MIT’s Excellent Sheep
how three years of college changed me
One strange thought I had during orientation week this year was how old I felt compared to the freshmen. Although I was a junior last year, the idea of being old didn’t cross my mind because there were seniors who were older than me: they were applying for graduate schools and full-time jobs. At that time, I avoided thinking too much about my future.
After three full years at MIT, the difference between me, a senior, and the freshmen is stark. Seeing them come to campus with the excitement and energy that I once had was both heartening and disheartening. Heartening because they reminded me of how much I looked forward to attending MIT, disheartening because I am now less idealistic about college. The word “old” sounds wrong because I am only 21, but I genuinely feel old. At least relative to the other undergraduates here.
Although I look forward to some things in senior year like doing a SuperUROP and finishing up my major, my thoughts about MIT are more complicated now—I am grateful for the amazing people and research-driven environment, but I am also slightly disappointed and jaded.
Before I came to MIT, I had the impression that MIT was one of the best places in the world for scientific and technical research: a powerhouse for generating meaningful research, a place for pursuing higher knowledge. That aspect of MIT hasn’t changed, but it doesn’t paint a complete picture.
Consider the MIT News website, for instance. The front page features many articles that display MIT in a positive light, from groundbreaking research across various fields to profiles of people who are passionate about using science and technology to advance society. There is no denying that innovation, powered by the many inspirational people on campus, happens here. The reality, however, is that a lot of students end up working in technology, quantitative trading, or management consulting after graduating
I know that this is an oversimplification of MIT employment outcomes. Nonetheless, it seems mostly true, at least based on the conversations I’ve had with upperclassmen and friends about careers. Of course, there are some students who go to graduate school for a PhD, but that isn’t the most popular of paths. Devoting six years to research on a low stipend requires a serious commitment.
Instead, many students get a job after getting their bachelor’s degree or MEng. According to the 2023 MIT Graduating Student Survey, 49% of surveyed students chose employment after graduation. Among those who chose employment, the top three categories were: information/computer technology (32%), finance and insurance (18%), and professional services such as consulting (13%). 43% chose graduate school. Out of those who stated that they would do graduate school, 58% said masters, 35% said doctoral, and 7% said medical degrees.
The reasons that many students end up working in industries like big tech or quant are not surprising—the salaries are high and the benefits are superb. It is important to mention other motivations for financial security, such as the desire to help their family financially or the pressure of making an expensive education a worthy investment.
Despite this, part of me feels somewhat sad to see some students who enter MIT excited about doing research in areas like the life sciences switch to Course 6 because of the money and practicality. I know a decent fraction of students who came to MIT with the goal of becoming a doctor or researcher, but ultimately gave up on that dream because of how hard and uncertain this path is, which I relate to and understand.
Even I did this, switching from Course 5-7 to Course 6-7. Of course, there are many other reasons for changing fields, like having new interests or not enjoying the work as much as initially expected.
Furthermore, the path to becoming a software engineer or quantitative trader is more straightforward and the results are more instant: fellowship opportunities come out in freshman year, internship recruitment starts sophomore year, and you get a high-paying job after a junior year internship. The job not only guarantees a comfortable life after graduation, but also serves as a marker for success. In high school, the goalpost was getting into top colleges. In college, the new goalpost for many is securing a prestigious internship or job.
This large fraction of students who graduate to work for the corporate world somehow feels at odds with MIT’s mission and purpose. The “About MIT” section of MIT’s website includes the following mission statement: “advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.”
Let me unpack that sentence.
There is no doubt that MIT provides students with a strong education through its rigorous classes, well-established research programs, and abundant academic opportunities. I also acknowledge that MIT as an institution is not responsible for directly causing this discrepancy between intention and results.
My issue with the statement is that a lot of MIT’s undergraduate culture centers on securing a prestigious internship or job, with frequent discussion of wanting to make a lot of money. Combined, this overall sentiment deviates from a mission statement focused on using research and education for the betterment of society. Even if the company you work for may not have a direct positive impact on society, there’s always the option of donating a portion of your high income to a charity that does good for the world… right?
This misalignment is also present when one considers the MIT for a Better World fundraising campaign, which focused on solving the world’s most pressing future problems such as climate change and medicine. These goals are wonderful and crucial, but they do not reflect the work that many students do after graduation. These realizations, over time, have led to my growing disillusionment of MIT.
In an environment where corporate sponsored events and company merchandise are all over the place, I wonder what the actual purpose of an MIT education is: applying one’s knowledge to make new discoveries, or using this education as a stepping stone for future career success? It’s apparent that the official answer is the former, but the common answer is the latter.
It would be incomplete without mentioning that I contribute to this culture of streamlined careers, given that I considered consulting this past summer. After failing my case interview at a consulting firm, however, I started having mixed feelings about the purpose of consulting. Now that I have returned to my research project and thought more about the Course 6-7 MEng, I am vaguely thinking about graduate school. My thoughts about my future career paths are fickle, but I find it reassuring that I am considering a PhD again. I am not sure how long these thoughts will last, but I see this as a good sign.
Despite the renewed hope I have about my future options, the cognitive dissonance I experience around how I perceive MIT persists. MIT is a place rich in scientific discovery and passionate people. However, MIT is also a place where I see a lot of conformity in the student body, from Course 6 making up nearly half of declared undergrad majors to the homogenization of career choices.
I am not saying everyone in the tech industry does the same kind of work, as there are tech companies that focus on healthcare or sustainability. Similarly, not everyone in Course 6 is in Course 6 solely because of the money or extrinsic reasons. I know many people who enjoy coding and love learning about the vast field of computer science.
I am also not saying that pursuing graduate school for higher knowledge or becoming a doctor makes someone inherently better than someone who works for a tech company or trading firm. What I am concerned about is this general pattern of people who came to MIT wanting to do x, but ended up switching to Course 6. As my friend once joked, “All roads lead to Course 6.” When indirect social pressures and groupthink behavior come together as a whole, I can’t help but see ourselves as a herd of excellent sheep.