Matt McGann '00 | July 27, 2008
"Selecting the new bloggers!"
Perhaps the second most exciting time of the year (after selecting the incoming class) is the selection of the new bloggers. And now, with freshman orientation quickly approaching, that time of year is upon us!
As has become the tradition, the blogger selection committee will include this year's senior bloggers: Laura and Lulu. Our objective will be to select bloggers for the site who will reflect the MIT culture, the excitement, enthusiasm and diversity of MIT.
Without any further ado, here's this year's app...
Blogger Application 2008
All current MIT undergraduates are welcome to apply. We hope to hire 3 incoming freshmen and perhaps a couple juniors and seniors (we do not plan to hire a sophomore, but will not rule it out).
To be considered for a blogger position, you should email me by Saturday, August 16, 2008 and provide the following:
Blog/writing stuff
- Provide a link to your "portfolio." This will be the single most important part of your application.
While you do not need to have a current blog, we have found that students who already keep blogs are the most active bloggers and best make the transition to being public bloggers for the MIT Admissions program. While we cannot say for certain that we will only hire someone with an active blog, we will have a preference for folks who do have active blogs.
If you do not currently keep a blog, you may wish to start a new blog and start writing over the next couple weeks. Or, you may just submit a portfolio of writings.
If you do have a current blog, please send a link to it. If your blog is locked/protected, please also include a way for the committee to read the entries you'd like us to see. (You don't need to clean it up -- we will understand that a very public, unlocked site would contain different writing than a locked, personal journal)
- If you post regularly on any admissions (or related) forums such as College Confidential, please provide URLs and username/screenname/etc. (If you don't, no worries -- I don't do this, either)
Biographical stuff
- Tell us your major, or (for freshmen) possibilities of your major.
- Tell us what activities hope to become involved with at MIT, or (for upperclassmen) what you're currently involved with on campus.
- Let us know your living group. For freshmen, tell us which dorm you've been temped in. For upperclassmen, tell us where you live, and, if applicable, any FSILG affiliations.
Short Answer Essays
- Short answer #1 - In a paragraph or two, describe why you want to be an admissions blogger and what unique things you feel you'll contribute to the program.
- Short answer #2 (please choose one of the following).
- Option A: In a paragraph or two, describe to us a YouTube video, and why it is the single most important piece of art ever created. (Please include its URL)
- Option B: Create and submit MIT Admissions blog-related Lolcats (or Lolbeavers, or Lolsnivelys, or...). Submit a minimum of 2 and maximum of 4.
- Option A: In a paragraph or two, describe to us a YouTube video, and why it is the single most important piece of art ever created. (Please include its URL)
[for the curious, links to previous blogger applications: 2007 2006]
If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.
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Responses To This Entry:
(Please note that comments are closed after 30 days to reduce spam.)
The Burton-Conner questionnnnn:
I'm temped there, so what happens?
Posted by: Anonymous on July 27, 2008 06:46 PM
Yay! Thanks Matt =D.
Posted by: Piper on July 27, 2008 06:54 PM
I'm not ruling out Burton-Conner at this point, but diversity, including diversity of living group, will continue to be among the criteria.
Posted by: madmatt on July 27, 2008 06:57 PM
and so it begins!
Posted by: Chris '12 on July 27, 2008 07:06 PM
Yay it's out! Exciting times.
Posted by: Omar on July 27, 2008 07:10 PM
Oh God.
Posted by: Snively on July 27, 2008 07:12 PM
Very exciting. =) I love the request for Lolcats. That is classy.
Posted by: Hawkins on July 27, 2008 07:33 PM
I'm just worried about the number of applicants. I'm also sure I'll check my application a million times, submit it, and then remember something or find a mistake...
Thanks Matt...
Good luck everyone!!!
Posted by: Enas'12 on July 27, 2008 07:38 PM
I have a question: When it comes to the lolx Short Answer, do all the entries have to be of the same x? As in, do they all have to be lolsnively? Or can we diversify?
P.S. That doesn't mean I'm doing lolx :P
Posted by: Enas'12 on July 27, 2008 07:55 PM
Okay, what gives, Matt? Did Snively write this app, or what? Haha. =)
Posted by: Laura on July 27, 2008 07:56 PM
Lolsnivelys lol.
Posted by: That is all. on July 27, 2008 07:57 PM
Alright, I guess its time for me to start posting on my blog a bit more often...
It begins.
