever More helpful links you could have ever wanted. Jess: Our mother shoulda just named you Laika! No really, there is some advice in here. Jessie: Its something unpredictable, but in the end its right Keep MIT special. *** Any other awesome entries I accidentally overlooked? Perhaps even more importantly, any questions we can help with? Thats part of why were here, after all.