Bunch of random questions from EA admit

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I was just wondering how MIT compares with the Ivys in terms of social scene and workload. Most kids i know at Ivys have a really good time both ways-not overworked and they can chill a lot too-even those doing engineering. I'm definitely going to MIT, but i'm not curious really as to work/play balance, but in general how good parties are-like if you go to MIT will you have enough opportunities to get ****ed up on weekends (even if you're underage and stuff like at ivys) and do what people at regular colleges do or is it really different and a lot more work? </p>

<p>Also, about coursework. If I've taken AP Physics C, AP Chemistry senior year, and have already taken calc III/diff eq (in high school, so naturally less intense, but background nonetheless), and understand that material pretty well, will my frosh year be not that bad- if i'm planning on going straight to 8.02, 18.02? Which chem should i take if i eventually want to major in Bioengineering? Also, how hard is a double major at sloan vs. a minor in management? Do 8.022/18.022 make sense for engineering majors and how much harder are they? Do you use a lot of 8.01/8.02 in bioengineering or even chemical engineering to the extent that if i decide to do some ocw studying and place out of 8.02 i won't be at a disadvantage in future classes? </p>

<p>About majors etc. What's the difference between 10B and 20? Which is a better background for eventual work in molecular therapeutics? Also, i hear that at a lot of places, people who major in bioengineering have a harder time with jobs/grad school than chemE people who want to crossover. Is this true?</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong about any of the first questions-I'm coming to MIT because I love science and I love what it's all about, but I just want to make sure i'm still gonna be able to believe that college was the best 4 years of my life like most people i know do. Also, I realize it's early, but I'm just really excited/curious. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>I can't answer all your questions, but I can answer some.</p>

<p>
[quote]
in general how good parties are-like if you go to MIT will you have enough opportunities to get ****ed up on weekends (even if you're underage and stuff like at ivys) and do what people at regular colleges do or is it really different and a lot more work?

[/quote]

If you want to go to parties every weekend and drink, you can absolutely do that. Some people do and other people don't. I can't really speak to the quality of frat parties, because I stopped going freshman year, but parties with my friends were always fun and entertaining. And my friends who went to frat parties always seemed to have a lot of fun.</p>

<p>The difference between MIT and other schools isn't in the quality of parties, it's (for many people) in the amount. My friends back home were able to go out Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Based on my work habits, I couldn't do that -- I could only go out on Friday and Saturday. But other people at MIT who had different schedules and different work habits were able to choose to go out other nights. It depends on what you're after -- if you want to make partying a priority, you can do that.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If I've taken AP Physics C, AP Chemistry senior year, and have already taken calc III/diff eq (in high school, so naturally less intense, but background nonetheless), and understand that material pretty well, will my frosh year be not that bad- if i'm planning on going straight to 8.02, 18.02?

[/quote]

If you have strong preparation, it's certainly easier. It's still not likely to be a cakewalk.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Which chem should i take if i eventually want to major in Bioengineering? Also, how hard is a double major at sloan vs. a minor in management?

[/quote]

Generally, anybody who takes further classes in the chemistry department is advised to take 5.111/2 over 3.091 -- people who take 5.111/2 traditionally do much better in 5.12. </p>

<p>The difficulty of a double major is often in accumulating enough units outside the General Institute Requirements -- a single major requires only 180 (4 classes per term), but a double major requires 270. If you come in with a lot of credit, double majoring becomes significantly easier. Management is sometimes easier to double in than to minor in, because Sloan classes have a bid system, and majors are given priority over non-majors.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I just want to make sure i'm still gonna be able to believe that college was the best 4 years of my life like most people i know do.

[/quote]

So far, college was definitely the best four years of my life. And everybody I knew had plenty of fun while at the same time working hard.</p>

3

<p>8.02 and 18.02 is perfectly manageable freshman year for anyone who did okay in AP Physics and Calc -- remember, first term is graded on a Pass/No Record basis. Case in point, I got 3 C's and a B in my first term (which just ended). I'm not recommending this, because I definitely slacked off too hard, but it shows up the same on my transcript as someone who worked her butt off and pulled 4 A's. </p>

<p>Speaking of slacking off -- MIT frat parties are pretty legit. All of 'em. Also, in terms of social scene, you can't get much better than Boston in terms of number of college kids -- Wellesley runs a shuttle w/ MIT, Brandeis, Tufts, BU, BC, are all in the vicinity and there's plenty of opportunities to meet people and whatnot.</p>