MIT and CPW Questions -- Fit Considerations

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I was recently admitted to the class of 2013 at MIT. MIT has been my "dream school" for years, I suppose, but I never really knew much about it until I started doing college research over the past year or so. I was struck by the high rankings, research, academic reputation, and sheer brilliance of the Institute, and I also liked the area, size, campus, etc. I visited about a year and a half ago, and enjoyed the intense, yet quirky atmosphere as well. I guess I always assumed that other students would be fairly similar to myself, if they had been drawn to similar things, and I got along well with the tour guides and students that I talked to.</p>

<p>However, it increasingly appears to me that MIT is somewhat of a party school. I guess I always knew that it had a "work hard, play hard" mentality, so to speak, but the full extent of this knowledge did not really sink in, apparently. I realize that this likely sounds naive, but I had always pictured the latter half of this aphorism as something involving robotics competitions, sports, and similar activities rather than drinking absurd amounts of alcohol at huge parties like so many students at the state schools that I am avoiding. </p>

<p>I suppose what I am really wondering is whether this impression is at all accurate and, if so, whether a slightly socially introverted, non-drinking, but relatively assertive, highly intelligent, relatively intellectual, and definitely scientifically-inclined male can actually fit in here. I imagine that, if anyone responds to this, replies might include suggestions to attend CPW. I likely will, but I worry that it will not provide an accurate impression of day-to-day life at MIT -- viz., that it will include more than the usual amount of partying and thus support my perceptions even if they are erroneous. The attitudes expressed in the MIT Class of 2013 Facebook group seem to be rather enthusiastic about these activities as well, but I suspect that the individuals expressing these views are more vocal than those not, if any exist, so the sample is probably biased.</p>

<p>Is there an appreciable number of MIT undergrads out there who aren't interested in drinking or partying, but still feel as though they belong at the Institute? If not, is there a school that I would be better off at? For reference, I also got into / have apps pending at Caltech (accepted), Case Western (accepted), my local state school (accepted, honors program), the University of Rochester (accepted), the University of Chicago (pending, likely accepted), Northwestern University Integrated Science Program (pending, likely accepted), the University of Pennsylvania Fisher Program (pending, uncertain), and Harvard University (pending, likely rejected). I have read that MIT can be a pretty unforgiving place if one does not fit in, and I am trying my hardest to ensure my future well-being.</p>

<p>Signed,
A curious prospective student</p>

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<p>Absolutely. This is my third term at MIT, and I’ve had plenty of fun while having only attended one party the entire time. While there are some things that you absolutely have to come to MIT with (example - an interest in science enough to get through GIRs), with this, you can go either way and be happy. I’d say MIT has a decent party atmosphere there for those who wish to partake, but it’s nowhere near my local state schools. </p>

<p>Can’t answer for the other schools :P</p>

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<p>Haha, well, if you don’t want to be around young people drinking, you’re going to have to cross every one of those schools off your list, (yes, even Harvard. Especially Harvard).</p>

<p>Perhaps your attitude will change regarding casual drinking (it happens for most kids in your situation), I think it helps to be around responsible people who provide an example of moderation and self control. Or perhaps it won’t, and you’ll always avoid these kinds of situations. It doesn’t matter, you’ll be fine. I think if any school has an avenue for kids who hate parties/alcohol, it’s MIT. Personally, I find binge drinking just repulsive and I’ve stayed pretty naturally away from the party scene(s) here. It’s natural not to like or be drawn to something, but don’t fear it, it’s no big deal unless you make it a big deal.</p>

4

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Well, it does. </p>

<p>There’s no one social scene at MIT, and since you get to pick your living group, you get to pick which social scene you want to participate in, too. If you want to avoid the frat scene, you’re perfectly welcome to do so – there’s plenty outside the frat scene to do socially.</p>

<p>Another good thing is that MIT students tend to be pretty non-judgmental. I was a light drinker in college, and although some of my friends drank more than I did, nobody ever tried to push me beyond my comfort zone. MIT kids are pretty accepting of everybody’s personal limits.</p>

