My name is Pat, and I recently completed my PhD at the MIT Media Lab's Fluid Interfaces group under the mentorship of Professor Pattie Maes. My dissertation focused on "Cyborg Psychology: The Art + Science of Designing Human-AI Systems that Support Human Flourishing" .

To me, the Media Lab is like Hogwarts School of Wizardry—people here create magic in the form of cutting-edge technology that has transformed the world. The building itself buzzes with inventions, unexpected collaborations, and the constant hum of creation and innovation.

Many people have asked about my experience and whether a graduate program at the MIT Media Lab might be a good fit for them. For general questions, I would refer you to the graduate administrator of the MAS program, who has done an excellent job creating a comprehensive Q&A on the website.

If you're interested in my personal experience and perspective, please read on. 

*Please note that this reflects my individual journey and may not mirror everyone's experience at the Media Lab. 

*Another important thing to understand is that the Media Lab is actually "Labs within the Lab." Each research group is like a different Hogwarts house or different countries, with its own distinct traits, culture, governance, and leadership style.

How Did I Get Here?

I came to the Media Lab directly after completing my undergraduate degree. Some people in my cohort shared this path, while others had work experience or even master's degrees before joining the Lab.

My Media Lab journey actually began in high school when I watched a TED talk by my future PhD advisor, Pattie Maes (who I consider my intellectual hero). Her presentation combined sci-fi-like futuristic ideas (something I grew up loving) with practical applications that resonated deeply with me. Inspired, I reached out to Pattie during my final year of high school, sharing a science project I had created based on her TED talk.

Pattie was incredibly kind to respond to my email, and we exchanged several messages after that. I had the opportunity to meet her in person at an MIT symposium before applying. During that meeting, I shared my aspirations and research interests, and she wished me luck. During the application process, Pattie contacted me about writing a proposal for a fellowship, which I ultimately received—it covered the cost of my master's program.

The application process included two separate interviews with graduate students (since I had already spoken with Pattie, I didn't realize she considered that an interview). Eventually, I was accepted as a master's student in the Fluid Interfaces group. At the Media Lab, students aren't typically accepted directly into PhD programs—after completing two years of my master's, I was accepted into the PhD program.

My Experience at the Media Lab

I love the Media Lab!!!! I believe it was the perfect place for me. Here, I've been able to work on projects that matter both to me personally and to the world at large.

In my research group, our research culture was inspired by human-computer interaction, cognitive sciences, psychology, and other disciplines. We focus on building prototypes and systems that enhance human cognitive capabilities. We conduct scientific experiments to evaluate these systems, then use those insights to improve and build new ones. It's a very hands-on experience that bridges theory and practice.

One of the greatest benefits has been the ability to reach out to and collaborate with experts in various fields. My research is at the intersection of AI, human-computer interaction, and psychology. Since MIT doesn't have a psychology department, I took the initiative to connect with world-leading psychologists and collaborate with them. This approach allowed me to be incredibly productive—I naturally published at least five top-tier papers each year. While this isn't a requirement, I enjoyed the process, and many of my peers were the same.

Some people say you should never meet your heroes, but meeting and working with Pattie has been rewarding beyond my expectations. Pattie created a rich intellectual and research environment for her students. During my one on one, we discuss the research progress, new ideas that would be interesting and fun to explore.  I typically meet with my advisor once or twice a week depending on our schedules, and Pattie is exceptionally responsive via email and Slack. This means I receive regular and timely feedback on my work. We also had a group meeting where we share our work and get feedback from our whole group, and sometimes we invite exciting people to come inspire us.

What I love about the Media Lab: My Top 5

There are countless things I love about the Media Lab, but here are my top five:

