I turned down MIT to choose a little-known college my mom wanted me to attend. Not everyone understood my choice.
Hannah Mitchell turned down MIT for a the Merchant Marine Academy. Three months in, she says it was the right decision.
Hannah Mitchell, an 18-year-old student from Denver, is currently studying marine engineering at the Merchant Marine Academy, a federal service academy. She made the unconventional choice of attending this lesser-known school over prestigious institutions like MIT and the Naval Academy. The primary reasons for her decision were financial stability and the option to pursue a civilian maritime career after graduation, rather than being locked into active-duty military service.
Her mother had been encouraging her to attend the Merchant Marine Academy for some time, but Hannah initially resisted the idea, wanting to make her own decision. Despite initial doubts and resistance from some of her teachers, Hannah feels she made the right choice, and the academy's rigorous environment has challenged her to grow.
She is now leaning towards a career as a merchant mariner, with plans to sail for a while and explore different parts of the world.
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