Any info on MIT and other top universities for STEM?

[Jimmy from Linkedin]

go to the school that is closest to the industrial hub that you want to do research in. For example, you want to do an unspecified chemistry degree, say if it was like inorganic propulsion stuff, rocket stuff, id say check out UMD because of the close connection to NASA and the DoD.

For the time being getting close to the professors that get those grants is the most important thing that you can do. They say it isnt like this, but grants and positions are weirdly lineage/legacy based. If you can get into a lab, and prove yourself with a recently awarded R01 professor, your career will be laid out for you. Then all you will have to do is discover.

Focus on the professors, the labs, the research. At your scientific level it'll be hard (from lack of experience) who is cranking out novel research vs who is pumping out "novel" research. When you look at these pages, look who is getting these press releases, look at the quality of the their websites, see how long it takes for students to graduate from their masters/PhD programs. See how many students they have, or don't have. See if they are Associate or full Professor.

Lastly, I'll say what i said in a different way. You may not need the ivy league if your professor has already been there, done that. IF you want to do research as a career, look for the people who are doing research that you think is cool, and they are consistently getting rewarded for it. One thing they will not teach you is how to get grants, how to actually continue researching. You learn that by virtue of working with your PI. Speak up, ask questions and LISTEN.

 

[Jblaze204]

Aye @Jblaze204 I wish you the best keep us updated. We are here to help.

Regardless of what you end up doing, PLEASE dedicate some time to get into a summer research program. Given that you want to go into research and academia (I did initially as well), this is one of the top things you can do outside of doing research during the academic year. You get paid anywhere from 5-7 gs, get housing, food, and professional development opportunities etc and make moves.

I personally suggest you look into the Amgen Scholars program. It's essentially one of the most prestigious biomedical summer research programs that are offered at top schools all throughout the world.Here's the link. If you're black, PLEASEEEEEEEEE apply to it.

Home

amgenscholars.com

I worked on the admissions committee for the 2016 and 2017 cohorts as a graduate student when I was at Stanford, so I am down to help you tailor your application. Please apply to Harvard, Stanford, Hopkins at a minimum.

If you're not interested and/or don't get in, no worries! Many of these schools also offer their own summer research programs. All you need to do is search the schools name and summer research. For example "MIT summer research program" gives you this

Eligibility & application | MIT Summer Research Program

oge.mit.edu

Interested in Harvard? Summer Research Programs | The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

NYU? Summer Undergraduate Research Program | NYU Langone Health


Again, even if you don't do undergrad at MIT, don't let that discourage you. I'd argue grad school is important, and easier to get into a Ivy League grad school vs undergrad. Just my opinion.

Regardless, APPLY TO EVERY fukkING SINGLE THING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN. and please, DO NOT LET A MF SOUL DISCOURAGE YOU. fukk that. Apply to EVERYTHING. Let THEM deny you. But don't deny yourself. I rather say "Oh well it didn't work out" rather than "What if I took that chance"

And a genuine shoutout to @Anerdyblackguy I been a lurker since 2015 and low-key have see him give gems especially when it comes to education.

Thanks for all the info. Im looking into NYU and Columbia GS. I did a summer research program at a 4 year CUNY and i enjoyed it. I definetly think I can do a masters program. CUNY and NYU have 5 yr MD/BS for chemistry.

What do you think about the academic rigor of a NYU or Columbia?
I'm not gone lie sh*t got me

 

[Jblaze204]

Teaching or Academia? Not trynna down your dreams breh, but do you want to be poor? Money is not everything, but both those fields are severely undercompensated for the amount of work it takes to qualify.

Yea that's a fair concern. Im trying to pursue something I enjoy rather than chasing the bag. I like to help others and I enjoy being in an academic enviornment and going through the grind. There's a lot of opportunities (research, grants, financial assistance) for minorities in STEM so theres a good chance i finish this undergraduate degree and not pay a dime.

 

[Jblaze204]

look into 3-2 or 4-1 masters programs, you might be able to transfer your associates credits to one of the feeder schools, take two or three semesters of classes there, then transfer it all to a top stem school

yea a few CUNY schools have 5 year MS/BS programs for chemistry

 

[powmia]

go to the school that is closest to the industrial hub that you want to do research in. For example, you want to do an unspecified chemistry degree, say if it was like inorganic propulsion stuff, rocket stuff, id say check out UMD because of the close connection to NASA and the DoD.

