| Initially, I was very pleased that my child decided to go to MIT, but now I'm not so sure. I expected the large classes, but what I did not expect is the varying quality of t.a's, inconsistent grading policies, and especially the cavalier attitude of some of the professors. To provide some specific examples:
1. A chemistry professor refuses to provide reading assignments or practice questions. However, a different professor, teaching the same coure in the Fall semester, did both. So, if you're unlucky and are taking this semester's chemistry course, you have a harder time earning a respectable grade. It's pretty obvious that this current professor is simply reading from old notes, cannot be bothered to give students the equivalent reading passages in the text, and is uninterested in helping them prepare for the tests. His lack of sensitivity and/or consideration is reflective of his impatience in teaching freshmen. Why doesn't MIT monitor such sub-par teachers?
There does not appear to be much concern for the QUALITY of undergrad. teaching. There is too much pride in the various Nobel Laureates teaching -- but few will divulge that many of these academic rock stars have relatively little contact with undergrads.
2. After undergraduate education, there is a re-shuffling of the academic deck, and many ta's seem to come from schools that do not have quite the same degree of academic rigor as MIT. As a result, when faced with particularly difficult pset problems, students have sought help from their ta's -- only to be told that they, the "ta's" cannot do the problems either! Students are often forced to hunt for peers who can explain problems, as the quality of t.as is woefully inconsistent.
3. Grading is aso inconsistent. Same pset answers are awarded different grades by different t.as.
4. There is grade deflation. MIT has a much lower success rate re-Med School admissions than the Ivies (70% v. 90+%). I suspect that entry stats. for top tier grad. and professional schools are similar (but I do not have the stats.). In one class an 81% was a C (the class average was 82).
My child is happy at MIT. Likes the other students. Is working reasonably hard, but is not killing self. To put above concerns in perspective -- child was valedictorian of extremely competitive high school, many awards, etc. If, however, I had known what I know now, I would have urged child to go elsewhere -- to, perhaps, a smaller school where professors have a more considerate approach to undergraduate teaching; or to a place where child's GPA would be more protected, thereby increasing grad. or professional school options.
Sorry if this entry offends many CC readers. I just think prospective students should be aware of some of the pitfalls. MIT is a good place, but is could, and SHOULD be a lot better. |