<p>I would hardly call biology oversubscribed at MIT. There are around 200 undergrads in the department with a faculty of around 70 for student faculty ratio of less than 3:1. This is about the same size as the physics department and significantly less than than the math department and several of the engineering departments. There is never an issue of a class being oversubscribed and most classes even for underclassmen are quite small. </p>
<p>I would also disagree with the characterization of MIT as “competitive”. Challenging certainly but competitive, definitely not. There is no ranking, no Latin honors, no grading on a curve, no grades first semester, multiple exploratory and P/F options and very late drop dates. Most problem sets are worked on in teams, not individually. If anything MIT goes out of its way to deemphasize grades so that students can take risks and explore new areas. With relatively few premeds there is very little grade grubbing going on and definitely no “weed-out” classes as is typical at many of the UCs. </p>
<p>Also, with only 4,000 total undergraduates the resources showered on the students are simply extraordinary. All the top professors in the biology department including the 4 Nobel prize winners teach undergrads. Undergrads also have unrestricted access to graduate classes if they wish. EVERY undergrad at MIT is guaranteed the opportunity to get involved in cutting edge research and even freshmen can participate. Undergrads are largely treated the same as grad students in the labs and can get their names included on major publications. </p>
<p>As far as MIT improving the financial aid offer to match a state school (or any other school) that simply won’t happen. They have never offered any merit aid and simply don’t need to. On the other hand, MIT has some of the most generous need based financial aid of any private university with over 60% of the student receiving straight grants. The school will take into account special circumstances that may not be fully described in the Profile or FAFSA, so it is possible to appeal a financial aid offer with good cause. Getting jobs on campus is also very easy. Your medical insurance through your parents WILL apply at MIT. While many schools are cutting back their aid budgets, MIT actually increased their by over 10% last year. </p>
<p>My daughter is currently a junior at MIT in the neuroscience department (sort of a sister department to biology). Like most students at MIT she studies hard but she truly loves her work. Most of her classes are with fewer than 10 students are typically seminar style. There are no textbooks as most advanced classes involved analysis of primary research materials often produced in the various labs at MIT. But she still has plenty of time for other activities and for fun. She is active in her sorority, does volunteering at a local hospital, has been involved in research since freshman year and has even time to go shopping, see movies with friends or go to parties on weekends. MIT also has some of the highest student participation in varsity sports of any school in the country even though it does not recruit student athletes. </p>
<p>You have been offered a very rare opportunity to attend one of the premier educational institutions in the world, and not to take anything away from Cal which is certainly a premier institution in its own right, MIT is unique. At the undergrad level especially, the educational experience will be strikingly different and frankly so will be the opportunities upon graduation. There are just not that many MIT grads around and the MIT brand carries a lot of weight especially when jobs are hard to come by. My daughter got several well paid internship offers for the summer while quite a few of her friends at other colleges could not even get unpaid internships. The job market is brutal for college graduates right now and will remain so for some time. Most of the MIT student who pursue advanced studies get into the top grad schools, especially in the sciences. </p>
<p>Even if your parents cannot seem to appreciate the difference, you are the one who will go to college not them. Very few students turn down their admission to MIT and cost is seldom a reason to do so. At the very least you owe to yourself to fully explore your options. The $400 it may cost you to fly over and spend a few days at MIT may be the best investment your parents and you will ever make.</p>