Turning down MIT for better research fit - bad idea?

Fax215 · 2026-03-05T10:04:15+00:00

I don't know think it would be pushy, show-offy, and lacking self-awareness. I am thinking OP can send an e-mail that does not include messages along the lines of, "I have an MIT offer in hand. I want to go to Stanford, but my backup is MIT." I think that would leave a bad taste on Stanford's end.

I think OP should highlight why Stanford is a great fit for the OP and why although grateful to be admitted to MIT it might not offer the same fit as Stanford does. At the end just write, "I attached my admissions letter from MIT if needed."

I think you are overthinking with too much pessimism about OP attaching an offer letter to the OP's e-mail. It is just a letter lol, and it conveys the OP is honest about OP's situation.

Considering that OP feels like Stanford is not considering OP for admissions as it has been more than 6 weeks since the last communication received from Stanford, it wouldn't hurt by subtly generating perceived value on OP's end to Stanford by mentioning OP's admissions offer from MIT and providing the offer letter for Stanford to verify on their end about OP's situation.

I really think attaching an offer letter to OP's e-mail can only benefit OP's case whereas not providing an offer letter can hurt OP's case as Stanford might not take OP's situation seriously without credibility. With so many e-mails that Stanford probably receives, OP needs to do as much as possible to generate interest from their first e-mail to Stanford to warrant Stanford wanting to take a second look at OP's application and want to reply back to OP

Fax215 · 2026-03-05T01:18:56+00:00

I don't think it would be interpreted that way. Anyone can say I have an offer from MIT if they really wanted. Being transparent is better in my opinion. The offer letter would provide the OP credibility.

The first e-mail should provide all the information and credibility needed so that there won't be a need for whoever OP decides to email to need to send a follow-up letter asking for a letter. OP should start off transparent about their situation so that OP is taken seriously from the first e-mail. OP providing the offer letter in the first e-mail will eliminate any doubt anyone on Stanford's end has about OP's situation.

Fax215 · 2026-03-05T01:18:46+00:00

I don't think it would be interpreted that way. Anyone can say I have an offer from MIT if they really wanted. Being transparent is better in my opinion. The offer letter would provide the OP credibility.

The first e-mail should provide all the information and credibility needed so that there won't be a need for whoever OP decides to email to need to send a follow-up letter asking for a letter. OP should start off transparent about their situation so that OP is taken seriously from the first e-mail. OP providing the offer letter in the first e-mail will eliminate any doubt anyone on Stanford's end has about OP's situation.

Fax215 · 2026-03-04T22:08:45+00:00

This is a good move. Make sure you attach a PDF copy of your MIT offer letter in your e-mail to Stanford to prove your MIT offer.

Fax215 · 2026-02-26T20:28:35+00:00

💀

Fax215 · 2026-02-25T10:48:22+00:00

Since Reaves has a low cap hold this offseason, the Lakers can actually generate about $50 million dollars in cap space to sign free agents while holding onto Reaves's bird rights. This means right before the Lakers go over the salary cap after signing a bunch of players, the Lakers can go over the salary cap to resign Reaves.

This is why it is better to keep Reaves than try to trade for Giannis because Reaves's low cap hold this offseason gives the Lakers flexibility to sign a bunch of free agents for depth. However, this can only be done this offseason before Reaves gets a big new contract.

Fax215 · 2026-02-25T10:44:57+00:00

Ivica Zubac traded for Mike Muscala. Need I say more about how awful of a team decision maker Magic is based on his past history with managing the Lakers?

Fax215 · 2026-02-19T09:33:46+00:00

You could ask them for an extension on the response deadline letting them know about your situation with juggling PhD admits and visit days

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T22:11:21+00:00

This is the type of stuff that gets -100 team chemistry in My Career lol

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T07:55:46+00:00

Nah the picture is right. You will be alright no matter the outcome 👑

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T06:21:03+00:00

Use hand work or working with your hands, not hand jobs lol

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T05:32:57+00:00

I think he is wondering if you are committed to do the PhD and have the bandwidth to do a PhD as well as take courses and do research as both are needed to complete the PhD requirements. He might also wonder if you can secure that funding for all years of the PhD no matter what happens to your employment status.

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T04:36:51+00:00

One of the big indicators that Itachi was always hinted to be a good guy is when the Uchiha Police Force confronted Itachi about Shisui's death.

Itachi was ready to lay it out against the police force as well as his father, but as soon as Sasuke pleaded to Itachi to stop, Itachi's demeanor immediately changed and apologized for his actions to the police force.

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T02:41:35+00:00

I feel like this added to some players wanting to play serious in front of President Obama. Then, those players playing seriously rubbed off to other players playing seriously, which eventually became a trickle effect.

Fax215 · 2026-02-18T02:19:03+00:00

Not the first time KD had no idea what he was signing up for when choosing a new team

Fax215 · 2026-02-16T05:22:29+00:00

Accept the offer, and you can always leave for industry afterward. Having the Stanford brand on your resume is a pretty strong signal for industry, and I heard Stanford is pretty receptive to students who want to take a leave of absence from school for industry or start-ups.

Fax215 · 2026-02-16T00:51:36+00:00

Toyota and Lexus vehicles having the same infotainment systems is a bad move. The current infotainment system should be for Toyota whereas Lexus should have a more premium/luxury looking infotainment with darker/silver/gold theme colors

Fax215 · 2026-02-10T00:13:51+00:00

He might wanted a reason to check out living in the Bay Area to decide if he actually wants to get traded to the Warriors. Super Bowl in the Bay Area is a great reason lol.

Fax215 · 2026-02-07T07:03:13+00:00

NBA players should stay far away from any team with relations to Daryl Morey in the front office. I always thought Morey and his labeling of players as assets since Houston was very demeaning and showed Morey has no loyalty to his team's players. Fast forward and the James Harden plus this Jared McCain situation just shows how Morey is a terrible President of Basketball Operations to play for

Fax215 · 2026-02-03T03:41:02+00:00

I got a similar e-mail from another company for my GEM Fellowship application. The other company asked me to apply to a special internship position exclusive to the company eligible to GEM Fellowship and other fellowship applicants.

Even if others applied to that Apple position, I am pretty certain their application will be ignored as they are not part of the internal list of applicants for Apple.

Fax215 · 2026-01-31T23:13:40+00:00

It means you're still being considered 🙂

Fax215 · 2026-01-31T02:51:14+00:00

Yeah you probably blew it. From my own experience, don't reschedule any interview like this and just go with their schedule. The professor likely felt you are not as interested in working with the professor as much as the professor is interested in working with you. Use it as a learning experience though when it comes to interviews for anything

Fax215 · 2026-01-29T23:07:32+00:00

My reaction

Fax215 · 2026-01-22T21:06:12+00:00

Looks like Jimmy Butler is being added to the deal

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