Where would I be happiest? MIT substitutes...

Colleges & Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>Where would someone set on going to MIT be happiest? </p>

<p>I got waitlisted... :c</p>

<p>Options:
-Georgia Institute of Technology
-New Jersey Institute of Technology (Full Ride)
-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about half scholarship)</p>

<p>Will Hear From:
-Harvard University
-Cornell University
-University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>What I love about MIT is
the quirkiness (pi day decisions, hacks, ROFLCON, IHTFP, the brass rat, easygoing atmosphere, their cheer, UGH EVERYTHING! :c )</p>

<p>the opportunities (UROP, More companies looking for employees than there are graduates, competitions, etc)</p>

<p>the area (Boston rocks. Theres so much to do, concerts, chill w other college ppl, etc.) </p>

<p>and the diversity (Not just straight up engineering, but you can do whatever you like. Even quidditch!). </p>

<p>Where of my substitutes would I be happiest If I don't get taken off the waitlist?</p>

<p>I heard Caltec and Carnegie-Mellon have atmospheres just like MIT. </p>

<p>Thanks...</p>

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<p>^ You still have some universities to hear from, but you’re asking a good question. You’ll probably find more information about each of the places where you’ve been accepted on their respective threads. Also visit, if possible.</p>

<p>I’ve heard good things about Georgia Tech. We flew out from California to spend some time on the Emory campus last spring (my son is now waiting to hear from Emory), and one thing I remember is several Emory students saying that Georgia Tech students give the best parties. College students in Boston sometimes say the same thing about MIT, fwiw.</p>

<p>Atlanta is a great city, and if you’ve never been to the South, perhaps it’s time to explore a new region of the country.</p>

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<p>Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s Harvard College… I’m not being nitpicky or anything - just thought I’d let you know in case you write that on your essay or something.</p>

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<p>Harvard College is an undergraduate school of Harvard University. I think it’s acceptable for an undergrad applicant to say either, no?</p>

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<p>See, I’ve heard from GIT students that they don’t really like it there. It’s tough, and they teach Engineering old-school and in a very unwelcoming style. I’ve visited, and it’s a very nice campus in a great, warm, city, but from what I hear, it’s highly competitive, and the atmosphere isn’t really the best. </p>

<p>MIT on the other hand is welcoming, teach engineering in the cutting edge-est way possible, have quirky and enjoyable traditions, and the students are encouraged to work together on everything. And they do (Ive visited twice. Once as a campus visit, again in the Junior Fly In Program. And they STILL waitlisted me :c)</p>

<p>I think Cornell University has a somewhat-close vibe to MIT, from doing a hosting weekend there as well… But what do I know?</p>

<p>I’m going to do a hosting weekend at Georgia Tech as well, and see it firsthand…</p>

<p>BUT how about Harvard and Upenn? What are they like? I’ve heard bad things about harvard from MIT students, and that says a lot to me.</p>

<p>EDIT: well excuuuuseeee ME :stuck_out_tongue: It’s Harvard COLLEGE apparantly xp (That is exactly what MIT kids said about Harvard lolll. A bunch of nitpicky sharks xp)</p>

<p>EDIT 2: Just kidding guys, I appreciate you bringing me up to speed, I always wondered what the difference was. Thank you =]</p>

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<p>I feel really bad for you. Deferred and then waitlisted? It’s like they’re trying to turn your head gray.</p>

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<p>Yea man, especially when they tease you. I applied for the MITES summer program. Didnt make it, BUT out of the 1000 some rejects, they picked 30 for an all expense paid weekend visit to MIT. It was incredible, and they told us we were all great candidates for MIT, yada yada. Then, when I was applying early, students who hung out with us for the Fly-in called me and let me know I was welcome at MIT and to make sure to apply early. </p>

<p>Got deferred. </p>

<p>Wait a couple months, emailed n kept in touch with Quinton McArthur, fellow New Jerseyan and Minority Admission Officer who had spent time with us in the Junior Fly-In. </p>

<p>Waitlisted. </p>

<p>Boy do I love that school. My parents hate it now for being so mean to me xp. But I still have a picogram of hope left. I dont think I could every go to Harvard COLLEGE cause I’d get all ****ed knowing a couple blocks away was heaven. And I didn’t make it…</p>

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<p>The only reason I’d know the obscure difference between college and university for Harvard because I distinctly remember my sister applying for a credit card, and they were asking my sister which university she attended and was all like, “Harvard University?” and my sister was like “NO! COLLEGE!” and they were like “Is there even a difference” and I’m like “lol”.</p>

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<p>Lmao thats funny :stuck_out_tongue: I remember applying to Harvard common app n mom was all: “***, Harvard College? thats not right… Cause Cornell College and Cornell University are completely different (Like Upenn and Penn State)” And since there was no other option I picked Harvard college anyway and hoped for the best xp</p>

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<p><em>bump</em> This thread could help a lot of people who were rejected :&lt;/p>

