Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The academics at MIT are top notch. Classes are designed so you learn as much as possible, but learning at MIT doesn’t mean just memorizing a formula and plugging in numbers. Exams at MIT are designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the formulas, how to derive them, and how to apply them in all sorts of ways. Classes teach you how to think. However, not all classes are taught well. Some professors are more interested in their research than teaching, and and some TAs aren’t good at teaching. Most introductory classes are taught as a combination of lectures by professors and recitations by TAs. In large classes, however, students are allowed to change their recitations. Take advantage of this! Some TAs explain things better, some are easier graders, some are more available outside of class, and some are regular, normal people. Try to go to as many different recitations as you can at the beginning of the term to find out which TA suits you best. The extra time you spend looking for a good recitation will save you hours of struggling later in the semester.

Classes are rigorous, but academic opportunities outside the classroom are endless. One of the best academic programs at MIT is the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). As an undergraduate, you have the chance to work for professors who are legendary in their fields. Get involved with a UROP by letting professors know you’re interested. Given the studious culture of MIT, expect to do a lot of work. Not all your time, however, will be devoted to classes. You will want to get involved in extracurricular activities and research opportunities. Despite the heavy workload, the things you can accomplish within and beyond the classroom at MIT are miles above anything you could do anywhere else. This is what sets MIT apart as one of the best academic institutions in the country.

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Students Speak Out

MITEW says: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2016 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

They're not kidding when they say... They're not kidding when they say this place is hard. There are some groups of people who just like to complain, so it's better to stay away from them. Student/teacher interactions are really important, so if you're shy, this place will definitely help you work on your people skills. 12345 Academics: February 22, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

It is hard—don’t take that... It is hard—don’t take that lightly. At MIT, you’ll work your tail off for a C and be proud of it. People do get As, but I’m just not one of them. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I feel like the best classes are... I feel like the best classes are the ones where you feel like you can approach the professor anytime. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Sometimes, you have foreign TAs... Sometimes, you have foreign TAs that may be a bit hard to understand, but the professors, for the most part, are really good. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Most of the classes at MIT are... Most of the classes at MIT are taught by professors (with a few exceptions taught by graduate teaching assistants). Teachers run the gamut of being excellent professors who are engaging and accessible, to those who talk only of themselves. However, the quality of a class is not solely determined by the quality of its professor. Teaching assistants and lab assistants can also make the class interesting and enjoyable for you. In my experience, most professors really do care about feedback from their students, and they definitely do make active efforts to improve the content of their classes and their various methods of teaching. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Eleven current faculty members have been awarded the Nobel Prize in subjects such as physics, physiology of medicine, economics, and chemistry.

Every January, MIT holds its Independent Activities Period (IAP) when students can stay on campus for four weeks to take part in activities that are not offered during the regular school year. IAP features workshops, independent research projects, field trips, and lecture series based on subjects ranging from figure skating and vegetarian cooking, to neuroanatomy and robot design.

Adjusting to MIT is a shock. Because of this, MIT gives you a cushion by not assigning first-semester freshmen grades on their transcripts. They simply get a “pass,” or the transcript never shows that they took the class. Freshmen used to be on the Pass/No Record system both semesters, but MIT recently changed the system. Pass/No Record only applies to the first term of freshman year now. During this time, it’s important that you realize right away that a C- in a class is going to look the same on your transcript as an A+. What’s more, a percentage of first-semester students fail at least one class. It’s not something to stress about. In other words, don’t sweat your work too much first semester. Try to enjoy the city and its people because you wont' have much time to when you actually start getting graded.

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