<p>I have read from the view book and have heard from some of my friends who attended MIT, that the first year is a big challenge for even the best students. State champions at math competitions, science competitions get their first C's , D's and F's and get low marks at the end of the term. Is this true? How much of it? Are you graded on a curve? If you have or are currently attending MIT can you tell us how harsh your first year was? Please include how much MIT dethroned you, or your most difficult class/ teacher. (ex: you were a state champ. in Calculus and got a C in Calculus II , Mrs. Phenylene graded the worst for Organic Chem,... etc)</p>
<p>I'll answer for my freshman son (he doesn't post here and he's on spring break). He was a 4.0 student in a competitive high school, but so were about a lot of other students. Took BC Calculus (5 on the AP test), AP Chem (4 on the AP), Physics B (4 on AP test). Our school doesn't offer Physics C. Never scored high enough to qualify to take AIME. Not a genius or champion at anything, just a solid student.</p>
<p>He passed all of his classes first semester. He had to learn how to really study, since he didn't have to push himself much in HS. He spent a lot of time first sem. doing homework and studying, but wasn't too stressed out. He was worried that he would be at the bottom of every class but he wasn't. He's pretty sure he got 1 A, 2 B's and either a B or C in the 4th class, but never checked on his exact grades since it was P/F. </p>
<p>This semester his grades are higher and he feels like he's settling in to what he needs to do. He says there are some really smart students, a lot of students on his level, and some who are struggling in one or more classes. It's not as hard (so far anyway) as he expected, but he does spend a LOT of time doing homework. Hasn't felt overwhelmed yet (exhausted but not overwhelmed). HTH</p>
<p>Students get to know there P/F grades, adivisors will show you your exact grades but thats the only occasion you see those grades but you do.</p>
<p>am i supposed to disclose this?</p>
<p>Well first semester I got an A+, A, B+, and B. I'm not a particularly smart kid or anything--when I look around me I realize there are plenty of smarter kids. I think on average most classes give 20-25% As, so if you think of it that way, not everyone's going to be getting straight As like in high school. I've heard that the average GPA here is ~4.2, so if calculate it out, that's about 1 A and 3 Bs a semester (A - 5.0, B - 4.0 ...).</p>
<p>This semester I'm doing borderline A work in all my classes, and it's definitely not easy. On the other hand, the classes aren't insanely difficult. I'd say 8.022 is my hardest class, and the others are very doable. For most classes, you just have to put in the hours--there's no way around that unless you're a super genius, and even then you can't just slack and do nothing.</p>
<p>A lot of your grade depends on tests, so if you do well in those you should be set.</p>
<p>I think i could do better if I were more efficient--I guess i'm learning that as I go along</p>
<p>If you're able to get in, you'll probably do fine. Unless your parents donated one billion dollars to get you in of course.</p>
<p>I'm worried about the college GPA of students graduating from MIT. I know that MIT doesn't calculate P/F classes into GPA but some graduate institutions that one may apply to, ask to see the grades for those courses. Do freshman grades if disclosed make much of a difference to these institutions (I mean if they're all passing)? </p>
<p>Also, one of my MIT friends, was offered a job at Morgan Stanley and another investment bank at the end of her sophomore year. I don't know her college GPA; but I'd like to know what is the range an engineering student should have to be a competitive candidate for a job. Is the gpa that much of an important factor in getting a good job? </p>
<p>over30- thanks for your response.
vecter- what are you majoring in, physics?
taffyluchia- haha thanx, no I don't have that kind of money.</p>
<p>hi pearl,</p>
<p>I'm majoring in computer science, I thinks physics is too hardcore for me lol. In terms of competitveness for jobs, MIT is right at the top. I had 5 interviews this semester with companies like JP Morgan and a hedge fund, and I'm only a freshman!. I already got a job offer in San Diego for this summer and I'm flying out to Washington this coming monday to interview with Microsoft. Many wall street banks and investment firms hire from MIT -- apparently the Brass Rat is famous on wall street, or so they say.</p>
<p>In terms of GPA for grad schools, I don't know the exact deal. I heard that John Hopkins med school wants your full GPA, which means if you're really dedicated to going pre-med, then you'd better focus hard on GPA. Like I mentioned before, the average GPA is ~4.2/5.0, which gives you an idea of what grades are like around here.</p>
<p>med school inspires a different level of "worrying about GPA" than applying to other forms of graduate school, i'd say. but then, i wouldn't know jack about applying to grad school.</p>
<p>as for freshman year experience: the short answer is that my first year wasn't that bad, tho i did work harder second term...for most, true hosage comes sophomore or junior year, honestly. by then, however, you tend to have a better handle on pretty much everything, including perspective.</p>
<p>details: i had 5s in 7 AP subjects, top of my class, decent ECs, perfect SATs, etc etc blah blah blah (my HS was a little weird, so i won't bother with more comparison) my first term i got an A, a B+, and two Bs, at least one of which i could've brought up if i'd cared, but hell, it was 3.091, and i was on p/nr. i didn't work v. hard that term, for various reasons. the next term i tempered a load of 6.001, 18.03, and 8.022 with two HASS classes, and ended up with three As, a B+, and a hard-earned B in 6.001. i suppose that looks awful, after four years of near-straight As, but halfway through my 4th term here...i was, and continue to be, damn proud of myself. i know i'm not the smartest person here, and was surprised i even got accepted, and so decided long ago that getting a 5.0, or even a 4.0, isn't necessarily a priority; enjoying my time here, in many directions, is much more important. compared to my first year, this year has been rather more hosing, but there are good, personally-specific, reasons for that.</p>
