<p>...any last questions?</p>
<p>Is anybody still undecided?</p>
<p>I already sent in my affirmative reply two weeks ago and just received a postcard yesterday! I am now a member of MIT Class of 2010!</p>
<p>I heard MIT has some foreign exchange programs with Cambridge University in England; do you happen to know about this? What other well-known universities does MIT have exchange programs with (like </p>
<p>There is a really top-notch exchange program with Caltech -- it is shorter than the Cambridge program, but MIT students come here to take a hands-on Introduction to the History of War and also a once-in-a-lifetime lab class in Social Engineering.</p>
<p>The exchange</a> program with Cambridge is MIT's biggest, but there are several other programs described at the Study</a> Abroad Office. Students are also allowed to study abroad without joining a specific program, so long as they clear it with the Study Abroad Office (and, I assume, with their advisors). </p>
<p>My friend Carly '07 spent the fall semester in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean... she's course 12 (Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences) and 5 (Chemistry) and was studying something about the geochemistry of the islands. All I know is that she came back with a fabulous tan.</p>
<p>And Ben, California is not a foreign country, no matter how much it would like to think it is. :P</p>
<p>...that's Texas! :D</p>
<p>How's the weather--</p>
<ol>
<li>What percentage of the year is it snowing, raining, or sunny?</li>
<li>How predictable is the weather?</li>
</ol>
<p>It must get really hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. I've heard that most of the dorms aren't air-conditioned or heated. How do you avoid this problem? Are common rooms and lecture halls cooled/heated?</p>
<p>Where do you typically study? Is it quiet at the libraries?</p>
<p>[Here[/url</a>] is some information on weather averages for the Boston area. It's actually more mild in Boston than it is where I come from (Ohio), because Boston has a giant ocean next to it, and Ohio does not at this time.</p>
<p>We usually get a few to several big snowstorms between December and March, but much of the time it's just sort of chilly during the winter. January is usually the coldest month, but we don't have school during January, so that's nice. I don't really know if the amount of rain that we get is a lot. The weather is predictable, if you look at the forecast. :) And if it's nasty out, you can always take the [url=<a href="http://shuttletrack.mit.edu/routes.php?route=2%5DTech">http://shuttletrack.mit.edu/routes.php?route=2]Tech</a> Shuttle](<a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/02139?from=36hr_bottomnav_undeclared%5DHere%5B/url">http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/02139?from=36hr_bottomnav_undeclared).</p>
<p>It's true that most of the dorms (with the exception of Senior Haus and New House) are not air conditioned, but they're all heated! Haha, it's illegal not to heat dorms/apartment buildings. I think most of the main academic buildings are air-conditioned, and they're certainly all heated. </p>
<p>Many people purchase their own window air conditioners, if they're planning to stay in the dorms over the summer. Other people just buck up and take the heat -- it's certainly survivable with no AC, just less pleasant. It doesn't get warm enough to use air conditioning until after school's out each year, so if you're not staying over the summer there's no need to worry about getting an AC unit. </p>
<p>It's probably a good idea to bring a fan or a space heater to adjust your room to a proper climate. My room is 79 degrees F right now, just the way I like it! :D</p>
<p>I typically study in my room -- I have a single, remember. Other people do like to study in the library, and there's a study room in Hayden</a> Library that's open 24 hours a day (and has some terrific comfy chairs, too).</p>
<p>Thanks, Mollie, for the detailed answers. </p>
<p>A coulple of new questions/clarifications:
1. To clarify my question about the rain: How often does it rain?
2. When you say space heaters, do you mean those radial ones which heat using a coil? Aren't those banned from the dorms? ;)</p>
<p>Space heaters can either look like [url=<a href="http://www.heatershop.com/images/lw_model_sun1_large.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url">www.heatershop.com/images/lw_model_sun1_large.jpg]this[/url</a>] or like [url=<a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/43765001776.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url">www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/43765001776.jpg]this[/url</a>]. They aren't all scary looking (and I know I've seen some in dorm rooms).</p>
![http://www.heatershop.com/images/lw_model_sun1_large.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url">www.heatershop.com/images/lw_model_sun1_large.jpg]this[/url</a>](http://www.heatershop.com/images/lw_model_sun1_large.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url%22>www.heatershop.com/images/lw_model_sun1_large.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url</a>){kind=link}
![http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/43765001776.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url">www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/43765001776.jpg]this[/url</a>](http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/43765001776.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url%22>www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/43765001776.jpg%5Dthis%5B/url</a>){kind=link}
<p>is May 1 postmark or "received by" date? My MIT letter doesnt specify. The FinAid office still hasn't finished my appeal, apparently, but I need it to decide, or have some closure.</p>
<p>I already have the type depicted in link 1. Can we really get in trouble for having those in our dorms?</p>
<p>TRIS: from Ben's blog:
[quote]
What is the deadline to accept MIT's offer of admission?</p>
<p>You need to return our form by **May 1 (postmark date)* if you intend to enroll at MIT.*
[/quote]
zking786: Since Mollie just suggested you might want to bring a space heater, it's probably OK to have one in your dorm.</p>
<p>Ahem, well, about that.</p>
<p>No, you're not <em>allowed</em> to have a space heater in the dorms. I have one. Make what conclusion you wish about that. ;)</p>
<p>I have no idea what percentage of the time it rains. Certainly not every day, and more in the spring than in other seasons.</p>
<p>how much is a MIT sweatshirt? a MIT tie? a MIT hat? do admitted students get discount when they buy the MIT shirts?</p>
<p>The online version of the Coop (MIT's bookstore) is [url=<a href="http://store.thecoop.com/coopstore/estore_mit_home.jsp%5Dhere%5B/url">http://store.thecoop.com/coopstore/estore_mit_home.jsp]here[/url</a>], although the actual store has a wider selection.</p>
<p>Students usually get a 10% discount on apparel, but that's in person with an MIT ID; I've never tried to see if it's possible to get a discount online.</p>
<p>Mollie,</p>
<p>As a mom I wanted to thank you for all of your help during the decision making process. My daughter found your blog very helpful and your willingness to answer the myriad questions of prospective MIT '10 students on this forum was a great help to her and to us parents as well. I know your plate is full as you get ready for graduation (congratulations on that by the way!) but you took time to help out with this process. It serves to confirm my thoughts that my daughter made the right choice in selecting MIT. </p>
<p>All the best in grad school. I know you will do well .</p>
<p>Mollie,
I'd like to second that thank you!! It's wonderful that you share your time with others- and have a sense of humor too.
My son is really looking forward to his years at the 'tute!!!!<br>
Good luck at grad school.
andi</p>
<p>I'd like to 'third' the thanks.
You were one of the great people my son was talking about when he decided on MIT over all his other schools. He said "it's the people, Mom". Your warm and fun spirit has helped a lot of people and I join in wishing you the best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! :) I'm just glad to be helpful.</p>