<p>Well there’s nothing WRONG with it, and people should do what they’re passionate about, that much I’ve always supported. However, I really do think someone going to MIT and doing economics should at least be open to, for instance, trying out some quality advanced math that could be very useful in reading about economics. I have friends who just cringe when I suggest they try to learn a little measure theory to get into some stuff that they could find cool in the economics realm – plainly just not math people; they don’t even give it a chance. Now I cringe at the mention of measure theory as well, because it’s not within my favored realm of mathematical study (having actually had experience), so that’s different – what I mean is that I’d hope people would be more open to examining how some more traditionally scientific/mathematical material might complement their courses of study. </p>
<p>Likely, however, these courses of study like architecture, economics, etc are actually done in a more mathematically/scientifically rigorous fashion than at other schools, so that in and of itself satisfies me to a large extent.</p>
<p>Likewise, there was a guy on my floor who loved referring to 8B as “Physics for Girls,” because he knew how much I would glare at him for it. (I’m not even 8B, but the phrase makes me want to punch things…)</p>
<p>I have widely observed that this attitude prevails only in the earlier stages of coursework – the higher up one goes, the more everyone tends to find stuff very intellectually challenging, and people tend to think of each other as resources. </p>
<p>However, the major elitism seems to last much longer =]</p>
<p>You mean, like the person saying it? That would certainly be my reaction. :p</p>
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<p>It’s more that it lasts in specific people, who then fail to notice for a long time that nobody respects their opinions or wants to be around them anymore except their fellow snobs. Some of these people eventually recover.</p>