<p>If you read through MIT admission blogs (and other stuff on the net), the word "bitterness" is often used to describe upperclassman. Bitterness = regret?? Why are upperclassmen at MIT expected to be bitter?</p>
<p>(1) Monkey see, monkey do. Upperclassmen are bitter, so underclassmen learn to take that on. </p>
<p>(2) Part of the “hardcore” mentality is to take on too much then talk about how you’re hosed all the time. This lends itself to other kinds of complaining.</p>
<p>(3) We come in with idealized expectations of MIT. MIT doesn’t meet them. (I’ll note that MIT would still meet high expectations - I didn’t realize how awesome MIT was until attending another college.)</p>
<p>(4) Sometimes certain powerful parts of the administration makes decisions students don’t like, frequently without student input. Of course, students also have a knee-jerk “NO” reaction to any potential change, which I think has to change if we ever want to work with the administration on anything.</p>
<p>(5) That said, sometimes the administration just does really terrible things. After the Star Simpson episode, MIT (not only students, but many professors) felt that the administration did some really crappy things in not supporting Star. </p>
<p>(6) I don’t know of anyone at MIT who did all they thought they could do - whether it was that second major, stuff with social circles/living groups, projects/student groups, etc.</p>
<p>These are just my thoughts. I’d love to hear from more students and cruft what they attribute to this.</p>
<p>I think most MIT students aren’t that bitter.</p>
<p>I’m an MIT alum. I think I can explain this. You take a freshman class full of HS superstars and all of a sudden most of them aren’t that special anymore. It takes a sense of humility and a sense of humor to be able to handle that. Not every former superstar is emotionally equipped. People miss the days when they ruled their universe. </p>
<p>That said, get over yourself and it can be great. </p>
<p>It’s hard to fondle penguins. (Google it). </p>
<p>^ I think a lot of people do not get over themselves until after graduation :P</p>
<p>I also think this might be a more east-side thing.</p>
<p>BITTERNESS = SALTY
SALT = NaCl</p>