Build awesome

Build awesome I like to build things. What can I do to show my stuff? I get this question from time to time. Many students know that math students can do things like the American Mathematics Competitions, and science students can enter the Intel Science Talent Search, but if you really like building stuff, if youre a budding engineer or inventor, what can you do? Its a little-known fact that we in admissions get as excited about cool projects as we do about the big awards. Its true. Students who send in supplemental materials describing their interesting, imaginative, from-scratch inventions and creations get our attention in the same way that many of those national honors do. Why? Look at MITs motto, Mens et Manus Mind and Hand. These hands-on projects tie in directly with MITs core principles. And look around MIT for lots of examples of cool projects, like: Disco Dance Floor MIDAS and the party button The laundry bathroom servers The Simmons LED Display The carboat couchamaran Hacks So, lets say you like making things. Maybe youve already tried the intro material trebuchets, computers, etc. Whats next? Where to look for inspiration? Let me introduce you to a few really wonderful resources. I think youll like these; I know I do. MAKE: It all starts with MAKE Magazine and MAKE blog. Both the zine and the blog highlight many of the coolest projects out there, and how you can make these projects yourself. You certainly should add MAKEblog to your RSS reader, and MAKE magazine makes a great birthday/holiday gift. Example project: Batometer Instructables: A project of the MIT-alumni company Squid Labs (who make a lot of stuff, for business, and for pleasure), Instructables is kind of an open-source DIY site, meaning you can contribute, too. Example project: LED Dot-Matrix Display HowStuffWorks: While (IMHO) not quite as cool as MAKE and Instructables, I have to mention howstuffworks.com, since it is another favorite. For example: How LCDs Work These are wonderful inspirational sites that can provide lots of great ideas. I hope that if youre interested in building things, youll check them out. And to the folks behind MAKE and Instructables: thank you! If youve done some projects like these tell us about them! Use the optional essay (Question 13: show us and/or tell us about something you have created) or attach supplemental materials (its best as 8.5x11 paper attachments with labeled photos) to tell us more. I love seeing photos, schematics, and descriptions of your creations.