esrosedotblog

NADA

Not one of "my" kids got into MIT yesterday.

They announce it on pi day. Of course. All the way to the minute and hour. 3.1415927. The 1415 is because of the international dateline. The 927 PM is because that is the 927 when the divide divides that way. Soooo geek. But fun.

I had six applicants this year. Only two interviewed. They were nice kids and I recommended them but I knew it was unlikely that they would be selected.

First the shear numbers. 12 to 1 odds they say. Also, while one school is very highly rated locally, it is not very big and that does count against them. It is believed, in some circles, that such places "make" their own high ratings. Only 19 in the graduating class.

The other one had transcript problems unique to California. Shifting from other states almost always leads to point loss. Unfair, but there it is.

So, I am getting hardened to it. It is my fifth year at this.

In the beginning I took it personally but no longer. They wrote me a nice letter when I told them that. I am a kind of pen pal of the woman who runs the interview stuff.

Last year, I was cured of personal bias and hurt when a kid I gave a lousy rating got selected.

I emailed him immediately and congratulated him and we exchanged numerous emails running up to his decision to accept the admit.

By that time, I was rather convinced that they were right. He was a good admit.

So, this year, I only pouted a couple of minutes.

Of course, for those who did not interview, I am only distantly disappointed. Serves them right for not taking the option. 95% of admits have had the interview. Poor choice on their part.

They did admit one a few years ago who did not interview. She sent me a thank you letter! I wrote back and mentioned that it had been a shame that I didn't get to meet her. Slipped it in.

So.

I will stand for another year. I think that my appointment lasts until 2012.

I had a lot less kids this year than I did last. I still do not know why. No one else does either. Several schools who had been represented in the past did not have any candidates this year. Of course, I thought it was my fault. Then my counsellor boss told me I was lucky. A lot of schools "make" them apply to MIT and we are wasting our time. I did get that impression actually with some of them.

We now only interview those who have sent in Part Two of the application. That means they have put some money on the table.

But I get time off from it all. The first feasible interview would be in late August. I get the summer off.

Labels: MIT