Hi all – as I just posted here: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/sticky-remaking-mitadmissions-org
There’s more at the link but you get the idea. We’re redesigning the website, we’re thinking about a lot of different things, so while you’re just hanging CC a n x i o u s l y awaiting decisions I would really appreciate your feedback (in here or on the blogs) about how to do it well.
As a parent who has guided two children through the admissions process in the last 4 years, I will say that the MIT admissions website is the most helpful of all the schools we’ve been interested in. Most schools don’t have anything but you guys spell out exactly what you’re looking for and the blogs are awesome to get a real view of the day to day living and a sense of where a prospective student will fit in. I don’t think you need to change much at all. I would hate to see it turn into a social media platform where people are arguing and discussing issues…there are so many other places for that.
Hey Chris,
I love the MIT admissions website, having visited it since 2007. I have always appreciated the blog posting by students, staff, and faculty.
If I had any suggestions to give, it would be to have discrete sections for text-based blog posts and video blog posts. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I imagine a video showcasing a day in the life of a student would be worth millions of words.
Looking back, I would have loved seeing in-depth video tours of all the dorms like Next, MacGregor, and Burton Conner… as well as the various ILGs. Back when I rushed my freshman year, it felt like there just was not enough time to visit them all and get a feel for each of them.
I also would have liked seeing videos of students attending not just the big lectures, but videos of recitations too. I think that would have given me a better insight into what the academics were like, back when I was applying.
Back when I applied to MIT, I knew I liked math and science, but had no real idea of what major I wanted to pursue, what being away from home for the first time would be like, etc. I really did feel like a lost sheep for much of my freshman year.
I wish I had learned about the various support structures MIT offered sooner, from Student Support Services (S3) to the free tutoring services offered by HKN. I also think not enough students know about things like the Sophomore Exploratory option and Junior/Senior pass/fail.
Interestingly, I recently received a call from a sophomore asking me to donate to the MIT alumni fund. We started chatting, and she did not realize that the MIT math department accepts as transfer credit various courses offered by Boston-area schools over the summer. She had indicated that if she knew about that sooner, it would have been to her advantage versus going the advanced standing exam route she had taken, particularly since getting a B- or better from summer courses at Harvard, BU, and such count as an S grade (like a P grade, you get credit without it impacting your MIT GPA), versus advanced standing, where your test grade becomes your class grade.
I guess I just wish the MIT admissions site could help more incoming MIT students be aware of such insights.
Also, would love to see more posts from alumni bloggers, to get insights about what careers in various fields actually looks like.
Much love, and anxious to see what the redesign looks like,
nakoruru
MIT 2012
Thanks both – and nakoruru, I’ll pass that along to the folks involved in the new first year student redesign experience.
Parent of MIT applicant. We haven’t visited, spent first college trip money on schools with higher admissions odds, but will visit if accepted.
More videos! I would love to see more campus and student profiles like the ones the Crimson Education YouTube channel has for MIT. (I particularly like the journalistic feel rather than the sales job tone.)
Demystify the housing - your blogs often make a big deal about how unique and how important the various cultures in the housing are, but understanding housing is pretty opaque. Again, maybe a more journalistic feel than a sales job? And explain it so it makes sense to total outsiders-- not from that part of the country, no MIT alums in the family, parents didn’t attend schools with anything similar, etc.
Support for women - This section of the website is mostly general campus resources, not female-specific. In the #itsonus and #metoo era, parents of daughters are thinking about this stuff quite a bit.
What kind of “support for women” would be useful in this context, do you think?
Questions I’ve tried to answer with mixed degrees of success on college websites:
Are there a Women in clubs? How often do they meet, what do they do, generally how big and active?
Is there a crystal clear university policy about professors and teaching assistants not being allowed to hit on students? Who ‘has my back’ if someone makes me feel uncomfortable due to my gender or orientation?
What are the odds of having a female professor in my first year required classes? What about a female academic advisor?
Got it. This is super useful. Some of these are data I don’t actually know if they’re collected but I can pass on to folks who should.
For the policy, just FYI: there is one, here: http://policies-procedures.mit.edu/consensual-sexual-or-romantic-relationships-workplace-or-academic-environment
I’ve been obsessing over the MIT website since the fifth grade, and I’ve always loved it
@MITChris, do you link all the independent dorm info sites and videos such as http://simmons.mit.edu/inthesponge/ to the MIT housing website? (Yes, I pulled an oldie but a goodie that someone I know helped make, ha-ha). I think that would be tremendously helpful if you’re not already doing it.
