IHTFP - Loving it or hating it, come discuss.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
41

<p>^^ lizbee, do you go to MIT? or where are you getting your info?</p>

<p>I do not go to MIT yet, but I am on campus all the time, and I think that rather than students being passive about standing up for their own interests, at MIT students just have a non-standard definition of "their own interests." </p>

<p>Chemistry Professor not giving reading - well if the course has a textbook, can't the student read by him/herself without needing the reading to be "assigned"? And if you can do the problem sets without reading, what's the point of having "assigned" reading?</p>

<p>test prep - I think at MIT psets, lectures, and recitations are the best way to get test prep, from waht I've heard</p>

<p>less-than-competent TA's - I do not know how often MIT TA's are "less than competent", but I think MIT Students are competent enough to recognize when a TA is less-than-competent, in which case they can go to another TA, find an upper-class student who has taken the course before, work out problem sets together, talk to the professor, etc. Basically, I don't understand how people can complain about "poor quality of teaching" - from what I've seen, in order to really learn anything, one has to teach it to one's self anyway! And if there's something you really don't understand, you're surrounded by brilliant people, some of whom have taken the class before. So you certainly have many resources for help!</p>

<p>"grade distributions that jeopardize students' post-graduate ambitions" - 1) It's MIT... they came to MIT knowing that the grade distributions were tough. But if the grade distributions weren't tough, it would be Harvard :-). 2) jeopardize post-graduate ambitions: a) MIT grads get into great grad schools and have awesome jobs!!! I don't know if there's evidence to support this assertion - grad schools and employers know that MIT is a tough school, and a low GPA from MIT means more than a high GPA from ___ insert other school here ___. Plus, does anyone besides med school and maybe some fellowships or something care that much about college grades after a certain point? And it's been discussed MANY times here that MIT students <em>do</em> get into great med schools. So... I don't see how the grade distributions hurt MIT students....</p>

<p>I think the MIT students <em>like</em> the "academic and living conditions" - when they don't, they speak out!! (Thinking of what I've heard of the time the administration thought to require that all students go on a meal plan, for example)</p>

<p>Generally, "passive" seems like hardly the word to describe MIT students... and "sub-par" seems like a pretty inaccurate description of the "treatment and conditions". Maybe I will feel differently when I am a student there, but from what I've seen from talking to many MIT students and going on these boards, this is not the case! MIT students don't really need "care and concern" - though I agree that the administration does have some issues to work out, namely it's strange what the administration does to hackers who are caught, and from what I've heard, the administration does not always support certain aspects of MIT "culture". </p>

<p>In any case, "bread and circuses" implies entertaining and feeding the masses to keep them quiet.... and I can't imagine anything farther from MIT, or what I've seen of it!</p>

<p>So... yes, I don't understand your post at all, really, though feel free to correct me or explain where you are coming from! The assertions you make seem like they could be logical deductions about what a place like MIT could be like, but I don't think they are actually backed up by fact... Current MIT students or alums, correct me if I'm wrong?</p>

42

<p>lizbee's probably referring to the latest 18.03 test, which was uncharacteristically easy. the average was an 87 and 90th percentile was approx. 98. </p>

<p>That doesn't mean 10% of the class gets A's. That also doesn't mean everything else is a C.</p>

43

<p>
[quote]
MIT is full of those who relish rigor not for the sake of learning, but for the sake of showing off

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sure, there are people like that at MIT. You see them walking around. There are probably even a couple in your living group. And it's a good point, and I'm very turned off by that in a sense. But there are also people who would be exactly like that if not for the fact that Harvard/Stanford isn't pushing them as hard. So you might see this happening more on a regular basis at MIT, but the students, on a whole, do not suffer from any great personality disorder to which other schools are immune. No matter what, they certainly don't "fill" up MIT. At least not nearly in the way they might fill up Caltech.</p>