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<p>UChicago is quite quirky, if people weren’t planning to go into engineering.</p>

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<p>@DJGCrusader I feel your pain. My D is in the same boat Deferred EA, Wait listed RD. :frowning:
She still has hope though. Good luck April 1st with your other schools.</p>

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<p>Thank you! </p>

<p>And there’s another for the list:</p>

<p>Carnegie-Mellon
Caltec
University of Chicago</p>

<p>How about Georgia Tech vs. Upenn vs. Cornell? </p>

<p>(This is where I applied/was admitted/will hear from)</p>

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<p>^ I think you should add a caveat to U Chicago because it does not have an engineering program which many MIT applicants want :3</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>I’ve heard the same thing. From the rest of your list, I think it will be kind of hard to tell what you will like. My impression is that most tech schools have kind of a dreary atmosphere. </p>

<p>I don’t know if you would like the ivy atmosphere. Go there and see how you feel. Trust your gut.
Different people will have different reactions.</p>

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<p>I think if you want the same kind of atmosphere as MIT, RPI or GA Tech would be your best bets.</p>

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<p>I think you should spell Caltech correctly if you want to go there.</p>

<p>CMU is pretty awesome but definitely has a different feel than MIT, considering that about half the students are art majors. It also feels quirky and Pittsburgh is pretty neat.</p>

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<p>I think OP has to make choices from his list as it too late to apply elsewhere:</p>

<p>I think you are looking for an engineering school with other options. Caltech would be out for they are very focused (you can get degree in English Literature from Caltech only after you have taken 5 classes in Math and Physics, 2 in chemistry and biology…)</p>

<p>Off the list</p>

<p>Harvard has a new program in engineering, so if you get in and can afford it, it is a great name, you will get a good education but the engineering program may have kinks in it.</p>

<p>Cornell and U Penn have good engineering schools, my preference would be Cornell.</p>

<p>Of the three you have got in I would go with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as it is a good school and you get about half scholarship. For Georgia Tech you are out of state and I think RPI is a very good school, so you will really not miss anything compared to Georgia Tech. NJIT is giving you a full ride, hence it is a good financial safety and you cannot go wrong there. Hope this helps</p>

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<p>Thanks mazewandrer! </p>

<p>This thread is not only for me and my choices/where I applied, but for those who got rejected/waitlisted as well. </p>

<p>Yeah My preference is Cornell (if I get in <em>crossed fingers</em>) Because I did a diversity hosting weekend in the fall and found the people there (especially the engineers) are really kind, fun, and focused on their school work. They have plenty of opportunity to customize your major (I want to go for Mechatronics, which is Mech E, Electronic E, Computer Sci and E, Systems Design, etc) and lots of opportunity, labspace, and resources for some serious research. </p>

<p>They work hard a party hard, which is exactly what I realized about the MIT students when I visited in the Junior Fly In. At both places I found fun students who were focused on their work. Once night came, let me simply say both MIT and Cornell know how to make a stressed engineer happy =]. I went to bed at 6AM on Saturday morning. And was recruited as an honorary Brother :p</p>

<p>If I don’t make it to Cornell, then the choice is between UPenn(if I make it), GIT, and RPI. I am doing a hosting weekend at GIT, and I may do one at UPenn if I am admitted. depending on how those visits go (I visited GIT with parents, but I didn’t really “visit GIT” and dig into what the students think of the place.)</p>

<p>Harvard? ehhh… to their credit they ARE 18 on the BEST ENGINEERING PROGRAM US News list. Cornell is 11. GIT is 4. MIT is 1 (lucky b*****ds :p)</p>

<p>And as for those Juniors who like the MIT atmosphere:</p>

<p>-Caltech (Thanks k4r3n2)
-Carnegie-Mellon (need convincing? Watch the Last Lecture.)
-University of Chicago*(no engineering :slight_smile:
-Cornell University (if you can get past the small-town in the middle of nowhere dreariness)</p>

<p>How about Stanford? UIllinios? USC?</p>

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<h2>Harvard? ehhh… to their credit they ARE 18 on the BEST ENGINEERING PROGRAM US News list. Cornell is 11. GIT is 4. MIT is 1 (lucky b*****ds )</h2>

<p>Well, all of Harvard’s faculty are top notch, so their engineering program will be decently ranked. However, I think most of the engineering profs are really on the borderline between science and engineering (e.g., like applied physics.) So the rating is really not a reflection of the strength of the undergraduate program. </p>

<p>I’d say it depends on what sort of engineering you are interested in. If you are interested in material science and are slanted toward scientific applications (i.e., polymer science or nanotech,) Harvard would be a good choice. For applied physics, Harvard is also a good choice. If you want to be a chemical engineer in industry, I would not go to Harvard.</p>

<p>Basically, Harvard is good for engineering subfields which are more scientific.</p>

<p>Comp sci is good at Harvard, too, though I once read a study that undergraduate classes don’t help programmers at all.</p>

<p>Of your choices, I would pick Cornell.</p>