You are going to be okay!
Reddit randomly showed me this subreddit a few days ago, and I thought I'd let you all know that **you are going to be just fine, and you will achieve your dreams regardless of MIT**. Back in 2014, I too had my heart broken getting rejected from MIT. I grew up in the Boston area and dreamed of going there all through middle and high school. I begrudgingly went to a state school, and once again failed applying for their PhD program.
But guess what? Not only did I turn out fine, I truly could not be happier with my current program and how my academic career has turned out. This week feels particularly cathartic, as I am coming to MIT not as a student, but to give a talk at a seminar.
Some notes for all of you:
1. Wherever you go, the educational quality will be almost the same level as MIT, especially if you apply yourself and take advanced/graduate courses. During my undergrad, I started taking upper level courses immediately. At the end of my program, I was one of the top two students, and had as good an education as MIT would've given.
You can have amazing research opportunities even at smaller state schools. Extremely talented and motivated professors don't just go to MIT. In fact, I'd say any university in the top 100 of a rankings list is overflowing with wonderful professors. My research experience in my undergrad was far healthier than that of many of my friends (who did go to MIT).
You will make impactful and life-long connections regardless of the university you go to. Even lower ranked state schools have *very* strong students, many who will go very far. Be friends with them and learn from/with them!
Keep moving forward, and stay passionate! You will make it.