44

<p>lalaloo: Wait 'till you're actually a student. Hope your experiences are different from my child's and child's friends. You seem like an excellent match for MIT.
Many of the students who post on this board are bloggers, or bloggers-wanna-bes, and are, literally and metaphorically, MIT cheerleaders, so I think it's good to get some "balance" -- to see another perspective.
Most of the comments here are obviously subjective -- MIT can be seen through any number of lenses. My perspective is clearly different from yours.
I would simply like to see a greater level of consistency and competence in the teaching. I see some merit putting students through an occasional Sisyphus-type experience, but inconsistently graded psets, erroneous information, and professorial negligence should not be lauded or excused. Yes students can seek help from upper classmen/women but that can take a lot of time (on both parts). Seek an alternate TA -- well, it's possible only if you don't have class conflicts with other meeting times. Grad Schools not care about grades? Oh, do you have a surprise waiting for you! The idea that a low GPA from MIT will be viewed more highly than an excellent GPA from State U, is simply delusional (and a tad arrogant) -- just look at where many MIT TAs come from!
Of course many MIT students get into Harvard Med School, etc. But those are the elite of MIT. What about those students who are further down the MIT ladder? What about Mr./Ms. Average-MIT? Obviously they are smart, obviously they would do well at an institution where the competition isn't quite so searing. Are they in any way "protected?" Or do they loose out in the academic re-shuffle after graduation?<br>
Sub par living conditions? Don't get me wrong here -- dorms were relatively low on both my and child's priority list. But compare MIT dorms with those of many other so-called "top tier" universities....
MIT is a great institution; the students are talented, kind, and considerate, and the opportunities are superb. But it could be better -- so why be complacent?</p>

45

<p>
[quote]
Many of the students who post on this board are bloggers, or bloggers-wanna-bes, and are, literally and metaphorically, MIT cheerleaders, so I think it's good to get some "balance" -- to see another perspective.

[/quote]

Almost all of the bloggers and former bloggers who post here were on CC first and bloggers later -- I know that's true of me, Laura, Lulu, Chris, and Anthony. We're not parroting any sort of admissions line here. </p>

<p>
[quote]
The idea that a low GPA from MIT will be viewed more highly than an excellent GPA from State U, is simply delusional (and a tad arrogant) -- just look at where many MIT TAs come from!

[/quote]

Right, they come from MIT itself. MIT is the modal graduate school destination of MIT undergrads, and MIT is also the modal undergrad source of MIT graduate students.</p>

<p>Anecdotally, I had a 4.4 when I applied to graduate school, rather significantly below average in my department, and I was admitted to every top graduate program in my field with no reservations. It's not that graduate schools don't care about GPA, but students from high-quality programs are given leeway in terms of their GPAs. I guarantee that no one from a state school got into my PhD program with a 3.4 GPA.</p>

<p>My husband graduated with a 4.0 (which is below the graduating student average, which is a 4.2), got into MIT's master's program in his field, but chose to take a great job offer. I'm not sure anyone even ever asked for his GPA -- they didn't need to.</p>

<p>Again, I don't think MIT is perfect. But on the list of things I would change about MIT, the interiors of dorms and forcing professors to give reading assignments are not high up there.</p>

46

<p>
[quote]
However, I would agree with you that, from what I have been told, students are somewhat academically masochistic. But I don't think it's so much a prestige issue, as it is that they are interested in so many of the varied offerings that MIT makes available. As a result, they tend to take particularly punishing course loads -- and then gripe about being "hosed."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would not characterize folks saying they're "hosed" with griping. The work is hard, and there's a lot of it. Sometimes, not to all, not even to most, it appears overwhelming - welcome to life.</p>

<p>
[quote]
What disappoints me, with what I perceive is a key aspect of the culture, is that students are too passive when it comes to standing up for their own interests. They accept, for example, that it's fine for the Chemistry Professor not to bother giving reading assignments -- or doing what many other professors do in the way of test prep.; they accept poor teaching from less-than-competent TA's; they accept grade distributions that jeopardize many a student's post-graduate ambitions. I guess I'm still too much of a '60's kid (well, not exactly a kid anymore!): if you're not part of a solution, you're part of the problem.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Please, please confirm you're not in the business of analyzing data and drawing conclusions from it. Your child, and his friends, are in a class that's disappointing on several measures. That's unfortunate, but to attempt to represent that experience, or even two of them, as indicative of what MIT is like is folly, and borders on hysterically irresponsible. I get your point about "standing up to the Man," but the kids not waging war on this particular issue doesn't smack to me of passivity.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Conditions -- academic and living -- should be better in such an illustrious institution (7th largest endowment in the U.S.).
The fact that many students seem to be passive, and accept sub par treatment and conditions, might be an indication that they think that by doing so they are being "tough," and "resilient" -- key words in the MIT lexicon. I wish I could perceive more assertiveness in the the student body; and I wish the Administration would demonstrate more care and concern -- and not just by hosting free food events (so redolent of bread and circuses in Roman times).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Now you're just being silly, aren't you. Living conditions were certainly a factor as my D was deciding where to go. Certain dorms might well qualify as Superfund sites ;). Many are nice. That endowment you're referring to (Mollie, Jes, Laura, et. al. please weigh in here) funds some spectacular,and massively expensive, research labs/work done on campus. That's why D decided on MIT - she can sleep/eat at "nicer" accommodations later.</p>

