<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Honestly, is the student population here very nerdy? I heard that most like to lock themselves in their rooms and not come out very much. Also, some of the acceptees from my school seems to be the really geeky hardcore math-sci type. I'm a math-sci type too, but I want to go to an intellectually stimulating school where I can meet cool people that are smart. Whats the general atmosphere at MIT like? Is it a lot like Johns Hopkins? Thanks !</p>
<p>Sigh.</p>
<p>There are really two questions here: 1) is MIT all nerds, and 2) is the student population very nerdy. Of course #1 isn't true, for godssakes.</p>
<p>The basic answer to #2 is that MIT can be very geeky or very not geeky, depending on where you are, when it is, and what the context is. Some people here revel in their geekiness, while others choose to leave it in the classroom. So I would say that yes, we are all geeky, but people/groups have varying inclinations to express that geekiness in public.</p>
<p>As for people locking themselves in their rooms -- while I know that some people do that, it's not the norm. (I live in a dorm which has a reputation for people locking themselves in their rooms and not coming out, but even in this dorm I don't think the reputation is true.) Bottom line: you get to choose your dorm (or fraternity or independent living group sophomore year, if you're so inclined; there are lots of fraternities -- twenty-five? don't know off the top of my head -- and several independent living groups -- six?), so if you want a social atmosphere, you're welcome to choose one. There are plenty.</p>
<p>yeah, MIT is all flaming nerds. do not apply.</p>
<p>Well...I know an MIT math major. He's far from every definition of "nerdy," so this should be the last thing you ought to worry about. Johns Hopkins, the problem I hear is that they're cutthroat competitive to the point of insanity.</p>
<p>Does MIT have nerds? No doubt at all. Is everyone a nerd? No way. :P</p>
<p>Oh jeez, one of these again.</p>
<p>Visit.</p>
<p>Yes, I revel in my geekiness, but I wouldn't be able to survive without a social life. If I couldn't go out and party every now and then, if I couldn't do theater or a cappella or watch a movie or go to the beach or hang out with friends or be social, I'd die.</p>
<p>MIT is full of geeks, not nerds. There's a subtle difference.</p>
<p>Just visit and find out for yourself, but no, you won't have trouble being social at MIT.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, I recall during one of my campus visits being told a story about the hallway system and why it's so inter-connected. Something about the best discoveries being made by people of different backgrounds with different mindsets meeting and shooting ideas back and forth, which is why it connects so many differnet buildings. I could have just shot that story to hell, so take it with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Let me rephrase the question</p>
<p>I don't mind if some of them are geeky in the classroom, but for the most part, do they leave schoolwork behind for a while outside of the classroom and so something nonacademic. Like Stanford for example; the students there work hard but you don't really notice when you see them out of the classroom.</p>
<p>It depends on where you are.</p>
<p>If you're at EC or Random Hall, then most likely you'll see something geeky going on. If you're at Baker or somewhere else, less so.</p>
<p>I am about the least geeky person in the world, I hate studying, have watched probably two episodes of anime in the whole life and my totally allergic to videogames of any sort. yet i'm going to MIT! I love figuring stuff out and find a connexion with what is irrational and in the real world. MIT has generally got an increased nerd level than most universities but people who I have met that come from MIT are more unique that people from other unis!</p>
<p>haha kiwi, i cud beat u on the non-geekometer anyday :D
and we're goin2 be classmates, pal ;)</p>
<p>agro, there's a geek inside almost everybody i'd say... deep down somwhere, where u start caring about ur grades at SOME point of ur HS life.. u're doin nothin but explorin ur geeky side.</p>
<p>im into henna desigin, writing poetry, SHOPPING, webdesigning, ice skatin, debate, badminton... whatnot .. sounds geeky??? :-/</p>
<p>MIT student body is as diverse as any coll's cud be.. with the only exception dat people definitely take their studies SERIOUSLY.. that cant be bad now, can it?! :p</p>
<p>GLUCK!</p>
<p>I, for one, am into...juggling, unicycling, magic (tricks, not the card game), ultimate, ping pong, swimming, singing, musical theater, a cappella, opera, hanging out, partying, and other random crap I do when I'm with friends.</p>
<p>I also happen to LOVE comp. sci. and mech. e. I also think I'd like materials science (course 3), but I have no idea, and I guess I'll find out when I get there.</p>
<p>Long story short, you'll find people from all walks of life at MIT...but everyone studies.</p>
<p>Everyone is smart at MIT, but will you find the frats boys who get messed up on weekends and parties when he isn't doing a P-Set? Yes, you will (and you will find plenty of them). It depends on what your definition of cool is, but you will find a niche at this school. We work our asses of everyday but I personally still find time to have fun when possible.</p>
<p>Hopefully you will meet up with the good percentage of MIT people who aren't necessarily 'nerds', but don't care about being 'non-nerdy', and definitely don't care what others think about it.</p>
<p>ditto to what vecter said.</p>
<p>You say nerds like it's a bad thing. I'm proud to be one. It doesn't mean I'm antisocial.</p>
<p>ditto to what astaticsoliloquy said :)</p>
<p>Well, it's kind of a prickly issue for some people... I'm happy to call myself a nerd, but it raises my hackles when other people call me (and the rest of the people here) nerds.</p>
<p>I am a nerd, but I am against using the word as an epithet.</p>
<p>See, there's a subtle difference between nerd and geek.</p>
<p>I am a geek. I am not a nerd.</p>
<p>yeah just that geeks are, by definition, COOL :D</p>
<p>Yup. Every single one of 'em. Nerds!!!!! </p>
<p>Moron.</p>