For the time being getting close to the professors that get those grants is the most important thing that you can do. They say it isnt like this, but grants and positions are weirdly lineage/legacy based. If you can get into a lab, and prove yourself with a recently awarded R01 professor, your career will be laid out for you. Then all you will have to do is discover.

Focus on the professors, the labs, the research. At your scientific level it'll be hard (from lack of experience) who is cranking out novel research vs who is pumping out "novel" research. When you look at these pages, look who is getting these press releases, look at the quality of the their websites, see how long it takes for students to graduate from their masters/PhD programs. See how many students they have, or don't have. See if they are Associate or full Professor.

Lastly, I'll say what i said in a different way. You may not need the ivy league if your professor has already been there, done that. IF you want to do research as a career, look for the people who are doing research that you think is cool, and they are consistently getting rewarded for it. One thing they will not teach you is how to get grants, how to actually continue researching. You learn that by virtue of working with your PI. Speak up, ask questions and LISTEN.

Have you considered looking at NC A&T?

N.C. A&T Remains Top Producer of African American Engineers at All Levels

In its latest Top 100 Producers of Minority Degrees ranking, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education has ranked North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University the No. 1 producer of African American engineers at the undergraduate level; the No. 2 producer of African American engineers at...

www.ncat.edu

10 Facts About North Carolina A&T: The Largest HBCU That Graduates The Most Black Engineers In America

10 Facts About North Carolina A&T: The Largest HBCU That Graduates The Most Black Engineers In America

moguldom.com

 

[Jblaze204]

There are other top schools in the top 5-20 range that are far more realistic. Yes, they are worth it to attend.

People who go to Caltech and M.I.T are just built different. The scary thing is that M.I.T and Caltech are too easy for some of those students and they end up taking on more than one major.

yea thinking about that academic rigor got me

I'll be honest my success in college so far has been due to 90% hard work/persistance and the rest luck and common sense. I've rarely been the smartest in the room.

 

[Jblaze204]

If you're black, MIT acceptance is down substantially. Shoot for the moon, but they got on their real quick.

yea one of the brehs on here pointed me in the right direction. MIT dont f*ck wit associate degree transfers

 

[Jblaze204]

go to the school that is closest to the industrial hub that you want to do research in. For example, you want to do an unspecified chemistry degree, say if it was like inorganic propulsion stuff, rocket stuff, id say check out UMD because of the close connection to NASA and the DoD.

For the time being getting close to the professors that get those grants is the most important thing that you can do. They say it isnt like this, but grants and positions are weirdly lineage/legacy based. If you can get into a lab, and prove yourself with a recently awarded R01 professor, your career will be laid out for you. Then all you will have to do is discover.

Focus on the professors, the labs, the research. At your scientific level it'll be hard (from lack of experience) who is cranking out novel research vs who is pumping out "novel" research. When you look at these pages, look who is getting these press releases, look at the quality of the their websites, see how long it takes for students to graduate from their masters/PhD programs. See how many students they have, or don't have. See if they are Associate or full Professor.

Lastly, I'll say what i said in a different way. You may not need the ivy league if your professor has already been there, done that. IF you want to do research as a career, look for the people who are doing research that you think is cool, and they are consistently getting rewarded for it. One thing they will not teach you is how to get grants, how to actually continue researching. You learn that by virtue of working with your PI. Speak up, ask questions and LISTEN.

100% about focusing on the professor and research. I've been doing research since i started undergrad and I did summer research at a 4yr CUNY. The PI was laid back but he stayed on top of his PhD students. Most of them are graduating soon. I think they all did 5yrs for pchem. I've heard stories about orgo PhD students 9+ years w/o synthesizing a compound and publishing

PI told the PhD students Im a hard worker so im keeping that option open

 

[IIVI]

yea thinking about that academic rigor got me

I'll be honest my success in college so far has been due to 90% hard work/persistance and the rest luck and common sense. I've rarely been the smartest in the room.

Well, you know that's most people. These degrees definitely aren't some crazy impossible feat to attain because millions of people have done it already.