47

<p>Pumpkinpi: "S is yet undecided, and he is perfectly capable of handling rigor. He loves what he thinks is the collaborative nature of MIT. But I'm getting the impression that MIT is full of those who relish rigor not for the sake of learning, but for the sake of showing off (even among other MIT students), just as Harvard students are thought to love Harvard merely for the prestige."</p>

<p>I think students love MIT because they find there a critical mass of like-minded kids passionate about all things math, science, and engineering. I've heard from some science and engineering majors at Stanford that they wish the science and engineering buildings were not situated away from the middle of campus. Like the science buildings at Yale, the labs are off to the side of the campus. In contrast, at MIT science and engineering are front and center. Add in a quirky, collaborative, and humorous student body, and MIT provides a really unique atmosphere. For my daughter, it felt like a place she had been waiting for her entire life. She's met good friends there, great teachers, and she's had wonderful research opportunities. For her, MIT is the best fit among any institution, and turning down Stanford was an easy decision.</p>

48

<p>My MIT students love their Superfund Site dorms. They can paint, draw, build, and whatever else they want. It's perfect for them - that's why they chose to live there. They do their own cooking and can therefore eat what and when they want.</p>

<p>They are both thriving in the academic culture. Much learning goes on in the dorm (or wherever) working on psets with friends who also want to learn. </p>

<p>It's not perfect - my youngest is not thrilled with his biology class or recitation this semester, and neither am I. But he's learning biology by studying on his own and asking friends for help, and I think it's a source of pride for him that he's doing well.</p>

49

<p>Oh please. Do you really like that Admissions pays us THAT much? Also, if we're so intent on feeding you the "admissions line," would they let me write stuff like this?</p>

<p>MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: "IHTFP"</p>

<p>And my dorm room has a bed, a desk, a dresser, plenty of space, comes with a nearby bathroom and full kitchen. It is heated in the winter. I was allowed to paint it my color of choice. Am I supposed to be asking for more than this? I honestly don't see what you expect us to be complaining about.</p>

<p>You keep complaining about inconsistent grading on psets and less-than-perfect TAs. I'd just like to ask exactly which school in the country is capable of avoiding all of these things all of the time? Seriously. Are you actually expecting perfection? Also, it's downright insulting the way you're talking about TAs. You clearly buy right into the attitude that even us "MIT cheerleaders" try to dispell- that going to a name brand school makes some huge difference in your level of education.</p>

<p>And you're even contradicting yourself! If you go to a state school and get a good GPA, you'll get into a better grad school, but even then MIT undergrads, and more vehemently, it seems, their parents, will think you're an idiot.</p>

50

<p>Two words: Loebner prize</p>

<p>Loebner</a> Prize for Artificial Intelligence</p>

51

<p>

That's what I was thinking -- as an alum, I would very much prefer that my donations go to UROP than to a purely cosmetic dorm upgrade. </p>

<p>When I got to my temp room my first year at MIT, I opened the door all excited, and my mother almost died of horror -- she thought the room looked like a prison cell. Of course, she didn't think that when she came back for Parents' Weekend and I had moved all my stuff into my permanent room and decorated it and made it home. And that's the important thing -- after a few weeks, any dorm room you live will look like home and you will lose most of the ability to see whether or not it is ugly. My dorm was my home, and it looks beautiful to me.</p>

<p>I do resist the characterization of MIT students not demanding prettier dorms as "passivity." MIT students have fought exceedingly hard in the past, and continue to fight in the present, for the right to keep the housing system in the basic form it has today. That is what we find to be worth fighting for.</p>

52

<p>Indeed. Recently there was another uproar about housing, about someone suggesting changing the lottery system into just random assignments (freshman year, at least). MIT students made it known that this will not stand.</p>

<p>But a new paint job? Bah, there are better things to do.</p>

53

<p>
[quote]
Many of the students who post on this board are bloggers, or bloggers-wanna-bes, and are, literally and metaphorically, MIT cheerleaders, so I think it's good to get some "balance" -- to see another perspective.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I am <em>so tired</em> of this idea that I'm not credible because I was a blogger. MIT doesn't own me, and trust me, there's plenty I can and do complain about (you should have heard me at meetings with administrators). Who was the first one to post to the "what do you dislike about MIT" thread?</p>

