<p>A question I have for Harvard/MIT students/alums:</p>
<p>What is the general relationship between Harvard and MIT, as they are two big name U's right next to each other.</p>
<p>Just curious as to how the two universities see each other. Clearly, there is collaboration with cross-registering and such, but what about on the social level?</p>
<p>Is there collaboration? Animosity? Friendship? Contempt? Friendly Rivalry? Fierce Rivalry?</p>
<p>I never saw people from MIT or heard about what was going on at MIT. I briefly dated a grad student in business at MIT, but I met him in Germany. Even my computer scientist friends took all their courses at Harvard. This was a million years ago. They just seemed like another world.</p>
<p>You would think there would be more interaction between harvard and MIT as Cambridge is really not that big, but actually each university is essentially its own bubble. Students at each school are generally very busy and driven so the last thing on their mind is worrying about what is going on at the other end of town. Unless you cross-register, which is not always easy because the calendars don't fully overlap, students from one school don't interact much with students from the other school. There are a few programs such as HST which are actually joint programs where there is more interaction. Some students from one school may have siblings or high school friends at the other school and more of a reason to get together. </p>
<p>Thers is no much of a rivalry as there is between Harvard and Yale or MIT and Caltech for instance. Each group of students has enough self confidence that neither feels an inferiority complex. Grudging respect, more likely. Maybe benign indifference is the best way to characterize the relationship. Definitely not animosity. </p>
<p>As far socializing, Harvard students mostly hang out around Harvard Square while MIT students hang out on Newberry Street or at the frats across the Charles River in Boston.</p>
<p>This is a bit boring, but I think (at least on the undergrad level) there's a good deal of respect each way... but we mostly just do our own thing. The few interactions I can think of (other than cross-reg) are a few friends have checked out MIT frat parties, and some MIT grad students occasionally TF Harvard classes.</p>
<p>It depends on the department. Some have joint colloquiums, as a result you'll get a chance to meet (at least see) the big shots from the other university.
Math dept is a good example. But that's at a high level of research.
Also there is this Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology joint program.
Also MIT's 50K (now 100k) Competition draws quite a bit Harvard people over to form teams with MIT people, esp. from HBS.
Generally there isn't much interaction among the undergraduates, unless you have a high school buddy up or down Mass Ave.</p>
<p>What is HMMT's effect on Harvard-MIT interaction?</p>
<p>I went to some frat parties, and made friends with some MIT kids when their singing group and my singing group were both performing at Colby. My experience was that the MIT kids came to Harvard a bit more than the reverse, but most undergrads were busy with their own worlds. It's there if you want to take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Well Harvard does have Harvard Square for shopping and entertainment, while MIT has...well not much right outside of campus. At least thats the impression I got when I stayed at MIT. </p>
<p>But I'd assume it really depends on the people you know, events going on, and each individual person.</p>
<p>MIT has a shuttle to Cambridgeside Galleria, a decent mall. Both schools are pretty close to the Central Square bar/restaurant scene.</p>
<p>"while MIT has...well not much right outside of campus"</p>
<p>Seriously? Part of MIT is right on Mass Ave! Get on a bus/walk across the bridge, and you're in BOSTON.</p>
<p>^^ Yeah, but it's the same thing at Harvard.</p>
<p>Anyway, I thought there was a bit of friendly rivalry between MIT and Harvard? Namely, MIT kids occasionally do hacks on Harvard. But I'm not a student at either (actually, I'm choosing between them....) so, I guess I'll know more about this, at least from one end, next year :-).</p>
<p>The only MIT hack on Harvard that I'm aware of in recent years: The</a> best thing you'll see today: John P. Harvard goes Halo - Joystiq</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I think Harvard's grounds crew took it down before anyone really saw it. Wish they hadn't, I think it's hilarious.</p>
<p>You have to walk over a bridge and down Mass Ave. which isn't THAT close, since I have done it before. </p>
<p>Harvard Square is literally a step off campus. Big difference, in my opinion. Especially if you just need to run to get something quickly, or want a bite to eat. More diverse choices, much closer to the campus.</p>
<p>I would say that MIT and Harvard have a good relationship. I was an undergrad at MIT, now a grad student at Harvard. I regularly see a handful of Harvard students cross register for my MIT courses and now I see a handful of MIT students cross register for Harvard courses. Both schools share their resources.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You have to walk over a bridge and down Mass Ave. which isn't THAT close, since I have done it before.
[/quote]
It's about a quarter-mile. There are also shuttles that run to Boston all day, if you're too lazy to walk.</p>
<p>A large number of MIT undergrads actually live in Boston, since most of MIT's fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups have houses there. So for a number of students, Boston isn't only close enough to campus to go to on a regular basis, it's close enough to live there.</p>
<p>I love that statue. They should have left it up a while!</p>
<p>That bridge from MIT to Boston is more than 364 Smoots long! :eek:!</p>
<p>And a nose!</p>
<p>(Or is it an ear?)</p>
<p>364.4 and an ear. :)</p>