<p>During my interview, the interviewer was very curious as to whether I was going to play sports at MIT (I play Football and Lacrosse)- I'm a pretty big (6'3", 215lb) and have played at a Varsity level at a good high school program. I'm just worried that since MIT is so difficult, I didn't know how much time would be left for athletics, and what the commitment meant (at some schools it is a yearlong commitment). In looking at other kids they've taken in the past from my high school, several have gone on to play different sports, and that seems like MIT likes to have kids with different facets to their lives. My math stats are fine (800SATi, 800 level 2 Math, 5&5 on BC Calc, AIME qualifier), and I've done well in Science, but I don't want to get in over my head, although I think it might be a really good balance time permitting. MIT is truly my dream school (as it is for 10,000 other students), and a long shot for all but a few applicants- including me. It did occur to me that it might be worth a shot trying football freshman year, since it's pass/fail and then see how the balance goes. Does any one have any experience with this?</p>
<p>I think your plan sounds great.</p>
<p>Varsity sports at MIT have special practice hours -- official practices are held between 5 and 7 PM, when no classes can be scheduled. Of course, many varsity sports practice outside those times as well, but at least in the 2-hour activity period, you're guaranteed not to have any classes.</p>
<p>Like anything else, playing a varsity sport at MIT is all about balance. About 20% of the student body consists of varsity athletes, so it's clearly possible to balance a sport with academic life. It just takes good time management skills, which you'll develop pretty quickly if you're forced to do so. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, it sounds like it might be a good counter balance to academics (it sure has been in High School).</p>
<p>MIT's sports are mostly division III, so we're not talking big division I sports school here.</p>
<p>Still, there are many teams that are very good in their divisions -- men's soccer, men's basketball, and women's volleyball all got into and did well in their respective playoffs in the past few years. (There are doubtless many more -- I just don't happen to be up on the news for every sport at MIT.)</p>
<p>There are 41 varsity sports teams at MIT. More teams than just water polo are good.</p>
<p>Division III. That sucks. I was wondering why I had never seen MIT namein any sports media report. It is nice to play in Ivy League.</p>
<p>Ivy League might be Division I, but that's only because they were there first...</p>
<p>Haha, why does that suck? It means that a good percentage of MIT undergrads actually have the opportunity to play sports for the school. That wouldn't be true at a DI school.</p>
<p>All that being D3 really means is that you can't get an athletic scholarship. (This actually gets really annoying, because the rule is very strict, so that you can't get any kind of compensation for your playing time. So when our coach tries to throw us a preseason party, she has to get special permission to buy us food haha...)</p>
<p>I'll be honest, I would have loved to be recruited to play D1 (in some dream world, of course). But hey, in the end I got to go to MIT, which is pretty freaking cool in its own way. Being a D3 team just means that your academics come before your athletics instead of the other way around. That's not really so bad, is it?</p>
<p>from the website <a href="http://web.mit.edu/cheer/2004-2005SpecificWebPages/GeneralInformation/cheers.html#Tech_Fans_Are_You_Ready%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/cheer/2004-2005SpecificWebPages/GeneralInformation/cheers.html#Tech_Fans_Are_You_Ready</a>
how can you not want to play for a team with this cheer?</p>
<p>) I'm a Beaver, you're a Beaver, we are Beavers all.
And when we get together, we do the Beaver call.
E to the U du dx,
E to the X dx.
Cosine, secant, tangent, sine, 3.14159.
Integral radical mu dv
Slipstick, sliderule, MIT.
Go Tech!</p>
<p>I play football at MIT, and trust me, the time commitment is nowhere near that of HS. The coach understands what we're up against. I suggest you play, we're going to have have a pretty good team this year. As for grades, I don't think football hurts, I think it actually helps. It keeps you disciplined. During the offseason, those two hours I spend at practice become three-four hours I spend playing Halo.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info... school always does come first for me, but I have to admit it's been fun to play on different teams, blow of steam after a tough day and get to know kids I might not otherwise get a chance to. I just know every school views these commitments differently and it helps to hear your views (let's face it very few kids are recruited for D1 athletics, and it's unfortunate that a lot of kids completely stop doing all those ECs that they may have really loved because they can't make the commitment or have the ability to do so at the college of their choice).</p>
<p>At least try it out</p>
<p>There's also tiddlywinks for those who like the thrill of competitive sports but don't want to take a chance on getting hurt:</p>
<p>Actually, the real unsung joy of MIT Athletics is the extremely strong Intramural program. There are more than 800 teams competing for the greater glory of their fraternity, their dorm entrance, or possibly their lab. The sports are broken into leagues from A (we could play intercollegiately but prefer not to for whatever reason) to B (we take this pretty seriously) to C (we're really in it for the fun) to D (so how do you hold this thing again?). The oft quoted statistic is that 20% of MIT students play an intercollegiate sport. But a much, much, much higher percentage play in the intramural program.</p>
<p>Even if you don't play, I can urge anyone looking to expand their entertainment options, to go watch a D-league Ice Hockey game in season. Hilarious and wonderful.</p>
<p>In all seriousness for a moment, for anyone who loves sport and who sees it as a release, but yet is still woried about the commitment that varsity sport recommends. I can assure you that you will still have an opportunity to play in the IM program.</p>
<p>-Mikalye</p>
<p>I played IM D-league basketball, and I am definitely a D-league level basketball player. :D It was super.</p>