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<p>If you’re worried about CPW, it is dry. Like, super dry. Like, no alcohol on campus because there are serious repocussions dry. So CPW <em>will</em> be an example of fun you can have on campus without drinking.</p>

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<p>I see, the problem is that you think these things are mutually exclusive. You’ve never considered the idea of, say, getting drunk and building robots with your friends. :p</p>

<p>On a slightly more serious note (though I wasn’t kidding earlier), Mollie has it right. You get to pick your own social scene. If you don’t want to party, don’t go to parties, and yes, you can still have a great social life. And MIT students, in my experience (coming from a very different subculture than Mollie’s) are pretty respectful of other people’s limits. I was a light, and only very occasional, drinker (I still am). I didn’t have a problem. I didn’t even have a problem at parties.</p>

<p>Also, there are really not very many huge parties, especially on the state school scale. There’s Steer Roast, and DTYD (Dance 'Til You Drop), and maybe a couple of others that I didn’t know about/am forgetting. Most of the parties are pretty small.</p>

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<p>To be fair, not everyone follows this. I was offered vodka as a prefrosh (though the person showing me around the relevant dorm then yelled at the person who offered me the vodka). I would be surprised if there weren’t places where you could find alcohol. But most people do follow the rule during CPW, actually, just because the repercussions for getting caught breaking it are so big.</p>

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<p>Well, on the one hand, I’m with Pebbles- whatever happens, you’re going to have to get used to alcohol. This doesn’t mean that you have to drink it or enjoy it personally, but alcohol and drunkenness are a fact of life, and usually aren’t completely horrible things, and you should probably get used to the idea anyway.</p>

<p>As for MIT, I will just repeat everything the other current students have said. There are all kinds of social scenes, some involving alcohol, some not. It’s not like you will become a social outcast if you don’t drink. On the contrary, there will be plenty of people who feel the same way you do, and in my personal experience, peer pressure to drink is practically non-existent. I used to go to a (relative) lot of parties first semester freshman year, but I was a varsity athlete and committed to not consuming any alcohol whatsoever. The first few times I politely declined offers of alcohol, but by the second month of school the friends I usually hung out and partied with had caught on to the fact that I wasn’t going to drink anything- so when I showed up at a party I’d get a big chorus of “Hey! Laura’s here! Glad you came! There’s some fruit juice in the fridge if you’re thirsty.”</p>

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<p>I’m glad to hear that MIT has little peer pressure. I’m like Curious_Prospect, don’t want to have anything to do with alcohol. I have a couple of other questions to add to the discussion: Are some dorms more dry than others? Do some have fewer parties than others? Thanks in advance for the advice!</p>

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<p>i would be interested in the same questions posted by luthientinuviel…i have the same mindset as both luthieninuviel and curious_prospect and i think that people can have plenty of fun without drinking and then not have to deal with the negative side effects.</p>

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<p>My son is a freshman. He’s made many, many friends, gotten involved in many extracurriculars, even joined a fraternity - all without drinking. You might think I’m a naive parent, but he’s always been very honest and, after meeting many in his social circle, it’s obvious that these kids are serious students who know how to relax and unwind without chemicals. That said, there is no school in the US where there’s no alcohol use.</p>

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<p>I just want to emphasize this, because this was my worry about going to college in general. At MIT (at least, the circles I’m in - and others on this thread who are saying similar things are in different circles), I have never been pressured to drink. You might be offered it. It’s quite easy to say, “No thanks” and move on with the conversation. No one’s going to say you’re “uncool” or something. That bull doesn’t really exist here (as far as I’ve noticed, anyway).</p>

<p><a href=“He”>quote</a> even joined a fraternity - all without drinking.

