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MIT Axes the 500-Word Application Essay
netbuzz writes "No longer will those applying to MIT have to write the storied 'long' essay — long as in 500 words. 'We wanted to remove that larger-than-life quality to that one essay and take away a bit of the high-stakes nature of that one piece,' says the dean of admissions. Not everyone agrees with the bow to brevity, including a current MIT student who penned a scathing critique in The Tech and offers up her own essay as an example of what the form can provide to both MIT and the applicant." [125 words, including these.]
I don't think one's story telling ability is relevant at all when it comes to determining potential at a tech school. Besides, any asshole can make up a heart warming story about how they spent their spare time rescuing babies from fires and teaching English to migrant children, but test scores are more difficult to fake.
Don't take life so seriously. No one makes it out alive.
The grandparent post said that identical scores mean identical potential, and that is utter bollocks. Two people might both be intelligent and perform well with tests. One of these might get on well with others, have good listening skills while the other is only interested in their own opinion. One may may be liked and respected by his team the other resented and ridiculed. How are these two even remotely identical?
Very True. But what makes you so sure that the person who is good at making up 500 words of bullshit is the one that will be liked and respected by his team? (especially a team composed of engineers)
It is not so much that I have confidence in scientists being right, but that I have so much in nonscientists being wrong
MIT wants balanced individuals
What so MIT wants a bunch of pill-popping jocks who pick on the geeks and use women, blah blah blah [ranting about personal insecurities and grudges] blah blah entitlement?
See this is the kind of thing that doesn't come out in test scores, but likely does in interviews and essays. You are probably a vain, resentful person who literally doesn't know the meaning of "a broad range of interests."
If you can't take an honest look at yourself and adjust your goals to suit them you're always going to be bitter
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