<p>Is MIT just a chemistry/math/sciences college?Or can I pursue other things there, such as linguistics or history???
Is it too specific of a college???</p>
<p>MIT is highly ranked in the linguistics area, and you can try to take other humanities coureses at Harvard.</p>
<p>Yes, you can major in a humanities field at MIT. A list of MIT departments is [url=<a href="http://web.mit.edu/education/%5Dhere%5B/url">http://web.mit.edu/education/]here[/url</a>].</p>
<p>However, you should be aware that students are not admitted by major, so a prospective history major does not enjoy an admissions advantage over a prospective electrical engineering major and is held to the same admissions standard. Also, all MIT students, regardless of major, must complete the General Institute Requirements to graduate; these currently include two semesters of physics, two semesters of calculus, a semester each of biology and chemistry, two science/technology electives, and a lab course.</p>
<p>Yes you can definitely still come here. We have a good humanities department, plus as others have said, if we don't have it, you can take it at Harvard! :D</p>
<p>I have a mixed view. I have two friends with degrees from MIT in the humanities (one English Lit, one Music). There are some real strengths and a few weaknesses in choosing MIT for such a course of study.</p>
<p>First the obvious downsides: If you really do have little or no interest in science, well then you are going to be taking a bit of it. The General Institute Requirements (which are in the process of changing) require a year of Mathematics, a year of physics, a semester of biology or chemistry and some form of laboratory science (which can be taken in the social sciences). If you really have no interest in science at all, then this is a lot.
Another downside is that MIT only offers the BSc. So even if you major in Literature, you receive a Bachelor of Science in Literature.</p>
<p>Now the not so obvious good sides: MIT has a very strong faculty in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. They have a number of international stars in these fields and some departments (particularly Economics, Political Science and Linguistics) are absolutely world class. They also have comparatively few undergraduates majoring in these subjects. That has several implications. Firstly, class sizes, particularly in the introductory courses, tend to be smaller than at other schools, such as Harvard. Secondly, you get comparatively more of your professors time and attention. If you are one of a small handful of (say) Literature majors in any given year, then you are a high priority to the Literature faculty. </p>
<p>When I was trying to decide to attend MIT, I visited the campus and chose not to visit any of the science and engineering courses which I presupposed would be excellent. Rather I went to visit undergraduate humanities classes. I was so impressed with how much I enjoyed these, that I decided to go to MIT. Obviously, your experiences may vary.</p>