Out of the lab and into the internet

Out of the lab and into the internet First, some updates: A few people have asked about information on applying to engineering graduate programs at MIT. I am trying to find that information; first I emailed one of the cheerleaders, Lisa 04, who is currently doing her MEng in the EECS department, but she told me she couldnt answer any questions since shes in the MEng masters program, which is only for students who did their undergraduate work at MIT (and has a different admissions process from the general masters program). Next, I emailed my friend Ethan 05, who is currently in the MechE program, but he hasnt gotten back to me, so this morning I emailed former cheerleader Caitlin SM 05, who got her masters in aero/astro last spring. (Yes, two of the people I know well in MIT graduate programs are cheerleaders or former cheerleaders. Yes, our little world is very counterintuitive and topsy-turvy. You should get used to that.) And a question via email: Yasemin asked (via email), Do you consider MIT graduate biology? I have heard somewhere that except for the computer major, the MIT undergraduate students arent considered for graduate work at MIT, is this true? In lieu of responding to her email (Ive been taking a godawful long time to respond to emails lately, except those from Ben, which always catch me at just the right time), Ill answer here. Yes, I did apply to the MIT biology PhD program, and Ill be interviewing there in three weeks. (All of the schools at which Im interviewing pay for travel and lodging expenses during the interview weekend. Given that information, I think I should make the biology department pay for my dorm room.) This is actually the first year the biology department is allowing MIT biology undergrads to apply to the program (see story here), so Im excited that I had the opportunity to apply and be interviewed. Its not true that only the EECS department allows MIT students to stay for graduate school. Actually, MIT is the top graduate school destination for MIT graduates (see page 5 of this data set). Some departments really dont like inbreeding, but others are very enthusiastic about it. Ill offer this warning, though: no matter how much you might think you are omg in love with MIT right now, its very possible that youd want to go somewhere else for graduate school. Your research interests might change hell, you just might want to be able to live in a new place. If youre considering a career in academia, you probably ought to go somewhere else so you can make more varied connections in your field. So, please, make your decision to come or not come to MIT based on whats best for you right now; dont worry about whether or not youll be able to get into MIT for graduate school. Departments which dont accept MIT undergrads generally send most of their graduating seniors to other schools which a re none too shabby, Ill tell you that much: youll be able to get into a grad school after going through MIT. A confession: Dan and Laura noticed that the title of my last entry was from a song played in The Princess Diaries. And yes, yes it was. (And I cant find the song on iTunes. Believe me, this has been the single most frustrating thing about my week.) I have to confess this weird love of songs from completely ridiculous movies my iPod Motivation playlist contains songs from the movies Ice Princess, Save the Last Dance, and Legally Blonde. There are probably more, too. I really have no excuse for this sort of behavior. I swear, I watch deep, angst-filled movies too Closer is one of my favorites but I have this bizarre affinity for feel-good bubblegum girl-hero movies. A run-in: I ran into Bryan yesterday on the fifth floor of the Student Center right after I had gotten off the phone with one of the admissions officers at Harvards Biomedical Sciences program they told me that my application had been recommended to the program for acceptance, and that they wanted me to attend one of their recruitment weekends. Needless to say, it is very lucky for Bryan that I was on the phone with my mom, because I very well may have tackled him in my excitement otherwise. Some questions: 1. Shikhar asked the speed of MITs internet connection. You know, I actually dont know the speed off the top of my head (the computer Im on at the lab is swearing to me that its 1 Gbps, but that just sounds absurd to me) but its ethernet and most of the time its very fast. 2. I agree with Kathleen and Shannon that Freakonomics is a great book. (And Shannon, I was right at the point you were talking about when I read your comment!) You, too, should read this book, and maybe some of the other books Ive read recently. 3. Hooray, Im famous! Ooookay, off to develop a Western blot, then Adams parents are picking us up and were going to Lake Placid, NY for this weekends death-defying freestyle moguls competition! (You know that guy, Jeremy Bloom, whos all over your television advertising NBCs Olympic coverage? Yeah, hes totally friends with my boyfriend.)