massachusetts institute of technology freshman admissions portal/community v. 2.0

"Start of Something New"

More than a month ago, I stepped drowsily off a Southwest Airlines flight, lugged my two massive suitcases into a relative’s waiting car, and stared out the window, as trees, jaywalkers, and Starbucks stores passed by. After what seemed like forever, I arrived on the MIT campus, duly deposited my belongings in McCormick Hall, and proceeded to video-chat excessively with friends I’d already begun to miss.

I haven’t had much time for video-chatting since then.

Instead, I’ve walked all over Boston with my pre-orientation group, spent several minutes trying to pick flawless apples at Honey Pot Hill orchards, fallen in love with my roommate’s gummy bear vitamins, discovered the necessary evil of laundry, watched the sun set in the McCormick penthouse, attempted to create edible meals, and lost sleep over p-sets, late-night movies, and spontaneous midnight dance parties made possible by Jay Sean.

I’ve learned a couple things. Like how leaving your entire p-set untouched till the night before it’s due is clearly not a wise decision. And how the many incredible events at MIT all somehow schedule themselves at the same time and cause tangible sensations of grief and I-wish-I-had-Hermione’s-time-turner yearning. And how old habits die hard: all efforts to convince my body to forgo its established biorhythms and allow me to sleep in when possible have failed emphatically.

These past few weeks, I’ve made these small discoveries and others on my own. But now that the other ‘13s (plus Celena!) and I are on the blogs, it’s time that you all joined in on our various escapades. Tell me what you want to hear about or see, ask me questions, buy me tickets to the October 26 Jay Sean concert (hehe, just kidding about the last one). Whatever it is, I’m here for you! As time goes on, I’ll share more of my admissions story, my interests, my dreams.

For now, I just want to say hi. And welcome to my world.

Responses To This Entry:

(Please note that comments are closed after 30 days to reduce spam.)

First! Welcome to the blogs!

Posted by: Anonymous on October 2, 2009 08:48 AM


good luck with MIT!!! i hope to see u next year there!:p

Posted by: nicf on October 2, 2009 08:54 AM


Hamsika!! Ur a blogger!!

One of the most important things I've learned is just how much free food there is around here if u know where to look :)

Posted by: Cathy on October 2, 2009 10:08 AM


you should really start video-chatting again, your friends probably miss you ;D
and congrats on your blogger status!

Posted by: yourbiggestfan on October 2, 2009 10:50 AM


Hey! I didn't know you were a blogger. That's awesome. I enjoyed reading your blog. b t dub I think I failed the physics quiz today.

Posted by: Celine Yang on October 2, 2009 11:29 AM


Hey! I didn't know you were a blogger. That's awesome. I enjoyed reading your blog. b t dub I think I failed the physics quiz today.

Posted by: Celine Yang on October 2, 2009 11:30 AM


Oh, cool, the '13s have finally started blogging. And it's always great to be reminded how much free food is available.

Posted by: Outsider on October 2, 2009 12:08 PM


New blogger, woohoo!

I hope MIT and blogging treats you well :)

Posted by: Shreya on October 2, 2009 01:05 PM


Which FPOP did you do?

Posted by: Piper '12 on October 2, 2009 05:05 PM


HEY HAMSIKA!
You win the first post contest.

Posted by: Jenny '13 on October 2, 2009 05:50 PM


Hamsika! I'm so excited to be a regular follower of your blog!

Much Love,
Divya

Posted by: Divya Srinivasan on October 2, 2009 05:55 PM


I also have gummy bear vitamins :)

Posted by: Michaela '12 on October 2, 2009 06:57 PM


hey congratulations!! I hope that you'll have a lot of fun at MIT... Can you tell me how is McCormick Hall?? I wish you the best... :D

Posted by: leilani on October 2, 2009 07:16 PM


Welcome to the blogs! :)

Posted by: Steph on October 2, 2009 08:03 PM


Welcome to the blogs! I look forward to reading what you have to say. :)

Posted by: VAL ('14?) on October 2, 2009 08:21 PM


yay for ur awesomeness on the mit blogs H!
i'll now be even more constantly checking the mit blogs esp for u!

Posted by: jialing on October 2, 2009 09:34 PM


The "forego" in "...all efforts to convince my body to forego its established biorhythms..." should be "forgo", meaning to give up, while "forego" means to go before, or to precede.

Posted by: Anonymous on October 2, 2009 10:31 PM


Hamsika, I love your free-form, kinda-stream-of-consciousness way of writing. I can't wait to read the rest of your blogs. Welcome to the MIT Blogs!

Posted by: M on October 2, 2009 11:15 PM


Hi!! I love your style of writing...it's very light like mine :)
i'm definitely checking your blogs out again....please keep them coming because you are my door into the world of MIT...a world I hope to get the chance to enter one day

Posted by: Quynh on October 3, 2009 02:26 AM


Hope my daughter is motivated with this blog and see her getting into MIT one day...

Cheer!!
Raj

Posted by: Raj on October 3, 2009 02:50 AM


Hi, and welcome to the blogs.
I wish you a nice journey at MIT, please blog about it.

Posted by: André('14?) on October 3, 2009 04:52 PM


Cathy - hahaha, you're right about the free food. i should blog about it sometime.

Piper '12 - I did Discover Urban Studies and Planning :)

Michaela '12 - they're amazing!!

leilani - definitely! i'll blog about it soon

Anonymous - thanks for correcting my mistake

Quynh - keep that hope alive!!!

Andre - of course; let me know if you'd like to know more about anything in particular!

Posted by: Hamsika '13 on October 3, 2009 05:32 PM


Hamsikaaaaaaaaaa. Guess who's planning on stalking your blog?

(sound the name out. it'll help. XD)

Posted by: cherry panda on October 3, 2009 05:51 PM


Heyo girlo!

Posted by: Vinay on October 3, 2009 06:54 PM


hey!!!
greetings from India.. i do look forward to ur posts.. m aspiring for Electrical Engineering class of 2014..
what kind of scores did u get on ur SAT to get into MIT?

Posted by: Shraddha Pai on October 4, 2009 02:31 PM


Hi! Welcome to blogs and , well, congratulations on getting in!
Very inspiring entry. Looking forward to reading your admission story as soon as you write about it.

Posted by: Elmar ('14?) on October 4, 2009 05:14 PM


Hi!
I'm aspiring to be in MIT next year.Can you please
tell me something that can help improve my chances of being in the campus next year?

Posted by: Mrinalini Sharma on October 5, 2009 12:05 PM


heyyy first of welcome to MIT....this year i ll be appplying here and i soo badly want to get in..hope i ll...really enjoyed yr blog hope to c more of yr blogs...and i really want to read yr admission stories do ryt abt them..

Posted by: elma on October 5, 2009 08:17 PM


YAYYY Hamsika!!! I'm so happy to read your blog :) I'm gonna follow itttt!!! You're too darling for me not to!

Posted by: Nikita on October 6, 2009 07:31 AM


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