The Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Lotteries

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By Definition

At MIT, an official decision determined "randomly" is called a lottery. Lotteries occur when there are too many people to fit into a limited number of places or positions. When this occurs, everyone is placed into the drawing and a computer algorithm selects people by chance to "win" the position. Most of the time, this works fine, but other times it fails. I'm on a streak of losing lotteries, as you'll see below. However, a good lesson can be learned in each case.

 

My Experiences

1. Campus Housing - Round I - (8/29/01)
   Odds: 100:1
   Every year at MIT, more students want to live in campus housing than there are spaces. Hence, a lottery is held. The results of the housing lottery were released on 8/29/01, but when I viewed my results, I had "won" the right to enter the "second lottery." Basically, this meant that I wouldn't know where I would be living, excluding me from fully participating in Dorm RUSH that night. About 10% of the 2005 freshman class won this "privilege." Not to worry, the housing people said, most people get their 1st or 2nd choice.
   Moral: Go with the flow and don't complain.
   
   
2. Campus Housing - Round II (8/30/01)
   Odds: 1049:1
   The results are in and I won my 6th choice, New House. I was stunned; this was much "worse" than I had expected. During freshman orientation, I hadn't even toured New House because I didn't feel particularly compelled to live there. I had ranked it 6 out of 8. Oh well, life goes on, and it isn't *all* bad. :)
   Moral: Be prepared for *anything* life can throw at you.
   
   
3. Freshman Seminar (8/01)
   Odds: 100:1
   During the summer, we were sent an information booklet listing the various Freshman Advising Seminars we could participate in. The list allowed us to enter 8 choices, and that I did. However, when I got to campus, I discovered that I didn't get into any of the seminars! To make matters worse, I even talked to a student who said he didn't sign up for any, but was assigned to one.
   Moral: I took MIT Symphony Orchestra for credit, which basically made up for the lost credits.
   
   
4. IAP Lottery - 6.007 (12/01)
   Odds: 30:20
   What can I say? This time I was with the majority that didn't get into the lottery, so I am content with the results. To fill my time, I enrolled in 8.20, Introduction to Special Relativity and 15.975, Nuts and Bolts of Business Plans, which were very enjoyable classes.
   Moral: A setback can force a person to open other doors, expanding horizons beyond belief.

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