1. Vision-driven research: At the Media Lab, we're encouraged to think about what truly matters in the world, unconstrained by traditional disciplinary boundaries. We don't have to stick to one field—we can draw from many disciplines and even invent new research areas based on our vision. The Media Lab has been the birthplace of many research fields such as Tangible Media, Affective Computing, and in my case I proposed the research area called Cyborg Psychology in my dissertation.
2. Demo & Maker Culture: We don't just engage in theoretical or hypothetical research; we get to invent and demonstrate our ideas through working prototypes. This means that most people here are builders and makers in one way or another. We don't necessarily begin with all the skills needed to build what we envision, but that's part of the magic—we learn through the process of creation.
3. Media Lab member companies: The Media Lab actively engages with numerous member companies across industries. These members challenge and inspire us to consider real-world applications for our work. Throughout my time here, I've worked with many of these companies, and some have become close collaborators with whom I frequently publish papers.
4. Collaborators: We have the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of people—you're constantly exposed to new projects and ideas. The Media Lab building itself promotes cross-group collaboration through its glass walls, allowing us to see when someone is working on something exciting. We also collaborate with colleagues at MIT, Harvard, and with international collaborators around the world.
5. Giving tours: We regularly host visitors! The Media Lab is an exciting place, and when we give tours, it always reminds me of the magic and wonder of this community and makes me proud to be part of it. Explaining our work to others helps crystalize our own thinking and reinforces the impact of what we do.

Is the Media Lab Right for You?

The MIT Media Lab specifically seeks individuals who transcend traditional academic boundaries, combining technical expertise with creative vision and implementation skills. The ideal Media Lab candidate demonstrates both deep technical knowledge and the creative capacity to apply this expertise in novel, unexpected ways. 

Most students admitted directly to the Media Lab participate in the Media Arts & Sciences (MAS) graduate program, which offers both master's and doctoral degrees. This program is intentionally hands-on and research-focused, emphasizing learning through creation and experimentation rather than traditional coursework alone. While formal classes are part of the curriculum, the heart of the MAS experience lies in the research groups where students work alongside faculty and peers. As I mentioned earlier, the Media Lab is "Labs within the Lab." Each lab functions like a different country with its own research culture, values, and leadership style. However, in general, I believe the Media Lab is well-suited for people who are:

1. Very hands-on rather than purely theoretical: You need to engage with philosophical and ethical conversations, but the Lab places significant emphasis on prototyping and making things.
2. Interdisciplinary rather than focused deeply on a single discipline: If you want to work exclusively on core computer science or physics, other MIT programs might be more appropriate for you.
3. Collaborative and flexible: The Lab is an evolving place that thrives on being at the cutting edge. Flexibility is crucial because by the time you're accepted and join the Lab, the research landscape may have changed, and your original ideas might already be obsolete. Being able to adapt and pivot is essential.
4. Rigorous:The Lab is part of MIT, which values rigorous research processes in both art and science. This place has a long history of inventing the future, so if you want to come here just to create something flashy for social media, you'll need to aim higher.

Recommendations for Prospective Students

MIT is one of the most competitive places in the world. The Media Lab, in particular, receives applications from countless brilliant, creative, and accomplished individuals each year. It's important to understand that if you get rejected, it doesn't mean you're not good enough or that your ideas aren't valuable.

There are many reasons why someone might not be accepted on their first try. Sometimes it's simply a matter of fit with current research priorities, limited openings in a specific group, or the ever-shifting landscape of funding and projects. I know several amazing researchers who were rejected their first time applying but were accepted on their second attempt.

Don't give up if you believe the Media Lab is the right place for you. Use the time between applications to strengthen your portfolio, refine your research focus, build relationships with people in your target lab, and demonstrate your commitment. Many successful Media Lab students have stories of persistence—they knew this was where they belonged, and that conviction eventually led them here. 

Here are my recommendations before you apply to the Media Lab program:

1. Research thoroughly before applying. Read about the vision of your target research group and study their published papers and projects. Many rejected applicants submit statements that are only vaguely related or entirely unrelated to the group's vision and direction. Try to connect your previous experiences and research interests to make a compelling case for why you belong in that specific group.
2. Reach out to current members. Try to talk with the Principal Investigator (PI) or current members of the group before applying. Keep in mind that these people are extremely busy and may not respond immediately—or at all. Which brings me to my next point...
3. Give people a reason to reply to you. Many prospective students send cold emails asking for meetings or advice without explaining who they are or why the researcher should talk with them. When reaching out, briefly share your background and research interests. From my experience, being concise is more effective than providing too much detail.
4. Use official resources. Look at the official MAS program page for accurate information, and don't hesitate to reach out to the program administrators with specific questions.

Final Thoughts

Remember that your path might take unexpected turns, but if you stay focused on your vision and continue to create meaningful work and research, you'll find your way. Sometimes, the detour becomes an essential part of your unique contribution. I wish you all the best in your application journey! If the Media Lab is the right place for you, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have. I can't wait to see the future that you'll invent!

May the force be with you!