How hard do I have to work to enroll MIT

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the aspirations of a high school graduate interested in pursuing a Master's degree in Mechatronics Engineering at MIT. Participants explore the effort required to achieve such a goal, the concept of being a "nerd," and how to cultivate a lifestyle conducive to academic success in STEM fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the necessity of aspiring to be a "nerd," suggesting that authenticity is more important than adopting a label.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of genuine interest in math and science, arguing that enjoyment will naturally lead to spending more time on these subjects.
  • Some participants suggest extreme lifestyle changes, such as neglecting personal hygiene and reducing eating, to maximize time spent on academic pursuits, though these comments appear to be made in jest.
  • A participant shares their personal experience of initially being lazy in high school but later finding passion in mechanical engineering, indicating that genuine interest can lead to success without the need for forced dedication.
  • Concerns are raised about the motivations for wanting to attend MIT, with one participant suggesting that prestige should not be the primary reason for choosing an institution.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the original poster's chances of getting into MIT, citing laziness and potential lack of necessary academic qualifications.
  • Advice is given to focus on mastering foundational knowledge in math and physics, with suggestions to seek help when needed and to review subjects in advance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of agreement and disagreement. While some emphasize the importance of genuine interest in STEM, others mock the idea of becoming a "nerd" and question the motivations behind wanting to attend MIT. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to achieving academic success and the implications of adopting a "nerd" identity.

Contextual Notes

There are varying assumptions about the original poster's academic background and motivations, which influence the advice given. Some participants express skepticism about the feasibility of the original poster's goals based on perceived laziness and academic performance.

gungun8799
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Hi, I'm just graduate high school and i'll be in college in the next 2 months, I choosed Mechatronics engineering,
anyway, I've been thinking about enroll MIT at Master degree, i wonder that how hard do i have to work to made it. DO i have to spend my every single minute with the subject field.
Another question, I've been dreaming about beging a nerd, Yes, that's right ! I want to be the guy who crazy about science and engineering, like a scary smart at math and science,
anyway, I'm still so far from that point, due to the fact that i was very lazy at high school,
so i need to ask you guys that how could I adapt my life style to be a nerd. (to make myself feel comfortable to spend everytime with thinking, because right now, when I have to thinking about something such as calculus or Physics problems for a long time like 1 hour-- that's long for me--- i'll start to headache, is there any method to make me can thinking about it everytime without getting headache)
Thank you, sir...
 
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Man, don't aspire to be a nerd.
 
I'd at the very least, learn to string words together coherently first.
 
gungun8799 said:
so i need to ask you guys that how could I adapt my life style to be a nerd.

Step 1: give up personal hygene. There are only 86,400 seconds in a day. Don't waste any of them in the shower. :smile:
 
Going with the rest of the comments here, you should probably reduce eating to the minimum required. Eat once a day, and eat fast. All good nerds know that the less time wasted with mundane things (Eating, sleeping, hygiene, socializing), then the more time they have to dedicate to nerd-dom.

Good luck!
 
Just when the poor guy thought he finally found an online oasis that embraces nerdy aspirations, you guys turn it into a mockery. Shame on you, I say! :biggrin:
 
Well first off, you need to work on your written communication skills big time. They're pretty bad.
Second, please don't aspire to become a nerd. there's nothing wrong with being a nerd but you must be true to yourself. No one likes posers.
 
If you really enjoy math and science, then spending large chunks of time on them will come naturally to you. If you don't like them, then don't try to act like you do, as you'll just end up insecure, frustrated, and unsatisfied.
 
Leveret said:
If you really enjoy math and science, then spending large chunks of time on them will come naturally to you. If you don't like them, then don't try to act like you do, as you'll just end up insecure, frustrated, and unsatisfied.

I completely agree with this. I was also fairly lazy in high school. I did well I just didn't spend much time with any of my classwork because most of it bored me. I liked physics and math enough and decided to go into mechanical engineering. I feel in love with it now I am getting my PhD and I spend a large part of my time thinking about, reading about, and working on my research and things related to it because I enjoy it so much. I never thought to myself "I want to be a really smart "nerdy" person." I just found something I love and the rest comes naturally.
 
  • #10
In addition to hard work, it helps to be brilliant.
 
  • #11
gungun8799 said:
Hi, I'm just graduate high school and i'll be in college in the next 2 months, I choosed Mechatronics engineering, anyway, I've been thinking about enroll MIT at Master degree, i wonder that how hard do i have to work to made it. DO i have to spend my every single minute with the subject field.

It's a bad idea if you do focus on just one thing.

Another question, I've been dreaming about beging a nerd, Yes, that's right ! I want to be the guy who crazy about science and engineering, like a scary smart at math and science,
anyway, I'm still so far from that point, due to the fact that i was very lazy at high school,
so i need to ask you guys that how could I adapt my life style to be a nerd.

Just do it. Also it helps if you are in a room full of nerds.
 
  • #12
WOW, thank you guys very much, that's very useful to me...
Again, THank you, sir !
 
  • #13
Just out of curiosity, why are you already certain that MIT is the right place for you? Is there a specific program that you're interested in there? What specific advantages does MIT have over other institutions for your career plans personally?

I ask those questions because I have a feeling that a lot of why you want to go to MIT is because of the prestige involved (it would fit in nicely with the 'nerd' image). However, in reality, you'll likely only be setting yourself up for trouble if that's your rationale for wanting to go there.
 
  • #14
I'm pretty sure you can't get into MIT. Being lazy doesn't help and I'm assuming you don't even have the grades in physics, chemistry, math to get in.
 
  • #15
DivisionByZro said:
Eat once a day, and eat fast. All good nerds know that the less time wasted with mundane things (Eating, sleeping, hygiene, socializing), then the more time they have to dedicate to nerd-dom.
Haha truer words have never been spoken. I haven't slept for almost two days now:-p
gungun8799 said:
Hi, I'm just graduate high school and i'll be in college in the next 2 months, I choosed Mechatronics engineering,
anyway, I've been thinking about enroll MIT at Master degree, i wonder that how hard do i have to work to made it. DO i have to spend my every single minute with the subject field.
Another question, I've been dreaming about beging a nerd, Yes, that's right ! I want to be the guy who crazy about science and engineering, like a scary smart at math and science,
anyway, I'm still so far from that point, due to the fact that i was very lazy at high school,
so i need to ask you guys that how could I adapt my life style to be a nerd. (to make myself feel comfortable to spend everytime with thinking, because right now, when I have to thinking about something such as calculus or Physics problems for a long time like 1 hour-- that's long for me--- i'll start to headache, is there any method to make me can thinking about it everytime without getting headache)
Thank you, sir...
Hi gungun
Being lazy in high school...I don't think it really matters now, so long as you do every assignment and make excellent grades. Working on math and physics problems should not hurt your brain all the time :) If it hurts, maybe you're going about it the wrong way. Try to get a handle on what you are doing and find a method that works with your reasoning. If you need help with something, ask for it. I'm not sure what level of math you're in, but just keep in mind that everything you learn basically becomes fundamental knowledge for the next subject, so just try to master everything, don't worry about appearances, and enjoy the problem solving instead of thinking of it like a chore. Another thing I would recommend is to review subjects before you actually take them, it may really help you from falling behind.

Good luck with everything!
 

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