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Massachusetts Institute of Technology Visit Report by fogfog

Visit to Massachusetts Institute of Technology in March 2009 by fogfog
(Parent of Student, HS Class of 2011)
(Member since October 22 2009 with 3638 posts)
 
3 of 4 people found this visit report helpful

Visit Activities:


Information Session: Yes - Woman from Admissions gave good information though I am not convinced admissions is open to applicants with SAT scores in teh 600s as she said--given the stats and yield they have.

Campus Tour: Yes - Excellent tour--Buildings ramble so it can be disorienting. Guides give good overview

Campus:


Friendliness/Courtesy of Students:
4 - Very Good
4 - Very Good
Stopped by an athletic pratices, as our son is a student athlete. Everyone was freindly.


Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff:
4 - Very Good
4 - Very Good
Staff seemed very friendly and engaged.


Appearance of Campus:
4 - Very Good
4 - Very Good



Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness:
4 - Very Good
4 - Very Good
Many buildings interiors have an institutional feel and flourescent lighting glow but all were in great shape.


Dormitories:
I hear there is lots of controversy about the dorms and eating per a arent of a current freshman


Security/Safety:
Its in Cambridge--which has seedy areas, homeless etc on the streets. Some "blue" shops/bars.


Overall Campus Impression:
4 - Very Good
4 - Very Good
We liked the "campus" feel of it even as its an urban campus.

Off-Campus:


Area Immediately Around Campus:
some fringe/seedy areas Bostn/Cambridge crime is nearby


City/Town/Community:
Cambridge--sounds like it SHOULD be charming...but a block or 2 off Mass and its a bit "long in the tooth"... plenty of homeless and low income within a block of the campus boundaries...

Campus Visit Notes for Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Visit Description:

Went with no expectations--and our son LOVED it. The info session was good, and PACKED with kids as young as sophmores.

Huge group tours--we were lucky our tour guide is in the same sport as our son--and asked him about balancing athletics and engineering at school.

We spent far more time there than I expected, and it went on the top of our son's short list.

Doesn't look like there'd be much of a dating seen....
and we hear that its competitive even when they say its not...

From the parent of a current freshman, we hear that the rules regarding alcohol and other dorm rules are not held to very carefully--which is bad....and that the lack of a real meal plan is a bit of an issue

The student we met is in a frat and lives off campus.

Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):

take the bus and use the T when you can