AnudduhMom

Oh, I don't know. My S hasn't seemed to be lacking in beautiful MIT girls to date. As a bonus, they are highly intelligent, doing fascinating projects, and they're very, very nice.

As to original topic: S turned down some really top colleges and universities for MIT -- it was bittersweet sending in the "admissions turn-down" cards, at least for this parent. But he has no regrets 3 years later. What was it about MIT that tipped the balance? Obviously students work really hard, and the courses can be astonishingly difficult. But there is an element of fun, too, the atmosphere is creative and exciting at MIT, it is one of those intangible things.

@mathboy98, ahem. My D loves math and science (and she's also pretty), and she wants to apply to MIT in the fall. Take heart! There are pretty mathgeek girls out there, I promise. Some of them read this board, so be nice!

neuron39

IMO, there is absolutely no better environment for a science-loving kid who also wants the benefits a an urban environment. My son has not regretted going to MIT for one second. He now has a girlfriend (a student at BU) but has met lots of terrific girls at MIT as well (and not one at Harvard!).

pbr

If you think you might focus in the arts, humanities or social sciences (other than economics), you may want to go elsewhere. There are only 50-60 total undergraduates who have declared majors outside of science, engineering and economics. I'm sure the quality of the education in the arts, humanities and social sciences is excellent, but culturally, one may feel a bit isolated.

kemcab

Why MIT? Because I actually like science.

174IQPartier

Maybe my kind of chick will be at this school,
The chick who also has a 174 IQ and who loves to party!

oasis

I get intimidated by MIT girls.

Just FYI.

PiperXP

We don't bite, Chris

(Well, unless you want them to.)

Respectfully

This has been a great thread.

Thanks for all the input, I'm looking into top Engineering schools right now myself (MIT, Hulman, Harvey Mudd, RPI, Caltech). Mostly smaller d3 schools where I could play baseball.

Also good to hear from actual people about legitimate social life in MIT, but in Boston you have to work not to enjoy it from what I hear.

frutiaspice

@Chris,

I get intimidated by MIT guys.

Just FYI

Nah, I generally find all MIT students VERY AWESOME PEOPLE. This is probably why I have "adopted" someone at MIT to be my older "brother", have two people I treat like sisters, and a MIT boyfriend.

Vivi

In all honesty, there are times when I visit Harvard and regret not applying. Perhaps I could have had to chance to walk those gorgeous halls and live in their redbrick dorms. They actually have real performing venues, and Stata doesn't exist on their campus like some steel-conglomerate atrocity.

MIT has been everything I had hoped for and more. But that doesn't mean that from time to time I don't look at other top-tier schools in awe and wonder why I'm not there instead. It all boils down to the fact that most top-tier schools are equally awesome in academics and social life. Sure, in Cambridge you have a larger gathering of nerds at MIT and a concentration of business majors at Harvard, but that doesn't mean there aren't some of the other at each school. The Sloanies are MIT take their major very seriously, and I have quite a few friends who are doing brilliant research at Harvard's school of Arts and Sciences.

I used to scorn other schools like Princeton, stating that they weren't as nerdy or as scientific as MIT, but in retrospect you really have to hand it to all top-tier schools (and even those lower than we) for being brilliant in their own way.

I don't think you can go wrong with rejecting MIT, either. It's not which school you went to; it's what you do while you're there.

MIT Engineers

So I only briefly looked at the other posts, and they kinda got the gist of it. MIT's amazing, and so are many other schools, and there are great opportunities and people at every place. As an incoming MIT freshman though, I'll say what attracted me:

1. My focus

I'm not sure of my focus, but my interests lie in engineering, science or possibly business/economics. Well MIT happens to be the place to be for any of those things. I know college rankings are dumb and stuff, but they do have an influence on perception (which ultimately can influence on job offerings and such), and MIT is ranked #1 in natural sciences, engineering/technology, and 2nd in business. Overall it is ranked 1st in social sciences too. it's hard to turn down a school that state those numbers.

FYI if you are interested in humanities and stuff, DON"T DISCOUNT MIT! THey don't have a #1 rated humanities program, i'll admit. But it's still pretty darn good. Most of the time it ranks somewhere between 10 and 20, which is pretty good still, considering the fact that MIT has a very small department in several fields...but what it does it is totally amazing at. Philosophy and linguistics for example, are among the top in the nation. Linguistics is often #1, and philosophy is often top 5.

2. Opportunities

It's simple. UROP offers research to anyone. Great plus especially if you plan on going into academics. You'll be part of a network that composes of some of the greatest leaders in all fields. Heck I got a corporate summer internship this summer partly due to some networking with an CEO who's an MIT alum.

3. The people.

Professors are generally excellent and brilliant. I know some are a little out there...but most professors are very interested in teaching kids. Many are excellent lecturers. Kids not just at MIT but also at neighboring Harvard and other pleaces are brilliant. You'll learn as much outside of the class as you do in one.

4. Environment

This is a nerd place. If you don't like being a nerd, you prob won't enjoy this environment. But this is a place where people are very interested and excited about science and technology. Great place to thrive.

Undispu7ed

MIT sounds like a nerd's dream world. Wish I could be there!