<p>
[quote]
The idea that a low GPA from MIT will be viewed more highly than an excellent GPA from State U, is simply delusional (and a tad arrogant)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Low vs. excellent, maybe not. But I can cite you a source saying that grads of top programs will be viewed the same with a lower GPA than grads from run-of-the-mill programs. <a href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Eharchol/gradschooltalk.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf&lt;/a> (page 8)</p>

<p>
[quote]
But compare MIT dorms with those of many other so-called "top tier" universities....

[/quote]
</p>

<p>MIT students <em>love</em> their housing system. We don't want <em>nice</em> dorms (and for the minority who do, they can pick one of the dorms that meets that spec). We want <em>communities</em>, that we built ourselves and that we care about. We want living conditions in which we are emotionally comfortable. Suggest "nicer" dorms, and people start wondering what you plan to do with their beloved current ones. Suggest renovating the dorms that already exist, and people might be happy, or not, depending on how much it will disrupt their lives and ruin their murals. Suggest destroying our communities (by something like randomized housing) and we will fight you tooth and nail. We're not complacent, we just have different priorities than you apparently do.</p>

<p>
[quote]
What about those students who are further down the MIT ladder? What about Mr./Ms. Average-MIT? Obviously they are smart, obviously they would do well at an institution where the competition isn't quite so searing. Are they in any way "protected?" Or do they loose out in the academic re-shuffle after graduation?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, in GPA terms, I was pretty far down (not going to put the number here, but trust me, it's well below the MIT average). I got a great job that I love and that is intellectually challenging when I graduated, and go to grad school part-time. My life's been rerouted some, sure - thank you MIT for actually making me consider what I wanted and didn't want to do with my life instead of breezing complacently through it - but I don't think it's been made worse. Actually I think it's been made a lot better by the challenges that I've faced.</p>

<p>In any case, I knew what I was getting into when I came (or should have), and so does every student who matriculates. I will fight if I am actually being screwed, and I will of course grouse with my friends when I am frustrated like everyone does, but why should I be angry or bitter about a level of challenge that I took on voluntarily? MIT culture is all about the freedom to make your own choices...and to take responsibility for them.</p>

<p>There are certainly some terrible teachers at MIT, and I <em>have</em> complained about some of these people in the past, and I will warn current students away from taking classes with them. Along the same lines, I will promote the great teachers (and I definitely had those as well), as will most other students. I sat on the faculty/student committee that picks professors for MIT's highest teaching award one year, and it was great to see the glowing letters of recommendation that students wrote, unprompted, for the nominees.</p>

<p>There are good teachers and bad teachers, but you are going to get that everywhere, even at teaching colleges. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't push for better teaching (and there are many who do so), but you also have to acknowledge reality. Which is not the same as being complacent. It's a student group, after all (UA SCEP) that monitors professors for violations of the faculty rules on how to treat students in class, and deals (usually successfully) with the complaints as they come (and having been on their mailing list, I can assure you that students are not complacent when it comes to being willing to send complaints).</p>

<p>On the other hand, I just don't care if my profs give reading assignments, unless I'm in a seminar. I have the textbooks, the Internet, and a perfectly good pair of eyes. I can find the appropriate readings with minimal effort.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I guess I'm still too much of a '60's kid

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah, and I'm a crazy bleeding-heart civil libertarian activist (first worked with the ACLU in high school, in a state and time where it was considered subversive and dangerous), and a long-time MIT student activist who spent three years fighting on behalf of students on all sorts of things, riling them up and shoving the administration's flaws in its face. I'm a candidate for MIT's board of trustees, the Corporation.</p>

<p>Yet you come on here and tell me that I'm complacent and unassertive because my priorities and viewpoints aren't the same as yours, and because I love MIT fiercely for what it is, no matter how much I have also hated it at times. And you imply that I'm not credible, that I'm a "cheerleader", because I was a blogger (and how did I become a blogger in the first place? I became friends with Matt McGann because he was a former student activist himself and I went to him for advice on how to put up a better fight, and he recommended me as a blogger to Ben). You can do a reasonable critique of MIT without insulting us.</p>

54

<p>Let me just say, right on, jessiehl. It's people like you and your open-eyed, open-minded, and open-hearted approach to MIT that reinforce my feeling that my son did the right thing by choosing to matriculate there.</p>