Posted by: Chris Merrill '12 on July 27, 2008 07:58 PM
Mmm, I just got a very warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of stomach as I read this post =)
Posted by: Vivi '12 on July 27, 2008 08:19 PM
Good luck to everyone!
By the way, I started my old blog, Emergent, a mere two weeks before the blogger application from my year came out. So don't worry too much if you haven't been a very active blogger!
Posted by: Paul on July 27, 2008 08:28 PM
Still debating on this one...
Posted by: Li'12 on July 27, 2008 08:57 PM
I'm not applying but I have noticed a lack of any type of athletic references in the blogs. Being a rabid sports fan and a future athlete, I feel it is my duty to encourage, if possible, the hiring of a blogger who might be in varsity athletics. Just a suggestion.
Posted by: Brendan '12 on July 27, 2008 09:58 PM
@Brendan: Well I assume the activities include the sports. Which means, anyone who wants to join a varsity team will mention it (I do and I intend to)
Posted by: Enas'12 on July 27, 2008 10:05 PM
Will the winning entries be posted online? I really want to see an lolsnively.
Posted by: Kelly ('13 Hopeful) on July 27, 2008 10:09 PM
Matt please post the best lolx as Kelly said. It would be SO cool to see a lolsnively or lolpaul etc lol
Posted by: Enas'12 on July 27, 2008 10:11 PM
YAY new bloggers! ^____^
Posted by: Oasis '11 on July 27, 2008 11:57 PM
Can a short answer essay/lolx be in the form of a blogpost? May make things easier for both sides of the admissions process.
Posted by: Ahmed on July 28, 2008 12:54 AM
Hey! I'm a varsity athlete! =(
I will try to write more about it this season!
Posted by: Laura on July 28, 2008 01:04 AM
I am too!
Posted by: Snively on July 28, 2008 05:22 AM
Maybe someone in undergraduate admissions should suggest to someone in graduate admissions that this format could be used for blogging by grad students at MIT. It would help people understand a grad student's life (or lack thereof) and give undergrads a sense of what they might love or hate about the process. Each department could choose one blogger and go from there- would there be any interest in something like this?
Posted by: Anonymous on July 28, 2008 10:08 AM
Yeeesh.. reading that 2006 application/the comments that followed was a blast from the past. Good luck everybody!
Posted by: Jess on July 28, 2008 11:57 AM
I'd be interested in reading a grad sudent blog. I know a couple of my friends at other schools for undergrad would be interested as well.
Posted by: Hawkins on July 28, 2008 05:35 PM
I asked about it a while ago, and I believe the answer had to do with the fact that graduate admissions isn't unified like undergrad admissions (you apply by major, not to MIT, as a grad student), so it would be a harder program to implement =P.
Posted by: Piper on July 28, 2008 06:34 PM
Course VI has a blog set up for grad students: http://eecsblogs.mit.edu/blog/. I don't know about any of the other departments though.
Posted by: Anonymous on July 29, 2008 03:34 AM
go omar!
Posted by: Anonymous on July 29, 2008 05:37 PM
I agree that we should be able to see the applications (or at least some of the best ones).
When do the results come out? =D I'm not applying but as an avid blogreader, I'm still VERY excited.
Posted by: Becky '12 on July 30, 2008 12:42 AM
Yes, actually, a blog on specific areas like Student Finance or even, college life, etc. Thanks.
Posted by: College Finance on July 30, 2008 12:03 PM
Just found out about it. Can't wait to start. :)
Posted by: JWC '12 on August 2, 2008 10:12 AM
What's your email? o.o That's the important question.
Posted by: prospective Blogger '12 on August 13, 2008 09:10 AM
That's part of the application process! Can you use the People Directory to find Matt's email? ;)
(It's mcgann [at] mit [dot] edu.)
Posted by: Paul on August 13, 2008 01:52 PM
admissi online
Posted by: rohit yadav on August 14, 2008 06:45 AM
Lol, yeah, totally used the people directory. I'm addicted to that thing--so useful^infinity.
When will we find out who the new bloggers are?
Posted by: E. Rosser '12 on August 15, 2008 12:26 AM
asdf;lkj What's Matt's email address?!
Posted by: Ahmed on August 16, 2008 04:55 AM
ctrl+f to the rescue. Thanks Paul.
Posted by: Ahmed on August 16, 2008 04:58 AM
DUE TODAY OMG.
Posted by: Piper on August 16, 2008 04:36 PM