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<p>Just to remove the doubts of those who might still think you’re a naive parent, I know brothers who don’t drink and it’s not an issue. Admittedly, this might be dependent on what fraternity you join, but it’s not like you’re forced to join any given fraternity or go Greek at all.</p>

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The biggest dorm in terms of alcohol is without a doubt Baker. But even in Baker, you can absolutely not drink and have fun. I actually met my husband at a Baker party – he was drinking a Shirley Temple. :)</p>

<p>I lived in MacGregor, in what was considered one of the harder-partying entries, but you were more likely to find all of us watching a movie together or playing Mario Party on a weekend night than playing beer pong (although that’s not to say we didn’t play beer pong). But you were free to put whatever you wanted in your cups for beer pong, whether that was beer or fruit juice.</p>

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<p>[Beer</a> pong will give you cancer!](<a href=“http://blogofhilarity.com/2009/03/05/beer-pong-doesnt-give-you-herpes-unless-youre-fox-news]Beer”>http://blogofhilarity.com/2009/03/05/beer-pong-doesnt-give-you-herpes-unless-youre-fox-news)</p>

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<p>Yo, non-biologist, herpes and cancer are not the same thing. :P</p>

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<p>Holding things in can give you cancer!</p>

<p>At least, according to Dr. House. He’s legit, right?</p>

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<p>Too add to the discussion, I was super worried about this last year after CPW, but it’s a complete non issue now that I’m here. I remember hanging out with a girl a lot during CPW, and at the end of the weekend we were talking and she goes “No way I’m coming here, the party / Greek scene is WAY to huge, everyone’s going to be drinking all the time! I’m going to Caltech!” And don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved MIT, but there was a moment there that I was really jealous that Caltech wasn’t an option for me, because I felt the same way as her.</p>

<p>Fast forward a year; I was so wrong. Sure there are frat parties that you <em>can</em> go to, but big parties have never really been my scene. I’ve gone to a couple with my friends, but I’d much rather hang out with a bunch of kids in my dorm on a Friday night, and that’s totally cool. I’m a pretty social person, but I’d rather spend time hanging out with friends and having fun then getting plastered at some random frat, and most people I hang out with feel the same. Don’t worry, however you like to relax and party, there will be people here who feel the same way.</p>

<p>And even when I do go to parties, like everyone’s been saying, I’ve never been pressured to drink at all. But beyond that, I think there are a lot of people here who respect people who make a decision not to drink. In high school I was never pressured to drink either, but parties where people were drinking weren’t fun for me, because everyone would be drunk and I’d have nobody to talk to. I feel like here, even and parties where lots of alcohol is being served, I can find people to hang out with who aren’t drinking at all (not that I’m totally against people drinking, but I’d rather hang out with them when they’re sober). The last frat party I was at, I ended up talking to somebody for most of the evening (between dancing) about an awesome robot they were building in their dorm room. </p>

<p>Moral of the story, don’t worry about the party scene, there’s something here for everyone. You just need to find it.</p>

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<p>I like the part where the girl finds out that kids at Caltech drink too.</p>

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<p>Even Pokemon gives you cancer - what the hell doesn’t?</p>

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<p>Yes and yes, but it’s more complicated than that. Within dorms, different living groups within each dorm (e.g. halls, entries, floors) vary <em>hugely</em> on these questions. If you’re trying to get a feel for what a dorm is like on these questions, visit multiple living groups within that dorm. Really. Really really.</p>

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<p>Oh, and also, while I understand that there’s a stereotype, <em>please</em> do not look at how large the Greek scene is and assume that means that everyone is plastered all the time. For one thing, some of the fraternities and sororities are very clean-cut. For another, you can have an active, happy, social life for your entire time at MIT (with parties and everything, if that’s your scene) and never set foot in a frat party (or in a fraternity, for that matter), and in general be totally detached from the Greek scene regardless of its size.* And finally, people have work to do. Even the hardest partiers have to find time to get that work done, or they won’t be around long.</p>

<p>Also, if you’re at CPW and you feel like social things are being monopolized by the Greek scene (and this makes you unhappy), go visit somewhere else, because you’re seeing a slice and thinking it’s the whole. There will be lists of events at different dorms and FSILGs, and students can probably give you recommendations in any case.</p>

<p><em>Not that I actually advocate this. The Greek scene is far from uniform, and even if you are a shy, introverted, non-partying teetotaler, you will probably find that being friends with Greeks and even maybe occasionally visiting a Greek house will add to your experience, not detract from it. My point is that if you *wanted</em> to avoid the Greek scene completely, while still having an active social life, it’s easy.</p>