55

<p>@ Lizbee:

[quote]
If, however, I had known what I know now, I would have urged child to go elsewhere -- to, perhaps, a smaller school where professors have a more considerate approach to undergraduate teaching; or to a place where child's GPA would be more protected, thereby increasing grad. or professional school options.
[quote]
</p>

<p>I'm sorry to hear your child is struggling. When we send our kid off to college, we want everything to work out well, and sometimes it doesn't. But I disagree that sending your child to a less rigorous school (i.e. a teaching college versus a research university) is the answer. MIT is very tough -- yes. But MIT's retention statistics are outstanding. At many state universities, students drop out of engineering and hard science majors in large numbers (just log on to Google.Scholar and enter the terms: "retention and engineering majors). In contrast, at MIT students persevere and finish the degree, and it's quite possible this is due to the student culture, in which an MIT education is viewed as a climb up a difficult mountain, a climb students complete together.</p>

<p>Yes, you can send your child to Berkeley or some other school. But then it's more likely that your child will drop out of engineering. And yes, you can send your child to a small teaching college, but then it's more likely that your child will never have access to hands-on cutting edge research.</p>

<p>We all want to protect our children. They leave home and we watch them bobbing away like little boats on the water. (I just typed that sentence and almost can't believe I wrote that, but what the hell--I'm in a hurry). But let's face it. Some little boats tip over, and some even sink. I'm currently teaching at Stanford by invitation, but eventually I'll return to the "liberal arts" teaching institution I normally call home. Over the years, I've met dozens of students who succumb to procrastination, drink, or drugs. It isn't always the fault of the instructor, when the student struggles. </p>

<p>I think the MIT students who post on cc have been amazingly open about the struggles. I also think that openness is the same quality that empowers MIT students to persevere. It's tough; you have to be resilient; you need to seek help; the challenge is both overwhelming and at times exhiliarating. But in the end, students leave with a degree from one of the top science and engineering universities in the world.</p>

56

<p>@lizbee: "I'm beginning to think that MIT might be a dead-end for all but the very brilliant.
Recent news from the front lines:
1. Chemistry t.a. (not a M.I.T. grad) gave students erroneous factual information."</p>

<p>This is unusual, but on the other hand this has happened to me too. I found this suspicious and
discussed it with upperclassmen and did some googling. Turned out my TA was wrong. So I asked him
about it and he agreed with me. </p>

<p>I suppose in the real world, at times my boss might not give me the correct factual information.</p>

<p>"2. Math test: 98% = A; Class Average = approx. 85%; Under that = C and below."</p>

<p>Uh... what were you expecting? An A is given to those who demonstrate excellence. A C is average.
Giving A's to too many people defeats the purpose of an A. And besides, wait till you see some of
the curves (yes many classes at MIT in some way use a bellcurve, although the professors do show
mercy when it is needed) in the harder classes. </p>

<p>"Of course many MIT students get into Harvard Med School, etc. But those are the elite of MIT. What
about those students who are further down the MIT ladder? What about Mr./Ms. Average-MIT? Obviously
they are smart, obviously they would do well at an institution where the competition isn't quite so
searing. Are they in any way "protected?" Or do they loose out in the academic re-shuffle after
graduation?"</p>

<p>There are many support mechanisms built into the institute. But MIT is an engineering school, deflated
grades are to be expected, and the institute is not going to make life easier if it means it is harder
to distinguish the most brilliant of the student body. Often times the reason people get screwed on
tests with curves is because a subset of genius students have gotten insanely high scores while the rest
of the class got screwed. But the best a student can get is an A, so that's where the best students grades
map them too. You would think that it can be unfair to students if they are competing with genius types,
but its MIT, and things aren't suppose to be fair.</p>

<p>"Sub par living conditions? Don't get me wrong here -- dorms were relatively low on both my and
child's priority list. But compare MIT dorms with those of many other so-called "top tier" universities...."</p>

<p>I find this interesting... I would consider by a large margin that MIT's dorms are the very best in
the country, and arguably the world. You give interesting people a shoddy place to live, with some money
to do awesome things, and suddenly the place becomes awesome. Allow them to modify some of the property
to make it more interesting. Then your home suddenly because badass. </p>

<p>On the other hand, you could get some dull person to give you a uniformly designed, dull dormitory. Then
your room would be dull. And dull environments are conducive to producing dull people. </p>

