She Might Be the Modern-Day Einstein 🤯
A young aspiring aerospace student describes how she got off the MIT waitlist by aggressively networking at air shows and MIT events, using photo books of her airplane and business cards. She made connections with notable figures in the aerospace world including Anousheh Ansari and Peter Diamandis. Her proactive, unconventional approach impressed people and ultimately helped her gain admission.
Summary
In this brief clip, a young woman recounts the creative and determined strategy she used to get off the MIT waitlist. Rather than simply waiting, she took a hands-on approach by creating physical photo books of an airplane she was involved with and printing business cards, which she brought to MIT events and air shows to network with faculty and aerospace industry figures.
She describes targeting specific high-profile individuals in the aerospace and private space sectors, including Anousheh Ansari — who famously flew to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz capsule — and Peter Diamandis, founder of the X Prize. Her approach combined youthful charm with genuine ambition, as she introduced herself to MIT faculty and FAA representatives as well as private aerospace pioneers.
The interviewer reacts positively to her story, expressing that they plan to encourage their own children to adopt a similar networking mindset, highlighting the broader lesson about proactive self-advocacy in achieving ambitious goals.
Key Insights
- The speaker got off the MIT waitlist by proactively networking with faculty and aerospace figures using physical photo books of her airplane, rather than waiting passively for an admissions decision.
- She deliberately identified specific people she wanted to meet — including MIT faculty, FAA officials, and private aerospace figures — and planned her networking approach around those targets.
- The speaker credits her young age and approachable demeanor ('cute little kid') as an asset in making introductions to prominent industry professionals at air shows and MIT events.
- She specifically sought out Anousheh Ansari, who flew to space aboard a Soyuz capsule, and Peter Diamandis, creator of the X Prize, as part of her deliberate networking in private aerospace circles.
- The interviewer's reaction — saying they plan to replicate this strategy with their own children — underscores how unusual and effective the speaker's proactive approach to admissions and networking was perceived to be.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] What was it that got you off the wait [music] list, at MIT? >> It was the plane, exactly. So, I'm saying, me going around with like photo book of the airplane at MIT. >> brought the photo book of the airplane. >> I had little like photo books of the plane, little business cards, and like thinking of who you want to meet, and you're going to meet that person, and then you're this cute little kid like trying to [music] introduce myself to like various MIT faculty, say, or like at the air shows, various people in the FAA, or like maybe Peter Diamandis, or folks who had done cool stuff in the private aerospace. Like Anousheh…
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