“The highly flexible and personalized curriculum let me tailor it to my interests in physics and math”
Nicolas Suter, a graduate of Applied Scholastics Online Academy, has once again showcased his unwavering commitment to academic excellence by embarking on a remarkable milestone in his educational journey. Currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at MIT, Nicolas continues to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. We had the privilege of interviewing this exceptional individual, and his insights into his extraordinary academic pursuits left us truly inspired. Nicolas Suter is a shining example of passion, dedication, and accomplishment.
- Can you share your experience transitioning from our school to MIT?
NS: It was interesting! While I was at Applied Scholastics Online Academy, I also took community college classes at my local community college. I think this somewhat prepared me for the college structure: strong emphasis on homework, lecture-style classes, etc. At the same time, starting MIT meant living on the other side of the country, where I didn’t know anyone. That was a big change, compared to school being either online or in the neighborhood. Additionally, I went from living at home with my folks, to living on campus with the rest of my classmates.
Especially the first semester, I’d say, involved a great deal of adapting and learning how to do things in a very new environment. But I’d also say it was very rewarding, and I learned a lot through it all.
- How did your education at our school and knowing the *Study Technology prepare you for the rigorous academic environment at MIT?
NS: Very well. Understanding the Study Tech: knowing what words mean and having enough mass was very helpful. I think this was especially true for me because of the very theoretical nature of my major at MIT, Math with Computer Science. At the same time, there’s really no preparing for the volume of assignments and things to keep track of… sometimes one has to pick their battles, so to speak.
- What motivated you to choose MIT as your college? What attracted you to their programs?
NS: I did a couple campus visits and felt very much at home in the MIT environment. I was offered a very generous financial aid package, and the academic strength of their programs in mathematics and computer science are absolutely top-notch.
- Can you talk about any specific projects or research opportunities you had while studying at MIT?
NS: For a mathematical economics class, a friend of mine and I wanted to see if we could use math and our understanding of market mechanics to make money from betting on the NBA playoffs. I should add a disclaimer here that I don’t endorse gambling and that what we were doing was quite nuanced, so please don’t take this as an encouragement to go out there and gamble.
Anyways, we started with a very small amount of money (about $200) and did plenty of research as to how sportsbooks “get” you and how one could get around these pitfalls. We also did some math and looked at some different online resources to decide what was the best way to bet. Then we actually put it into action, and ultimately we made around $2.5k.
- How did you navigate the competitive nature of MIT? What strategies did you use to thrive academically and personally?
NS: I’d say that although MIT is very challenging, it isn’t actually a very competitive atmosphere. Most people (rightfully) believe that the only way to get through MIT is by working together, and the highly collaborative nature of most classes reflects this. I don’t think you could overstate how important it is to leverage these resources: do homework with others, ask questions, be humble.
I think this extends to personal concerns. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the number of things to do, the number of people to meet, and how very impressive (and sometimes eccentric) they can be. I think being willing to learn from others, and work with them, and eventually pass the torch and help them learn yourself, is a great way to find the right people.
- Can you share any memorable experiences or achievements during your time at MIT?
NS: I’m currently getting my master’s and am in my fifth year at MIT, having done four years in undergrad. Shortly after starting my master’s, I walked on to the men’s heavyweight rowing team, which I didn’t even think you could do as a grad student. That has been a ton of fun (and a ton of work).
From undergrad, the most memorable moments were spontaneous outings with friends. On my birthday, we spent the night on the esplanade of the Charles river. Another day, we rented bikes and went like 45 minutes just to get sandwiches. Those are memories I’ll always cherish.
- What advice would you give to current students at our school who aspire to attend MIT or other top-tier colleges?
NS: Work hard. It might sound obvious, but it’s the most true advice I can give you. A lot of these schools get so many applicants that plenty of perfectly qualified students get rejected. So there’s really no great formula for getting in. The best thing you can do is work hard, whether at your academics or your sport or your projects, and know that it’ll pay off one way or another.
- How did your experience at APS Online Academy shape your career goals and aspirations?
NS: The highly flexible and personalized curriculum let me tailor it to my interests in physics and math, which tied into what I ultimately studied and am now pursuing as a career. When I was doing APS Online, I realized I wanted to go to college and that I could do so while being an APS Online student, so long as I played my cards right. We structured the curriculum around this goal.
Since that initial aspiration, I changed my mind a bit: I started wanting to do physics, then before college I decided I was more interested in pure math, and halfway through MIT I switched to applied math. But ultimately I knew I wanted to study something quantitative, and to hopefully use those skills in my career.
- How have you chosen to fulfill those?
NS: I’m planning on going into quantitative finance, a field which requires using mathematical ideas to understand financial markets and create strategies which generate profit. I think this fulfills several of my goals: I get to think competitively, use math, and work in a collaborative structure.