The thing is most people you'll run into in these classes aren't your super geniuses. Those who seem smart in your class aren't impressing any professors because most professors at incredible schools have seen 14 year olds do the same thing. So best not to compare yourself and if you do see someone who's smart, basically keep in mind it's not a contest and they're basically ordinary like most other people.

Best advice I ever got as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering grad was that it's not about brains, but about finding out what the smaller components of each problem and concept are and understanding those. At the end of the day you can look at a real basic elementary Math problem, but if you don't know what the M in PEMDAS stands for that question is going to be crazy difficult. So once that person finds out that M stands for multiply and how to apply it, those problems start getting much easier. The same thing with basically every single problem there is for these STEM courses. It's all about breaking the problem down, finding the components to the problem and solving the smaller parts so the whole problem gets solved much easier and the concepts understood. Rinse and repeat to the degree!

No sense for imposter syndrome, as most people after a certain point are basically at the same level. Once your pretty much done with Sophomore year for most of these majors the weeder classes are already done and the more enjoyable courses are left. No reason to be psyched out, especially in this day and age with Google, ChatGPT, online tutors, etc.

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

my brother got a phd from mit. he was super smart his whole life, like almost nerdy type. he probably had over 4.0 gpa and probably did all the extras, including research and teaching positions while in undergrad. like, he really been about that life
so yes, he went to mit for free or less, and now he is in research and academia professionally.
i think your cv has more to do with it than your gpa.

 

[mson]

my brother got a phd from mit. he was super smart his whole life, like almost nerdy type. he probably had over 4.0 gpa and probably did all the extras, including research and teaching positions while in undergrad. like, he really been about that life
so yes, he went to mit for free or less, and now he is in research and academia professionally.
i think your cv has more to do with it than your gpa.

What does he do now?

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

What does he do now?

sorry, that would be TMI cuz you know how this forum is. but i am very proud of him and he is probably hella clouted up in that world... or maybe i'm just gassing it because that's my bro. i can't believe i know the guy let alone related lol

 

[mson]

sorry, that would be TMI cuz you know how this forum is. but i am very proud of him and he is probably hella clouted up in that world... or maybe i'm just gassing it because that's my bro. i can't believe i know the guy let alone related lol

What field is he in?

 

[IIVI]

my brother got a phd from mit. he was super smart his whole life, like almost nerdy type. he probably had over 4.0 gpa and probably did all the extras, including research and teaching positions while in undergrad. like, he really been about that life
so yes, he went to mit for free or less, and now he is in research and academia professionally.
i think your cv has more to do with it than your gpa.

Yeah these Caltech and M.I.T people are built different.

Everyone makes it seem like the people they choose just get good grades and that's all, but no, these are exceptional people who get admitted. 4.0 GPA isn't even the floor, because that accomplishment is too easy.

Like she was taking Multivariable Calculus, Discrete Math and Linear Algebra at a University while she was 3rd year High School. President of the Math society, entered Math Olympiads, got perfect scores on SAT's, state and national Math and Science Awards, etc. She taking trips around the country in competitions, speaks multiple languages, finishing science programs around the nation that are invite only, etc. This is all a high schooler. She was barely or maybe not even 16 when she did all that.


Like I said earlier, then these people go on to major in multiple fields while studying at these schools because the subjects themselves are too easy for them. Only 25,000 people on this planet have graduated from Caltech, similar magnitude within the scale of making the NBA. In fact, more people make the NBA each year than graduate with a Physics and Math degree from Caltech. Only 90 people over the last 15 years have got a PhD from Caltech in Math (Caltech has the most Nobel Laureates per capita in the world). These people are rare af.

 

[bourgeoisie tall freak]

I keep telling people these Caltech and M.I.T people are built different.

Everyone makes it seem like the people they choose just get good grades and that's all, but no, these are exceptional people who get admitted. 4.0 GPA isn't even the floor, because that accomplishment is too easy.

Like she was taking Multivariable Calculus and enrolled in College courses while she was 3rd year High School. President of the Math club, entered Math Olympiads, got perfect scores on SAT's, etc.


Like I said earlier, then these people go on to major in multiple fields while studying at these schools because the subjects themselves are too easy for them. Only 25,000 such people on this planet have graduated from Caltech. These people are rare af.

Mit definitely doesn't give "let me transfer there because i'm interested in stem" but you never know