MIT

Hacks and Hacking... you probably think you know what they mean and you probably do in average society but at MIT these terms take on a whole new meaning.  A Hack is someone who carries out a benign practical joke that is so clever no one can figure out how they accomplished it.  Past famous hacking incidents including putting a life size model of a cop car with a police officer inside on the dome of the main academic building and remotely setting off a hot air ballon which had been buried underground in the middle of the field at the beginning of the big Harvard Yale football game.  Why do I begin my discussion of MIT with this bit of trivia?  Because it is this type of focus and celebration of accomplishing things beyond the imagination or intellectual capacity of others that is at the heart of MIT culture.

Founded during the industrial revolution and Civil War by Professor William Barton Rodgers, a geologist from UVA, the Mission of MIT expanded the role of universities at that time to greater practicality and contribution,  to tackle the problems of the future through science technology engineering and math.  Today approximately half of the students at MIT are pursuing engineering and 1/3 are focused on the life science.  The school also offers undergraduate degrees in the social sciences and in business through the Sloan School of Management.  Recognizing the great success of many techies in the business world, business has become the most popular minor attracting 1/3 of the student population. 

The math science culture is imbedded in many aspects of life at MIT, buildings are numbered not named, interior architecture is very utilitarian, the application process does not require a long essay but does mandate 2 SAT subject tests, one in math and one in science and last but not least acceptance and rejection letters are sent out March 14th, 3.14 get it?  By now you may be getting the feeling that this is a pretty intense place and you’d be right but the people at MIT recognize this and have structured the academic experience to decrease stress and competition and increase collegiality.  First semester freshman year, all classes are pass/fail.  Second semester, students receive grades but are not recorded.  Students are also encouraged to work with other students on homework and problem sets.  They even list the names of these students on their assignment.  Although not for everyone, MIT can be a magical place for the right student.