Student Stories

Patricia Martinez Aceves ’08

San Leandro, Calif.
Major: Materials science and engineering

Financial aid was a big concern because I was totally broke, and I knew that my family would only be able to contribute a small amount. In the end, it all worked out. For my personal contribution, I took loans in my first year and chose not to work while I adjusted to MIT classes. Now my job covers me, which means fewer loans this year. Also, because I grew up never having enough money, I’m good at spending wisely, and I find that I don’t need to spend what MIT budgets for personal and living expenses.

I’ve always loved art—in fact, I was recruited by several art schools. But I also wanted to study things like astronomy and physics, so I came to MIT where I could pursue all of my interests. Most things at MIT are built on a foundation of research and discovery — art is no exception. I wrote a proposal and received funding to research the use of art in recycling programs. I stand in a corner and observe how my prototypes affect people’s decisions as to what can be recycled versus what must be sent to a landfill. I experiment with different forms of the same message and see which ones are most effective; the whole process is really interesting.

From time to time, I also get commissioned to paint portraits, and I use this income to offset the amount of money my parents are expected to contribute. I always laugh about the irony in this—so many starving artists have a side job to support their artistic endeavors, but I have an artistic job to support my education at a technology school.

Like me, you might need to work in order to help pay for MIT, but jobs here can be way more fun than you might expect.

Financial aid package (2007-08)
MIT scholarship	$35,374
Federal loans	$5,502
Total aid package	$40,876

 

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