wannabeivy0815

SO...
How do we sign up for classes and how does it all work? Is it easy to fulfill credits and take classes you want to take for fun? (like interesting classes) and how much freedom do you really have in choosing what you want to study (as for selecting classes) & how easy is it to take a class at MIT?

ringer05

1) Course registration is done online, and you're given a particular day when the system will be available to you.

2) Yes, it's easy to fulfill the distribution requirements and still take fun classes! In fact, you might even find that the two sets of courses overlap ... some of my most enjoyable classes were originally meant to meet one of the requirements.

3) You have absolute freedom in choosing classes. With very few exceptions (for instance, if you don't pass the QR test with a certain score during Orientation), no one will be telling you which exact courses to take. Your advisor will help you choose appropriate courses, but the final decisions are up to you. Your major and/or minor will probably have some requirements, too.

4) No experience with MIT ...

advantagious

Adding my opinion...

1 is taken care of...

2 & 3) I think it is pretty easy. I would definitely say that careful planning is required. Hopefully most if not all of your classes will be interesting! How easy you find fulfilling requirements depends on your disposition, your academic interests, and any special plans (study abroad, pre-med, etc.). For example, I think the distribution requirements are great--sure, I'm not all about science, but besides that, none of the classes that I have taken/will take to fulfill the distribution requirements are classes that I didn't want to take. The distribution requirements are broad--for example, next year I plan to fulfill my historical studies distribution with a music course, the History of Jazz. In fact, in this case, you aren't even required to take a historical studies course--you can take an "Epistemology and Cognition" course instead. The distribution requirements are slightly complicated, but they are designed to give you as much latitude in your choice as possible while still exposing you to many classes.

Now, some majors are more extensive than others. For example, with the language requirement, International Relations turns into a 14 credit major (remember that you need 32 credits to graduate) and has quite a few required courses. If you are an IR major and decide to minor or take another major as well, you might find yourself slightly hemmed in by all the requirements that you have to fulfill for your majors/minor. Still, as Ringer says, with basically only one exception, the college does not tell you what classes to take. Your major will of course have required courses, but again, it depends on what major you are thinking about how cumbersome you find those requirements (and, one would hope, if you like a subject enough to major in it, the requirements should not be too much of a bother).

4) It is a little bit more complicated to register for an MIT course, but plenty of people do it. I have no personal experience, but it is definitely a real option that people take advantage of, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

wannabeivy0815

thank you for replying ringer05 and advantagious!

speaking of classes and requirements, can you take classes during "winter session"? What is winter session and if it is the one month break in the winter that i think it is, can you stay the whole winter without having to pay extra for the dorm? how does it all work?

WendyMouse

You can take classes during wintersession. The offerings are a little slim, but there is some not for credit stuff at Wellesley and MIT as well.

The $100 fee (adjusted for students on finaid taking a class) to stay in the dorms was eliminated this past academic year. Whether that is permanent, I do not know. Meals are a la carte, or you can pay with whatever flex you have managed to save from the fall.