Melissa Calvert

Just fill out an application and see what happens! You’d be surprised at the opportunities that are available to you."

This fall, just 20 students will be transferring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from colleges around the world. Melissa Calvert is one of them.

Calvert is currently studying Electrical & Computer Engineering at TCC. And she’s always pictured herself transferring to the University of Washington.

“On a whim, I thought, let me just apply to the best public and the best private school outside the state, one of each,” said Calvert. “And, surprise!”

Calvert has never been to the Northeast, and going to MIT will mean leaving everything she knows. But when you’re invited to “Disneyland for Engineering students,” you take the leap.

“Right now I’m just trying to take care of myself, go to the gym, finish my homework, not lose sleep over it,” said Calvert. “I definitely want to spend time with my friends and family.”

The weekend after graduation Calvert is headed to Stanford, where she was invited to attend summer classes for free. She’ll be taking an eclectic mix of subjects: journalism/writing, yoga, and calculus-based statistics. She’s looking forward to lots of hands-on learning at MIT.

“We’re going to build a bunch of stuff and test a bunch of stuff – you’re learning by hands-on activities,” said Calvert. “They’re in the news all the time, doing a bunch of revolutionary work – that I get to go there, at least look at it, hopefully be a part of it, is amazing.”

Calvert thinks her background was key to her acceptance. When she got out of the Navy in September of 2017, her job and her friends were gone, and she recognized signs of depression in herself. So she sought out groups she could join on campus, including Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA), TCC Engineering Club, and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). It’s been effective, and it’s provided her with multiple leadership opportunities. Calvert is currently President of the TCC Engineering Club and Treasurer of the Code Club. She also volunteers with Phi Theta Kappa.

“I think that something that set me apart was that I talked about how I helped to start the Robotics team here. Also I’m a veteran, and I did research at UW Seattle last summer – working on smart prostheses. It helps to be able to say, ‘I’ve done this, and I want to keep doing this’,” said Calvert.

Calvert says that while applying to MIT was an impulse decision, she’s always been the type of person who wants to “go for it.” But she understands that most students probably never even imagine that a school like MIT would consider them.

“For people who are interested but don’t think they can go for these good schools and internships and research opportunities – just fill out an application and see what happens!” said Calvert. “You’d be surprised at the opportunities that are available to you.”