<p>The key question is what you want to do. I have already posted my views of MIT math (as a holder of a math degree from MIT), on one of the OPs other threads. But the English system is very different. In the UK system, as a math (or I suppose that should be maths) major, you are unlikely to take any class outside of the mathematics department during your degree. If the non-STEM subjects are important to you, then you should study in the US. That being said, in the US, you will take, on average, at least one non-STEM class per term. That will result in a degree that takes four years (usually) in the US, versus 3 years in the UK. That is the first and fundamental question, given the huge fundamental differences between the two systems. I once lived in the UK, and of the UK universities, I would also question some of your choices. You may want to post on the nearest UK equivalent to College Confidential - that would be The Student Room (which CC won’t let me link to - but which you can easily find). </p>
<p>I guess I found my experiences with the humanities at MIT to be pretty mixed. Professors can be good but student interest and background is generally low so I don’t think the classes tend to be as engaging as the classes at non-technical universities. I took a number of upper division humanities classes at the University of Minnesota in during high school and I think they were typically at least as good as MIT humanities classes while MIT’s technical classes are much better. I also don’t think I said anything was “not terrible” although I think MIT has some serious holes in its humanities offerings. </p>
<p>I don’t think the information offered about cross-registration is accurate. I do not believe MIT students can cross-register at BU and it is certainly much easier and faster to get to Harvard via walking, biking, public bus, or subway than to take the MIT-Wellesley bus which takes about an hour each way. Harvard also offers many more classes than Wellesley. </p>
<p>@UMTYMP student, I contracted something like “…don’t buy the argument that STEM classes at MIT are uniformly bad” to “not terrible”. It was not a direct quote- I should not have used quote marks. I suppose, with the humanities classes YMMV. They can be very good. As for cross registration, my information is old. It used to be that to sign up for a Harvard class, you had to justify that the same class was not offered at the 'tute. Then, Harvard would not give privileges to check out books from their library, even if you were cross registered. If I recall, add/drop was way earlier and had to be done twice: once at Harvard and once at MIT. In other words, it was possible to support your academic path if justified, but it was not convenient or common. Wellesley classes were seamless and much more commonly taken. There was no need to justify the class, and the paperwork was straightforward. BU was somewhere in between, in terms of bureaucratic hassle. You are there now- I trust your information to be current.</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s the case anymore. I was able to register for two courses that covered essentially the same material - one at MIT and one at Harvard to decide which version to take - without any trouble. I ended up going with the Harvard version and dropping it after Harvard’s drop date, but before MIT’s drop date, again without any trouble. Also, I think any MIT student can use the Harvard libraries now.</p>
<p>And MIT students can only cross register at Harvard, Wellesley, MassArt, and the Museum school.</p>
<p>Yeah it’s very possible things used to be different. I know MIT undergrads can now get Harvard library cards but that’s a fairly recent change.</p>
<p>UMTYMP, your post is inaccurate. Take a look at MIT’s offerings.</p>
<p>What exactly is inaccurate? </p>
<p>@lostaccount:
I too am curious on what is incorrect with that post, as I too understood it to be true.</p>