<p>I searched for any threads about what students and former students like the most about MIT, but did not find one.</p>
<p>I am hoping some of you will be willing to share what it is that impressed, enhanced your experience during your time at MIT, or you enjoyed while you were there (beyond the excellent academics). </p>
<p>I am sure that many prospective students would like to better understand some of the opportunities that they have to look forward to.</p>
<p>The ways I’ve grown and changed in all ways in my time here. As a scientist, as a writer, as a person who processes and judges information and problems. As a compassionate human being who processes and judges information and problems. I am a largely different person 3.something years later.</p>
<p>MIT is the place on this planet where I feel the most like myself. </p>
<p>One of the best things about MIT is that my best friends come from there. Because MIT students are trusted with the responsibility of selecting their own housing, the people in my dorm were like me and compatible with me in important ways. I met some of my best friends during the first day or two I was on campus – the people to whom I can still pour out my heart on a moment’s notice, even though we all live on opposite ends of the country now. My now-husband also lived in my dorm, and obviously the fact that we met and fell in love and got married is an important aspect of my life that I owe to MIT and to the residence selection system.</p>
<p>I am a proud alum of an extracurricular activity that’s very dear to my heart, and participating in it during my four years at MIT (plus four years of coaching it as a grad student) significantly enriched my life. There are thousands of clubs and sports and student organizations at MIT. Sloth is not one of the seven deadly MIT sins. There’s always time to squeeze in one more thing if you really want to do it.</p>
<p>But the thing I love most about MIT is that I learned that my contribution to cutting-edge science projects was valuable, and not any less so because I was just an undergrad. My work in the lab was valued both on an economic level, as I was paid an hourly wage to work in my lab as an undergraduate researcher, and on an intellectual level, as I earned authorship on a published paper from my lab, and I was able to design and execute my own project after I’d learned the ropes. Undergrads at MIT are held to a high standard, but it’s because the faculty believe that they are capable of contributing to MIT’s intellectual output, and treat them accordingly. It’s incredibly empowering to have someone more senior treat you as a member of academic society, and to expect you to produce a valuable intellectual product.</p>
<p>When I was at MIT, the dean of student life was quoted in the student newspaper, saying
</p>
<p>in a nutshell…
THE CATS IN THE DORMS <333</p>
<p>Best thing(s) about MIT:</p>
<p>In high school (and before) I was a real nerd, introverted and had some interest in sports but zero athletic ability (mostly from lack of trying). I got to MIT and I was finally with people who I considered my peers and understood me (and I them). </p>
<p>I was blown away by the pace of the classes and the necessary study skills, of which I had problems with as I was never challenged in high school. My underclass GPA was rather poor but improved a lot in my junior and senior years once I learned how to study. Performing poorly in classes was frustrating to me but once I started to do better, I enjoyed the classes much more. Learning how to study was probably the biggest thing I learned at MIT. In your professional career, you should be constantly learning and never static with your skills.</p>
<p>I got involved in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). I did cutting edge research under a senior prof (who got NASA funding for the project). I got credit for it during the school year and paid during the summers. It was interesting, exciting and made the skills I learned in class relevant. (Definitely get involved in UROP if you go to MIT)</p>
<p>I joined a fraternity and built up a large number of lifelong friends. It also helped me come out of my shell. People who know me now shake their heads when I say that I was shy and introverted in my younger days. Not that I am loud and wild, but I am very comfortable getting up and giving customer briefings, etc., a skill that helped me in my career.</p>
<p>I also got involved in intermural sports and found out I had some real talent once I had an opportunity. I tried probably about a dozen different sports at the intermural level. I ended up rowing crew until I broke my foot playing hockey. After that I sculled (mostly in the summer) to stay in shape. I lettered in varsity hockey and even played semipro hockey for fun for a few years. In fact I still play pickup hockey twice a week with my buddies, some of whom I’ve known for over 30 years.</p>
<p>So, as you can see; MIT was definitely a life altering experience in many ways. College somewhere else would have also been a life altering experience but I believe not to the same level as MIT was.</p>