@MITChris I think more information about MIT Greek life and housing might be useful. I talk to parents who are “very worried” about their son or daughter living off campus, but I explain the walk/bus across the bridge, and the city life in Back Bay and they calm down. Greek life has changed across the USA from being mostly about parties to being often about service, and I think explaining more about MIT Greek life pros and cons would be helpful to incoming freshman as well. About 35%-45% of MIT undergraduate students live in Greek housing. And yes, the four year dorm housing is unique as well, and I think a selling point.
Hey @MITChris
Another thing I might suggest for the new MIT admissions website is a campus security FAQ.
With today being both Pi Day and the National School Walkout, issues about school safety, gun violence, and frequent school shootings are on the minds of a lot of students and parents.
Personally, I still remember saying “good morning” and “thank you” to Sean Collier on many occasions when he stopped traffic for me as part of his crossing guard duties along Vassar Street by Building 38. I never could have imagined a shooting on campus before, yet alone recognize someone killed in a shooting. That shock and worry continue to haunt me, 6 years after I graduated from MIT.
As such, I cannot help but wonder what safety precautions and services are currently available, what has changed in the last several years, etc.
As an example, if I were working for the MIT admissions website, I would highlight the Saferide shuttle service, which has been a staple of MIT since the 90s. I would also note the newly introduced Saferide OnDemand pilot program, launched last month, which provides door-to-door late-night transportation.
Perhaps a posting by a member of MIT Police regarding patrol staffing and frequency, hallway surveillance, and such might also be beneficial, as they serve on the front-line and are oftentimes the first-responders when it comes to campus safety.
Thanks for asking for our input and feedback Chris,
-nakoruru
MIT Class of 2012
Videos showing buildings inside and out, dorm walk throughs, campus walk throughs.
Info on the type of tutoring/ academic help a student can get if they need it in a particular subject. It might alleviate some of the stress associated with attending a very rigorous academic environment like MIT.
Thanks y’all – this is super helpful.
In regards to @RightCoaster’s question about academic help at MIT, I would point out various resources.
1.) Many professors and/or teaching assistants provide “office hours” for their classes, where they may review materials, as well as give an opportunity for students to ask questions about topics they are having trouble with.
Let me say, office hours were absolutely invaluable for me as an undergraduate. I practically made it my religion to attend office hours as frequently as possible, even for classes I felt comfortable in. It really helps to just listen in on other students’ questions and get insight on what others find difficult. There were a number of classes that I initially struggled in, but was able to eventually do well in, because I attended office hours.
Office hours vary from professor to professor, TA to TA. Some might only offer office hours for an hour each week. Others might stick around late into the night, answering students’ questions until everyone feels comfortable.
2.) There are various tutoring services available.
Freshman-level chemistry help (3.091 Introduction to Solid State Chemistry, 5.111 / 5.112 Principles of Chemical Science) can be found here…
http://uaap.mit.edu/node/2076
Help for 18.01 Calculus (single variable), 18.02 Calculus (multi-variable), 18.03 Differential Equations, and 18.06 Linear Algebra can be obtained thru the Math Learning Center
http://math.mit.edu/learningcenter
The Office of Minority Education offers a service called TSR^2 (Talented Scholars Resource Room), providing exam reviews, one-on-one appointments led by TAs, etc. with a focus on first-year GIRs (General Institute Requirements)… This service is free and open to all student.
http://ome.mit.edu/programs-services/talented-scholars-resource-room-tsr2
Students seeking help in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science classes can get free one-on-one tutoring thru Eta Kappa Nu (HKN). I can personally attest to this service. I remember getting a D on my first quiz in 6.042J. Via HKN, I met an upperclassman who tutored me twice a week for 60 - 90 minutes each session. Thanks to my tutor and office hours, I managed to get an A in the class.
http://www-hkn.mit.edu
Though I never used it, I had classmates who got help from MIT’s Writing and Communication Center, regarding such things as essays, research papers, or thesis.
http://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center
I am a parent of an applicant. I have to applaud you for the wonderful information put on the site. My son has spent significant portion of time there and felt he understood the culture of the campus.
Few things I noticed which I hope will be helpful:
Hope that helps.
Once again Thank you.
I believe the experience of open the decisions.mit.edu and see an admission, or even a rejection letter; is a vital part of the admissions process. As a transfer applicant, I think in the new system, this may be a feature for transfer applicants instead of e-mail, due to this important experience of the admissions process.
Honestly, just add a “click to get admitted into MIT 100% real no fake no scam click here” button. And watch the world burn.