Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#1

Post by robg » Sun, May 15, 2011, 6:13 PM UTC

Bill Gates: Why MIT matters
boston.com

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#2

Post by bugsy » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:00 PM UTC

Bill is right that MIT is a great school.

His statement "almost half (48 percent) of MIT’s undergraduates are minorities" is a bit misleading.

According to MIT:

"The class of 2014 is 36% Caucasian, 30% Asian, 14% Hispanic, 9% African-American, a few percentage points for assorted "other". All in all, it's about 75% "over-represented" and 25% "under-represented."

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#3

Post by rgbrgb » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:07 PM UTC

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet?

I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#4

Post by hugh3 » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:18 PM UTC

rgbrgb wrote: post #3

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet? I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

It reminds me of a Point/Counterpoint from The Onion:

"Why MIT Matters", by Bill Gates

vs

"MIT Sucks and Everyone Who Goes There Is A Huge Fag, lol" by A First-Year Engineering Undergrad at Caltech

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#5

Post by ZackOfAllTrades » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:19 PM UTC

rgbrgb wrote: post #3

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet? I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

It's MIT's 150th celebration now. It's why they have been so loud as of late. Probably a good way to get the donations to come in.

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#6

Post by hugh3 » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:20 PM UTC

bugsy wrote: post #2

Bill is right that MIT is a great school. His statement "almost half (48 percent) of MIT’s undergraduates are minorities" is a bit misleading. According to MIT: "The class of 2014 is 36% Caucasian, 30% Asian, 14% Hispanic, 9% African-American, a few percentage points for assorted "other". All in all, it's about 75% "over-represented" and 25% "under-represented."

Sounds to me like it's 100% minorities.

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#7

Post by MitRules » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:26 PM UTC

rgbrgb wrote: post #3

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet? I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

people would up-vote a bowel movement if "MIT" was in the title.

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#8

Post by ThomPete » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:28 PM UTC

rgbrgb wrote: post #3

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet? I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

I might be wrong, but haven't there been some talk about MIT not getting the funding they used to?

I.e. maybe it's not aimed at the already converted?

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#9

Post by robg » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:37 PM UTC

hugh3 wrote: post #4

rgbrgb wrote: post #3

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet? I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

It reminds me of a Point/Counterpoint from The Onion: "Why MIT Matters", by Bill Gates vs "MIT Sucks and Everyone Who Goes There Is A Huge Fag, lol" by A First-Year Engineering Undergrad at Caltech

Sad that we can't take time - even just a moment - to appreciate nice things. Is the default really to assume a conflict? It's like the internet really is a fifteen year old - highly opinionated and easily slighted.

I've been affiliated with MIT for three years. I hope to never leave. I wish I appreciated education as a kid and I might have arrived much sooner.

Re: Bill Gates: Why MIT matters

#10

Post by jules » Sun, May 15, 2011, 7:41 PM UTC

MitRules wrote: post #7

rgbrgb wrote: post #3

Was there some dispute I didn't hear about? I'm pretty sure everyone knows that MIT is pretty great. Did Gates just copy-paste info from the recruitment packet? I suspect that if this was not written by Bill Gates, it would have never made it to the front page of HN.

people would up-vote a bowel movement if "MIT" was in the title.

If there is an article about bowel movements with "MIT" in the title, chances are that it's interesting.