<p>@geomom: If you are looking for a support network, independent living groups (ILGs) are a safer choice than frats. I disagree with Mikalye: I think frats are in general more of a negative influence--although some may be ok. The ethnic fraternities (Jewish, African-American) seemed to be particularly supportive. A few others are ok.</p>
<p>^are you talking about MIT frats or frats in general...since i don't necessarily agree with you</p>
<p>I think you guys are selling many, MANY of MIT's dorms short. One of the reasons that MIT's housing system is so fabulous is because it allows you to live with people that you relate to from the very beginning (instead of a randomized system that puts you with whoever). There is <em>definitely</em> a chance to find upperclassmen to bond with and to get advice from with your initial freshman housing assignment, and you definitely do NOT need to join a fraternity or ILG to get this experience. However, some people find that they enjoy the company of people in FSILGs more than they do the company of people in their dorms, and so they move. But you DEFINITELY do not need to pledge one of these groups to find a close-knit social circle that will love and support you.</p>
<p>
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At MIT, the professors respect the intelligence and of undergrads and value their ideas. They're treated as colleagues, not special snowflakes.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Kind of amazing, I haven't ever heard of professors treating even very talented undergraduates as anything more than talented undergraduates, i.e. seeds to be sown, but nothing more.</p>
<p>I thought I had pointed out that many of the dorms WERE in fact quite supportive, and I should clarify a bit. Just as all of the dorms are different, and appeal to different students, all of the ILGs (including Fraternities and Sororities) are different. Some are definitely more supportive than others, and each attract different types of people. Someone who is a natural fit for one is not necessarily a fit for another.</p>
<p>However, it was my contention, and I stand by it even though CollegeAlum disagrees, that at MIT, the entire FSILG sector tends to be very supportive. The houses tend to be smaller than the dorms. At most houses, the residents all eat together, roommates swap more often than at most dorms. You really get to know the other people in the house extremely well (for good and ill) and at most houses, though not all, that leads to a very strong support network.</p>
<p>But again, there is no such thing as a "good" living group or a "bad" living group, it is all about being good or bad for a particular person. There were living groups which I loved to visit, but could not actually ever see myself living in. There were others where I didn't really feel comfortable visiting. MIT students almost invariably find someplace where they just FIT, and that can be a dorm or part of the FSILG system.</p>
<p>As to k4r3n2's fear that I may be selling the dorms short. I really don't mean to. If anything, I think that most people instinctively sell the frats short. They come to university with visions of Animal House, which is simply wrong. A Fraternity, Sorority or Independent Living Group is usually a group of people who live in a largely self-governing environment. In the FSILG system, the residents set the housebill (which is usually comparable to the dorms). You want a big social budget, well you can have one, but that represents a significant increase on your rent. Nonetheless, most houses do have some form of social budget, which is paid for by ensuring that the residents do dozens of hours of cleaning and other chores. In the dorms, the lobby areas and/or dining halls are cleaned by professional cleaners, in the frats (usually) its done by the residents. </p>
<p>There are a small number FSILG's with housebills greater than the dorms, and then there are places like Student House, which is always the cheapest place to live at MIT, and is governed by its students to ensure that there is an absolute minimum of "fat" in the house bill.</p>
<p>There isn't a right answer. Don't sell the Dorms short, don't sell the FSILG sector short either. Find what works for you.</p>
<p>Above is a useful thread for others who are in my situation.</p>