<p>I'm aware that MIT has a great business school and possibly the nation's best linguistics department, but is it worth going to MIT for those things? Would the burden of the science and math courses get in the way of humanities majors? And the biggest question: would it be easier applying as, say, a linguistics major (with ECs and clear passions towards that area)?</p>
<p>The "biggest" question is the easiest to answer -- no, MIT does not consider intended major in the admissions process, so a prospective linguistics major would not be given an advantage or a disadvantage over a prospective mechanical engineering major. About 50% of admits don't end up majoring in what they write on the application anyway, so admitting a class based on major would be a bit of an exercise in futility.</p>
<p>As to whether it's worth it to go to MIT for a non-technical major, that's a question you'll have to answer yourself. The MIT General Institute Requirements currently include two semesters of calculus, two semesters of physics, a semester each of chemistry and biology, two restricted electives in science and technology, and a laboratory course. That's nine courses; as long as you can get through them, they wouldn't obstruct a major in the humanities or social sciences.</p>
<p>Many, although not all, of the students in non-technical majors at MIT are double-majors with a technical field. (This is not as true for the management major -- there seem to be more single Sloan majors than single majors in other non-technical departments.)</p>