Reapplying to the ETC
I'm back at school now. Have been for a week. Every other year I have been dying to get back to school. I would make my break at short as I could. Not that I don't love my family and enjoy being home, but it is crowded and crazy especially compared to the calm of school during the break and there are always project I want to get back to. This year it was not so. My time at home, by neccessity this time and not choice, was about as long as it ever is but it felt longer. Maybe that was because I cherished every moment. Last semester was tough and I wasn't enjoying myself very much. Most of my problem revolved around finding a project that interested me. I wasn't looking forward to going back, though I do have to be here for IAP.
I thought a lot about the possibility of leaving the Media Lab. Often last semester I had wished I had gotten a job. I've been talking to a lot of people about it lately. Upon reflection, I've done well so far, but haven't really gotten into it. Reexamining the choice I had to make last year, the more the ETC seems like the place that I belong.
Now that I've spent a semster at MIT the differences between the two programs are really clear. I think I based my decision to go to grad school based the ETC as my idea of grad school. Since my freshman year, when I heard about the ETC, I knew it was what I wanted to do when I graduated. If it hadn't been for that, would I even have considered grad school? I don't know that really expected the Media Lab to be like that, but I think I seriously discounted the difference in subject material and methodology. While the Media Lab may be working on cutting edge interactive technology, it may be intelectually interesting, but it isn't entertainment, which is really what I think I want to be working on. Also, I think I'd prefer the way the ETC works. Faculty selected, appropriate group projects, with the focus on the product, not that it be original or "significant" as a research topic. I've not totally made up my mind. I definately want to see how things go this semester. However, I am going to apply to ETC again. I'm worried about getting in. I think the fact that I will have started and not finished a master program may affect their decision, among other things. I'm just going to wait and see.
I thought a lot about the possibility of leaving the Media Lab. Often last semester I had wished I had gotten a job. I've been talking to a lot of people about it lately. Upon reflection, I've done well so far, but haven't really gotten into it. Reexamining the choice I had to make last year, the more the ETC seems like the place that I belong.
Now that I've spent a semster at MIT the differences between the two programs are really clear. I think I based my decision to go to grad school based the ETC as my idea of grad school. Since my freshman year, when I heard about the ETC, I knew it was what I wanted to do when I graduated. If it hadn't been for that, would I even have considered grad school? I don't know that really expected the Media Lab to be like that, but I think I seriously discounted the difference in subject material and methodology. While the Media Lab may be working on cutting edge interactive technology, it may be intelectually interesting, but it isn't entertainment, which is really what I think I want to be working on. Also, I think I'd prefer the way the ETC works. Faculty selected, appropriate group projects, with the focus on the product, not that it be original or "significant" as a research topic. I've not totally made up my mind. I definately want to see how things go this semester. However, I am going to apply to ETC again. I'm worried about getting in. I think the fact that I will have started and not finished a master program may affect their decision, among other things. I'm just going to wait and see.