<p>Also MIT is better than most schools for the important things like fast internet.... and actually that's
the only important thing I can think off that any student might ever need... oh and lots of caffine
in different locations around campus.</p>

57

<p>
[quote]
At many state universities, students drop out of engineering and hard science majors in large numbers.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is actually true even at most elite colleges. Even Harvard loses more than two thirds of its engineering majors to other departments before graduation. </p>

<p>One of the biggest advantages MIT offers to its science and engineering students is a tremendous support network. It is virtually impossible to fall through the cracks. With frequent p-sets and semi-monthly exams every student knows exactly where they stand well before the finals. My D was struggling with organic chemistry and got a grad student as tutor the next day. She never felt she was left to sink or swim. If she does not understand something she always feels she can ask somebody in her dorm, even an upperclassman for help. Since she declared a major early, she now has regular meetings with her academic advisor and department administrator who make sure she is not overly stressed. </p>

<p>The effect of the dreaded curve is also exaggerated. For some classes it is actually surprisingly generous. The typical student does not face the math olympian in introductory classes, simply because the top students are skipping all these classes in the first place. MIT also offers lots of ways to minimize the effect of grade deflation: P/F first semester, very liberal drop dates, exploratory options sophomore year, P/F options junior and senior year, UROP for credit, HASS classes... With some reasonable planning a decent GPA is achievable, especially since most students do not compete with each other for grades. </p>

<p>As far as her dorm, she couldn't be happier. She shares a huge double in the ultra-modern Simmons Hall. She has a private bathroom and HD cable connection in her room, a fully equipped gym, laundry room, modern kitchen, study and TV room all down the hall. She also has an all you can eat cafeteria, late night cafe, meditation room and even a movie theater in the building. Talk about a residential college! Her cousin visiting from Brown just could not believe her accommodations. Some other dorms may be "funkier" but she loves the convenience. Next year she will move to a sorority across the Charles River and is already looking forward to a very different experience.</p>

58

<p>"...especially since most students do not compete with each other for grades."</p>

<p>I want to emphasize this so much. People are SO willing to help you with anything here, simply because we're not competing - we really are working together. For example, a girl who's really good in calculus will help me prepare for my 18.02 test, and I'll go help her prepare for her 7.013 test a couple days later. And there's no, "I shouldn't help, she'll get a higher rank" here because there IS no rank to compete for. It's all about just doing our best for our own satisfaction.</p>

59

<p>lizbee:</p>

<p>First off, almost every major class at MIT will give out problem sets and reading assignments. I'm guessing your child is taking 5.111, which I know for a fact gives out weekly problem sets and reading assignments. If you are talking about extra problems in preparation for exams, those are always posted on the course web-page. It is hard for me to believe that a chemistry professor will "refuse" to prepare students. All the professors I've had my first semester have been extremely helpful, friendly and accessible during office hours. That being said, it is also upon the student to seek out certain educational resources . Finding out the relevant chapters of the text doesn't seem like a huge challenge for an MIT student. And also, I agree with you that certain professors are better than others, and yes classes may be easier/harder/more comprehensive/less comprehensive during different semesters. But this is true at almost all the schools, not just MIT. Different professors have different teaching styles. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you feel that a pset is graded harshly or incorrectly, TAs are more than happy to regrade. Weekly solutions to problem sets are posted along with the point value. Grading inconsistencies? Could it be that some solutions require work not simply an answer?</p></li>
<li><p>Ahh, grade deflation. Ok this is my take on this topic. Grad schools and top companies know MIT has grade deflation... they aren't clueless. And also, this grade deflation can be expected. MIT graduates more engineers and scientists than its Ivy League counterparts. And engineering especially is considered a more difficult subject. Also for the med school statistic, you have to be careful where you're getting your statistics. The 90% admission rate from Ivy League schools is misleading because Ivy League schools "screen" their applicants who are pre-med. This means that Ivies can choose not to support or recommend applicants whose GPAs are too low to med school. Actually if you look at MIT's statistics again, I believe around 89% of MIT undergrad applicants who had pre-med advisors were admitted to med-school. This is more comparable to the Ivy League 90%.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry if my response is a little "on the edge". But certain things are just not true and to single out MIT is just plain wrong.</p>

60

<p>"And yes, you can send your child to a small teaching college, but then it's more likely that your child will never have access to hands-on cutting edge research."
@Calalum: Are you saying a top LAC like Amherst or Williams does not conduct cutting-edge research?</p>