Melis A. '08 | January 18, 2007
"Making house calls"
As part of the 2011 Early Action Telethon, today I had the opportunity to talk to some of the prospective members of the Class of 2011. That’s right, if you don’t ask me questions on my blog, I will call your house and suck them out of you. No, really. I fully acknowledge that it’s awkward to get a call during dinner from someone you don’t know. But, we’re just trying to help! I am really glad to have been able to answer some of your questions (which I have copied below) and learn some new things as well (congrats to the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalists!)
Question: What is the transition from high school to MIT like?
Academically, the transition depends greatly on the rigor of your high school curriculum. I went to a math and science Magnet program, so I came into MIT with AP credits in Biology, Physics, and Calculus. This is by no means the norm. Keep in mind that first semester freshman year is on pass/ no-record. It is meant to level the playing field, so that you will succeed at MIT regardless of your high school preparation. You can also make life easier or much harder on yourself, depending on the level of the intro class that you choose to take. For example, to fulfill one of your physics requirements, you can take 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism) or 8.022 (Electricity and Magnetism with calculus…must harder.) I chose to take 8.02, not because I was lazy, but because I wasn’t interested enough in the subject to want to dive into the deep end…I was fine with wadding in the shallow waters. I would rather labor over advanced biology or mechanics, it’s all just a matter of personal preferences, as long as you finish your requirements!
Socially, making the transition to college will be challenging no matter what school you attend. It is difficult to adjust to living away from home, where all of a sudden you are faced with a whole new set of responsibilities. You might get the Freshman 15 (I did…) from eating at all the free barbeques around campus during the first few weeks of school, or from late-night snacking while pseting. It might take you some time to adjust to living with a roommate or being so far away from your family and high school friends. But, your newfound freedom and independence will be something you will learn to love and appreciate. Eventually, you will find yourself learning to use a planner, cooking, cleaning, paying your bills, and even (*gasp*) doing your own laundry. (On another note, I would highly recommend participating in a pre-orientation program. I did the Freshman Leadership Program, and it gave me an opportunity to meet many freshmen before even stepping foot on campus.)
Question: What is the social life like?
Hopefully, by reading these blogs you realize that MIT students are normal people! We are not socially inept beings who lock ourselves in our rooms, refusing to see the light of day until all of our problem sets are complete. In fact, if you come to Campus Preview Weekend, you will see the broad spectrum of activities on campus and realize that while everyone is a nerd at heart, they know how to have fun (whether it is by dropping pumpkins off of roofs or salsa dancing at a club in Central Square.) Basically, there is something for everyone. Don’t worry about not finding friends…you’ll find a group of people where you’ll feel like you belong. If you can’t find that group in the dorms, you will surely find them in the independent living groups, 27 fraternities, or 5 sororities.
Qusetion: How easy is it to cross-register with Harvard?
From what I hear, it’s very easy and just requires you to fill out a form and talk with your advisor. I have friends who have taken language classes at Harvard, art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, and humanities classes at Wellesley. Harvard is only 2 stops away on the T and less than thirty minutes by bus. Wellesley and the Museum of Fine Arts are also pretty close by.
See, that wasn’t so painful, was it? Any other questions?
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The author has filed this entry in the "Freshman Year Pass / No Record" , "Questions And Answers" section; check it out for further reading on this topic. |
Responses To This Entry:
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FIRST POST
Yeah, the phone call was nice. Hi Jessica! I'm gonna have to say that the most entertaining part of the conversation was when I realized that people at MIT actually read these comments, remember the names of the people that comment, and then bring it up during certain phone calls. The next trick is to become a blogger, and then. . .I TAKE OVER THE WORLD! And the phone calls were fun, everybody over at Facebook is going crazy and yaking about them. MIT FTW!
Posted by: Snively on January 18, 2007 11:41 PM
your entry was a big relief....
hopefully adjusting wont be too hard.....
in many ways thou...im looking forward to the change
Posted by: Jenny on January 18, 2007 11:45 PM
I think I like you guys a lot. You sound real.
Posted by: Brenda on January 19, 2007 02:58 AM
do u also make phone calls to international students
Posted by: bhushan on January 19, 2007 05:56 AM
No,
You've answered most of them. Hope to have MIT call me at RA
Posted by: Sarab on January 19, 2007 11:32 AM
Well, Well what's about age?
Posted by: paul on January 19, 2007 03:27 PM
wait wait wait..."That’s right, if you don’t ask me questions on my blog, I will call your house and suck them out of you." does that mean if i ask you questions you won't call???:)
ok then i'll never do so :)
just kidding....
Posted by: Amjad on January 19, 2007 07:03 PM
Amjad: well idea is not bad
Posted by: bhushan on January 20, 2007 11:25 AM
is MIT calling part of your job at MIT( i mean if you have applied for financial aid)
Posted by: bhushan lodha on January 21, 2007 05:46 AM
I'm feeling a lot better about applying here. This is mostly because I've come to realise that MIT honors people of all intelligence types, not just Logical reasoning minds as I previously belived.
I have good ideas-
But not the best scores.
-Jon
Posted by: Jon Takacs on January 21, 2007 07:20 PM
I'm feeling a lot better about applying here. This is mostly because I've come to realise that MIT honors people of all intelligence types, not just Logical reasoning minds as I previously belived.
I have good ideas-
But not the best scores.
-Jon
Posted by: Jon Takacs on January 21, 2007 07:21 PM
to Jon Takacs
its same with me
Posted by: bhushan lodha on January 22, 2007 05:09 AM
Hi Melis. It was reinvigorating to read about the change from high school to MIT. However, I would also like to know whether it is different to choose classes for students like me who have their A-Levels in maths, physics and chemistry. Thanks in advance!
Posted by: Nitin on January 23, 2007 06:20 AM
"We are not socially inept beings who lock ourselves in our rooms, refusing to see the light of day until all of our problem sets are complete."
I dunno Melis, that sounds a lot like me:-/
Posted by: Kevin on January 23, 2007 08:04 PM
Ha! I'm so happy I found this site. This entry makes me way happy. As a 7th grader I was dreaming of MIT, and as a Junior, I salivate at what seems like an impossible chance. I'm just glad that you all are actual people. That's so cold and judgemental, but it's the picture given. Yay for real people!
Posted by: Matthew Horton on February 1, 2007 09:12 PM
