<p>or at least I hope not. I tried to do my hw by checking out other threads and the MIT website, but couldn’t find the answers to these few questions. Any comments/insight/references to other threads would be most appreciated. I know these seem very specific, but there are such great programs at MIT, just wondering if there is time to do some or all of them. Thank you in advance. Present and past students - your answers on this site have been very helpful!!!</p>
<li> At CPW I am sure I heard a couple times that the “frats are not like other frats at other colleges,” meaning I think, that they are not like some stereotypical “Animal House” type frats. But, no one explained how they are not like other frats. Could you explain what might have been meant by that comment from your own experiences/observations.</li>
<li> If freshman advising seminars, which sound interesting, meet at night, and classes meet during the day, when do varsity sports teams practice? And then dinner needs be in there at some point, I would think. Is there time for all 3 (or 4 if you eat!) If you took a freshman advising seminar, are you glad you did?</li>
<li> Can anyone speak about the freshman Media Arts and Sciences program,
if you participated in it.</li>
<li> Lastly, did anyone participate in the F/ASIP program as a freshman? Any thoughts on that?
Thanks again.</li>
</ol>
<p>Varsity sports practice from 5-7 pm. Freshman advising seminars meet at random times -- some of them even meet on the weekends. Classes do meet during the day, but not the WHOLE day... when I was a freshman I was done with class by 1 or 2 every day. And dinner? Dinner always gets done, whether you go to a dining hall or just grab a sandwich at LaVerde's.</p>
<p>I didn't take a freshman advising seminar, but I really wish I had. I did traditional advising, and I didn't get to know my advisor at all.</p>
<p>i have a friend who did mas, and what little of it i could see, it struck me as v. much for the artistic-minded sort. lots of examination of media and forms of narrative and different approaches to science and art. this is not really a good explanation of what being in the program is all about, but it's the best i've got.</p>
<p>yeah, i'm neither in a frat, or in mas, or f/asip, tho i know people in all those categories. i did do a freshman seminar, however, and would recommend doing one if you are ok with actually interacting with your advisor (some people prefer not to, and find it interfering to have seminar.) and find one that's interesting; some can eb really boring and that gets obnoxious.</p>
<p>goddess32585, would you be willing to send me email (or activate PM and write to me that way)? My son will be an '09 Beaver in the fall and plans to join the MAS freshman learning community; he's been trying to connect with someone who's done it to be sure it's what he wants. Thanks!</p>
<p>I participated in F/ASIP. I think it is a great way to brush up on some vital skills in the job application process. They help you fine tune your resume and teach you interviewing skills. They also give you resources to help you find an internship. Even though an internship is not guarenteed (I didn't get one for exampl :P), I am still glad I took it. I encourage those interested to apply.</p>
<p>Interesting questions. Here's my perspective on a few...:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I'm not in a frat at this school or any other. However, what I've noticed is that here Greek Life is used to advance one's self and further build upon one's social network. Grades are really important here, and they're much easier to achieve when you're happy and have family-style support. Grades are a source of fraternal pride, so if you're struggling, your brothers will make sure to help you out. Afterall, you're a reflection on them. Also, frats are probably the easiest places to find people interested in starting businesses or entering team-based competitions. I'd also say the parties are slightly milder here. I read somewhere, I think in The Tech, an article by a student saying that MIT isn't listed as a party school because we're more responsible drinkers, but a party school nonetheless. So yes the parties exist, but they're not "wild". They're the type better enjoyed if you're actually friends with the people there. (btw: Go Greek! ^^ )</p></li>
<li><p>Frosh Advising Seminars are awesome! Well, some of them. I've heard some are not worthwhile. Mine was awesome. I took Metallurgy (read: blacksmithing), and it's been a hobby of mine ever since. Anyway, mine met twice as frequently as others because it had a lab component in addition to the advising component. That fell directly after my classes from 3-5pm MW. Plenty of spare time for dinner and sports later that night.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm not in MAS, but my UROP advisor in the Media Lab seems to think so, so he cuts me some slack. I was going to sign up for MAS because it's a guaranteed UROP, which are sometimes difficult to get in the Media Lab, but I didn't want to give up my HASS. I'm glad I didn't, because I really loved my first semester HASS, but friends who are in MAS seem no worse for it. Plus they get to participate in cool experiments...</p></li>
<li><p>Ah, F/ASIP. The first semester is actually really rather helpful. I got my resume/coverletter in order, and I did my mock interview early. I really feel like I know more about the resources available to me through the Career's Office because of it. However, I dropped it for second semester because it seemed like a good amount of busy work, and I felt like I had gotten all I would out of it. Afterall, if you're going to goof off and waste a summer, it should be your first one, and that's what I decided to do. Also I wanted to take 5 classes (one being 9 units) + F/ASIP, and I couldn't with the freshman credit limit, so I would have stuck with it had it not been for greater interest elsewhere. I felt bad about dropping it since many people apply for it, but I got over it and I'm glad I did. ^^</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I also think, when people say that frats at MIT are different from frats at other schools, they're thinking about how one goes about joining.</p>
<p>For my friends at other schools, fraternity (or sorority, for that matter) rush was a very stressful period, full of popularity contests. They were very worried about not getting into any frats at all.</p>
<p>Here, it's not like that. There are so many frats, and their membership is so wide-ranging, that I've never heard of anyone who wanted to be in a frat but didn't get a bid.</p>
<p>Ok, let me answer the frat question. I went on a few football recruiting trips and when I stayed in other frats... drinking, disorder, nothing getting done. The MIT frat was more like a house, stuff was in order and people were working and studying.</p>
<p>i have, actually, heard of a frosh who didn't manage to garner any bids (i'm assuming from any of the houses he was interested in, at least) but that could be explained by major amounts of obnoxious uncluefulness. and the same goes for the sorority system; while panhel rush works v. hard to put everyone where everyone's happy, it's possible to be without a bid if you try hard enough to **** everyone off.</p>
<p>this is v. uncommon. but i figured i'd point it out anyway, just b/c.</p>
<p>Thank you for your answers. These kinds of details are exactly what I was looking for! Your personal experiences/observations are more helpful than you know. I really appreciate, too, that you students take time out of your day to help us out!! I know how busy you must be.</p>
<p>I participated in F/ASIP also, it's a phenomenal program. If you utilize it the way it's meant to be, then you'll get a great deal out of it. I've come away learning a lot about job searching and the resources of the careers office. You MUST apply!</p>
Is there time for all 3 (or 4 if you eat!) If you took a freshman advising seminar, are you glad you did?</li>