mit is all about constructive chaos. the institute provides the resources and environment you need to be creative/innovative then they just kinda yell "go". in a sense, you're on your own to pave your path and make the most of the opportunities, but there's also plenty of help if you seek it.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
there's no magic formula to get accepted to mit. focus on really presenting your best self in the admissions essays. warning: just because the essays are short doesn't mean they should take less time than the 650 word statements for ivies like princeton. talk about the things you love the most (not the things you think are most impressive). be honest and lighthearted. and have fun!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
i haven't started classes yet but i think mit's academic record speaks for itself. if you want to go here, be prepared to work. you'll work harder than you ever have but you'll also learn twice as much as you would at most other schools.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
housing is guaranteed for 4 years, very few people move of campus. there are 11 undergraduate dorms and 5 cultural houses (french, spanish, and german, as well as chocolate city for minority men and ihouse for international development), plus sororities and fraternities. once you accept your admission, you get to rank all 16 dorms and cultural houses from your favorite to least favorite and you'll be entered in a lottery that considers your preferences and assigns you a dorm. most people get something in their top 4. once you get to campus, you get a few days to explore all the dorms (they put on fun events for the frosh); if you decide you like a different dorm than the one you've been assigned, you can switch that first week. all the dorms have their own culture and an awesome sense of community.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
there are several meal plan options and i've heard the food is pretty tasty. some dorms are cook for yourself, meaning that you can buy groceries and make your own food or you can buy a meal plan and go to one of the other dorms' dining halls.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
my financial aid package was amazing. i won full-tuition merit scholarships at two schools but mit (which only has need based aid, no merit) topped even that. by far the most affordable place i applied (ignore the sticker price and wait for your aid package)
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
hacking! look up the hacks throughout the years.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
the more of these that apply to you, the better fit you are for mit:
-you're independent and willing to pursue your passions when given an overwhelming amount of options
-you want to challenge yourself
-you also like humanities! despite mit's reputation as a technological giant, humanities classes (hass) are an important part of the general institute requirements and the mit hass department was ranked #1 in the world. if you have no use for anything other than stem, know that at mit you'll have to take at least 8 hass courses (they have some awesome options!)
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
anything you can think of. theater, music, art, robotics, origami, athletics, hacking, etc. if you want it, you can find it (or find like 4 people and start your own group).
mit is all about constructive chaos. the institute provides the resources and environment you need to be creative/innovative then they just kinda yell "go". in a sense, you're on your own to pave your path and make the most of the opportunities, but there's also plenty of help if you seek it.
there's no magic formula to get accepted to mit. focus on really presenting your best self in the admissions essays. warning: just because the essays are short doesn't mean they should take less time than the 650 word statements for ivies like princeton. talk about the things you love the most (not the things you think are most impressive). be honest and lighthearted. and have fun!
i haven't started classes yet but i think mit's academic record speaks for itself. if you want to go here, be prepared to work. you'll work harder than you ever have but you'll also learn twice as much as you would at most other schools.
housing is guaranteed for 4 years, very few people move of campus. there are 11 undergraduate dorms and 5 cultural houses (french, spanish, and german, as well as chocolate city for minority men and ihouse for international development), plus sororities and fraternities. once you accept your admission, you get to rank all 16 dorms and cultural houses from your favorite to least favorite and you'll be entered in a lottery that considers your preferences and assigns you a dorm. most people get something in their top 4. once you get to campus, you get a few days to explore all the dorms (they put on fun events for the frosh); if you decide you like a different dorm than the one you've been assigned, you can switch that first week. all the dorms have their own culture and an awesome sense of community.
there are several meal plan options and i've heard the food is pretty tasty. some dorms are cook for yourself, meaning that you can buy groceries and make your own food or you can buy a meal plan and go to one of the other dorms' dining halls.
my financial aid package was amazing. i won full-tuition merit scholarships at two schools but mit (which only has need based aid, no merit) topped even that. by far the most affordable place i applied (ignore the sticker price and wait for your aid package)
hacking! look up the hacks throughout the years.
the more of these that apply to you, the better fit you are for mit: -you're independent and willing to pursue your passions when given an overwhelming amount of options -you want to challenge yourself -you also like humanities! despite mit's reputation as a technological giant, humanities classes (hass) are an important part of the general institute requirements and the mit hass department was ranked #1 in the world. if you have no use for anything other than stem, know that at mit you'll have to take at least 8 hass courses (they have some awesome options!)
anything you can think of. theater, music, art, robotics, origami, athletics, hacking, etc. if you want it, you can find it (or find like 4 people and start your own group).