Letter of REccomendation from RANDI!

[kittynh]

So Kitten and I are doing our MOnday morning quarterbacking. She is so honored that she is got into grad school at MIT. But 2 of her fellow classmates also applied for the same program and were turned down. It's bittersweet as you don't want to think you are better than your friends.

One thing she heard is that her letters of reccomendation very much impressed the committee. 2 were from professors, and one was from someone very special to her, Mr.Randi! I guess having a letter from a magician really made her stand out. Well, no one should call Mr.Randi "just a magician".

As if Mr.RAndi hasn't done enough for our family- I give him credit for helping my daughter get into the grad school of her dreams.

But we were wondering...

How many letters of reccomendation are submitted to MIT that are written by someone that did not attend college? I'm not so sure about his high school record!

What Mr.Randi has taught us is that learning and knowledge is not all about where you went to school, and what degrees you have. And respect is given those that use their knowledge for the good of mankind, not the abuse of mankind.

The respect the world gives this man can not be downplayed. People of great education know this man, and his work. So when he writes a letter of reccomendation, people pay attention.

Anyway, thank you Mr.Randi!

[eri]

Congrats, Kitten! I'm glad your recommendation letters worked for you. Apparently, having a recommendation from the former president of Berkeley is still not enough to get Berkeley to actually READ your application. :( Not bitter. Nope. Not even after they saved all my personal info and let it get stolen a few months later. Not planning retalliation. Not still bitching about it three years later. Nope. Not at all.

[kittynh]

ooohhh, but then you see, Berkley wasn't good enough for YOU! Florida State U. lost all of Kittens reccomendation letters. They wanted new ones. At the last minute.

And see Berkley is just full of commies and hippies. You wouldn't have wanted to go there anyway, you are way too good for them.

[eri]

That's right, I didn't want to go to Berkeley! I'm much happier at my little grad school no one has ever heard of. And someday they will give me a degree, and I can apply for a postdoc at Berkeley. :D Or in another country. There we go. Much better.

[kittynh]

You know, you would have just come out a crazed hippy drug addict if you went to Berkley. It's true. I mean, that one Berkley grad is a MTV VJ!

You want more in life than to be a MTV VJ!

sure there is the sex, the drugs ,the hobnobbing with the stars...how sad and worthless that life would be.

I'm so glad you got into a REAL school.

[Ceritus]

How would I go about meeting Mr.Randi in person? I seriously want to shake his hand. Do I have to sign up for a TAM or anything? This man's commentary and foundation has changed my life in a positive manner and I would like to thank him in person.

[kittynh]

I used to feel the same way Ceritus. I never thought I would meet the man, though I admired him for years.

He is very accessable. Right now the best thing would be to write him a letter, telling him how his work changed your life. He usually reads all his emails, but since he is recovering your email might get lost in the back log. So right now a letter would be great.

Then if you are ever in the Ft.Laudredale area, call ahead and stop in at JREF. You should make sure Mr.Randi is going to be there, but if he is he might be able to at least say hi! Come to TAM! That is where I first met Mr.Randi. And VOLUNTEER! If you come a day early to help with the work, it's a good chance you are going to meet him. You'll also meet the rest of the JREF crew. There were 800 people at the last TAM and I think Mr.Randi went out of his way to make sure everyone that wanted to meet him got a chance. He is very personable. My brother came from Canada, and I was worried with so many people he would not have time for a word with Randi. Nope, Mr.Randi made sure he got to meet with my brother. He will sign books, pose for photographs (I have one of him with my 2 girls and myself in my living room), and gladly shake your hand.

[TruthSeeker]

How did I miss this? Too busy lately, I guess.

Kitten got into MIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm looking for new grad students right now. A letter from Mr. Randi would definitely get my attention :)

[Questioninggeller]

Congrats, does that include a scholarship?

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Scholarship? Bah humbug. It's a mere $31,000 per year.

Super congratulations to Kitten!

~~ Paul

[Mattfn]

Not to put anyone down who's got lots of letters after their names, but I just wanted to agree with kittynh that knowing how to learn really doesn't have much to do with how much school you attend. MIT and other holds of higher learning recognize Mr Randi's achievements and those of others like him indicate a lifetime of yearning to find things out. A recomendation from such a person for a perspective student is not taken lightly: it says 'I, who have tried to continue to educate myself in my life, advise you that I think this person may be one who would do the same, properly trained. What higher praise?

One of the least inspiring people I know graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard and went on for a Master's. They have had no interest in knowing anything more in the 35 years I've known them, period. They just reach back for what they learned way back, recycling it and sticking to it even when evidence blows them out of the water. They are mostly miserable, BTW.

Two of the smartest, and down to earth flat out nice people I've known don't have degrees. One has a half year of college, the other completed grade 7. Both have flabbergast people with how well they research something to know it fully and then do wonderful things with the knowledge gained......and always humbly share their knowedge, themselves, and their joy of learning. And, coincidentally, they were and are two of the most content people I have known. Funny how that happens, to contrast with the first person.

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Mark Twain

Mattfn :moose:

[Kitten]

Congrats, does that include a scholarship?

Yes, it included full funding for a Ph.D. My tuition and research expenses are covered, and I'll be receiving a stipend to live on. I won't be wealthy, but I won't be poor either and I won't have to worry about paying off loans afterwards, which is good.

Randi is the most brilliant person I know. I was honored that he agreed to write me a recommendation letter.

[exarch]

Two of the smartest, and down to earth flat out nice people I've known don't have degrees. One has a half year of college, the other completed grade 7. Both have flabbergast people with how well they research something to know it fully and then do wonderful things with the knowledge gained......and always humbly share their knowedge, themselves, and their joy of learning. And, coincidentally, they were and are two of the most content people I have known. Funny how that happens, to contrast with the first person.
Hmm, I never really finished my industrial design studies either. And I never actually went to school for the job I'm currently doing, I just picked it all up along the way.

But it'll be a stretch for anyone to say I'm one of the smartest people they know. I think that would say more about the friends they have than about me ...

Anyway, as far as the topic goes, I'm seriously impressed by the letter of recommendation by Randi. That's awesome ...