Today, I successfully sorted through all of the random files that I have accumulated over the years and neatly categorized them into labeled hanging file folders. I found my old MIT admissions letter welcoming me to the MIT Class of 2004, as well as a couple of confirmation “we have received your application” letters. One of these instructs me on how to check my application status online using my MIT ID number.
Lo and behold! That number given to me in a letter dated September 1, 1999 is the same ID number that I now have at MIT. Talk about keeping records! They kept my records and ID number from the first time I applied to MIT. When I applied again as a grad student, they gave me that same number back. Amazing
Some people say I am a pack rat, but I would have never discovered this intriguing detail with the ID numbers unless I were a pack rat. I guess the argument also goes that if I weren’t such a pack rat, I probably wouldn’t really care anyway that my ID number has stayed the same through two separate admissions applications to MIT.