<p>Basically, having tons of mind-crushing extremely difficult homework and tests does not preclude one from enjoying oneself. MIT students enjoy being under pressure. Is that crazy? Yeah, probably. But that’s just how it is.</p>
<p>We also do lots of fun stuff. I had full courseloads and tons of ECs every semester, but I still often went out to dinner with my floormates, went on dorm trips, etc. If you’re into hardcore drinking and partying, that sort of atmosphere is also available, but I think it’s more common to just have chill social activities.</p>
<p>Work hard, play hard really does sum it up.</p>
<p>Man, it’s been a while since I last visited this website (I know, being snowed in sucks). I came on to see, now as an alum, what people are saying about MIT.</p>
<p>This question was very important to me coming in, and I didn’t get really good answers about this, so I hope to help out a bit. Basically, you’ll find a whole slew of different kinds of students at MIT, and will easily fit into a niche, whoever you are. Whether “fun” entails building robots or chugging beers, you’ll find it here. </p>
<p>I think sometimes this website focuses on student life on campus, but there is a ton off campus. If you’re not into a lot of the “nerdy” stuff for your off time, you can go the complete other route and be a total frat jock (in fact, half of all males live in fraternities, most of which are in Boston situated in between tons of other schools). And of course there is a whole gradient of individuals in between.</p>
<p>You usually end up hanging out with people where you live, and you choose where you live based on interests. It’s <em>generally</em> divided up into three types of personalities: East Campus, West Campus, Frat/Sororities. There is great diversity within each, but the friend circles tend to center on one of the three (and of course there is a lot of mixing - I’m speaking very generally).</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I was in a fraternity in Boston and really enjoyed the social opportunities that offered me. Sure I’d punt psets for pong, but in the end the friendships and experiences I had were what really defined my MIT experience for me - something that I’m sure every MIT student can say no matter where they lived.</p>
<p>Hope that helps and let me know if there are any other questions - although I can’t promise I’ll check back here again - last time I did was 2 years ago!</p>
<p>@Keellota
My daughter is a Freshman at MIT. SHe is having TONS of FUN at MIT! She is an athlete and she is also involved with greek life. She is always busy on the weekends. Either going to a frat party which is open to everyone, a sports events to support her friends, greek events like mixers, holiday celebration parties, fall get together, holloween party, actually she went to two halloween parties, one sponsored by MIT, with ice skating, photo booth, costume contests (really fun!) and another at the fraternities. she also goes out to newbury street for shopping, ice cream, eating, and you name it! She went apple picking, a capella shows, dance shows and so forth. She loves to run, to go to the gym, and she always have people to join her. Although she loves math and science, she is not a robot builder type of kid. Also she feels safe having fun on campus. She takes the safe drive back to her dorm late at night when she goes to the frat parties. She socializes in many different ways at MIT. She does not go out at all during the week and she is extremely organized with homework and stuff. She had an amazing semester, loved her classes and did well on them. Her week of work starts Sunday morning and ends Friday afternoon. She goes out every Friday, she takes Saturday all day off and goes out on Saturday night. Well, I have to say that she does not stay that late because she runs in the mornings, but she manages to stay out and about Friday and Saturday nights until like 1:00 AM or so. She has tons of friends, people are very nice, low profile, and smart!
She will be very busy during IAP, with a research project (yes, as a freshman!) and a class for grade. So, if you get yourself organized, focused, I am sure you will find tons of ways to have fun at MIT.</p>
<p>at some point you can expect to experience something like this :</p>
<p>She was recruited to MIT for two different sports, class of '98. I asked her what she did for fun. She told me that for her sophomore spring semester, she actually quit her sports, her activities-- everything-- other than sleeping and studying.</p>
<p>And, CPW is NOT an accurate portrayal of what day to day life at MIT is like, nor does it purport to be. It’s an opportunity to meet folks in the context of a campus-wide party.</p>