<p>vecter, do you ever read "kevlar's" (blogs.mit.edu/kevlar)? He mentioned a logic problem that an interviewer asked him. The question apparently is near-impossible to answer in the time they gave, and he implied he didn't get the internship because of it.</p>
<p>Have you been asked any logic questions in the interviews that you've had? Also, how do you setup a job/internship interview? Is it through some MIT program?</p>
<p>lol it's funny that you mention, we're the same person :)</p>
<p>in terms of puzzle/logic questions for job interviews, i suggest you read "How Would You Move Mt. Fuji?" by William Poundstone. It explains the emergence of puzzles in job interviews as an indicator of future potential--basically every wall-street firm uses these puzzles. Microsoft is notorious for popularizing them, and in the coming years you can be sure to get logic questions.</p>
<p>In terms of interviewing for a job, you basically apply on Monstertrak (you can get an account once you're in college) and then hope that companies select you for the interviewing round. After the preliminary interviews, there are usually second (third, fourth? fifth, sixth?) rounds, though for my offer the guy just gave it to me on the spot. Strangely, we didn't talk about anything at all technical--he just told me stories about his frat days back when he used to go to MIT haha.</p>
<p>Vecter, i can't believe you already got job/intern offers for after your freshman year. I was wondering if this was mainly through the Monstertrak site you spoke of or through a MIT career center or such. Sadly, I won't be at MIT, but will be attending Washington University in St. Louis and would love to intern for a large Northeastern financial firm after my freshman year! Even though MIT is obviosly more of a draw to Wall Street, any advice would be helpful on how to land an internship like that. Also, have you heard of the companies you mentioned recruiting from schools like wash u?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>haha... I thought you and he were the same person after I read your latest blog entry mentioning a job interview in Washington.</p>
<p>So I picked up "How Would You Move Mt. Fuji?" like you suggested. It's pretty interesting so far. It mentions that less then a quarter of those who submit their application get interviews with MS. It also says MS pays for the flight. So do you get a free trip?</p>
<p>Would you say it is difficult for a mediocre MIT student to get an internship/job at one of those big companies? Haha even if they aren't super-pro at riddles.</p>
<p>any more stories? thanks guys for ur responses, from the average GPA it seems like most kids at MIT perform well in their noble-prize-laureate- taught classes. </p>
<p>goddess32585- wow, ur not doing bad at all, I guess there isn't that much "dethroning" , I was speaking for some of the MIT students I know who were the best in their area (geographically) in a certain subject and have gotten some C's their first years. That's why I was concerned if the lower GPA would hurt me once I start looking for jobs.</p>
<p>vecter-
So it's common for MIT engineering graduates to major in something that's not related to finance but work in financial firms? I understand now how it is possible (firms want hardcore problem solvers like MIT engineers), but I just wanted to know if it is common. ohh and good luck with your MIcrosoft interview</p>
<p><em>laughs</em> unfortunately, i do know people (a 3rd-year, at least) who've never gotten anything but As here, even with obscene courseloads, which tends to make me feel a right slacker. and to be representative, some freshmen do get Cs, some even fail or drop classes, especially second term. it's v. dependent on your personal strengths and other commitments and specific courseload, besides how quick you adjust to college/study habits; a class you might be totally capable of getting an A in might get shifted to a B if you're having a rough term and just don't spend quite enough time on it.</p>
<p>I also forgot to mention that I don't really know anyone who thinks a B at MIT is a bad grade.</p>
<p>Hey guys sorry I haven't been able to respond. I'll get back to you all later today or tomorrow. And yes pearl, my impression is that a fair amount of people pursue pure science degrees (math, physics, eecs) and move directly to wall street. I did an informational interview with an alum who's now a trader at Oakhill Platinum Partners and he majored in electrical engineering. It's very common nowadays--companies are more interested in hardworking and smart people. Background isn't necessary (who has trading background when they come out of college?), they'll learn what they need on the job.</p>
<p>mike my offer wasn't with a financial firm, though one of my freshman friends got a job at Morgan Stanley (I wonder how, that's pretty impressive). contact wash U's career office when you get there, and sign up on MonsterTrak also. that's where the brunt of job searching goes on.</p>
<p>emmit it's not easy to get a job at one of those "big companies", which I guess mean Goldman Sachs and whatnot. It's especially difficult for freshmen, since uhh, we're all uncouth uneducated grime (to be blunt). In terms of setting up your career on that track, you just gotta do the right things I guess--actively search in that field and make connections.</p>
<p>i hear there's these career fairs every so often, where companies come and recruit. going and shopping yourself and your resume around is a popular activity among some, tho i have absolutely no stats on efficacy or anything.</p>
<p>Does MIT rank its students, and when? Do potential employers see this ranking?</p>
<p>no MIT doesn't rank! =) , mainly because it wants to have a cooperative environment.</p>
<p>So The Recruit is misleading! In the movie, the guy Colin Farrell portrayed is said to have graduated first in his class from MIT.</p>