The Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT teaches critical thinking better than any other university that I've been associated with (and I've taught at Harvard, Einstein and USC). Such skills are invaluable in most areas of science and academics.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

1st Year Female -- Class 2007

Useful Schoolwork: A-, Campus Maintenance: D

I'm a brain and cognitive sciences major. you'd think that MIT would only be very good in technical aspects like math, physics, and engineering, but you'd be surprised. the BCS department was started about 10 years ago, and since then, it's really caught on as a major. our faculty are really great and the department is small enough to interact with them, which is awesome.

comments about MIT in general: when i came here, i had no idea how hard it would be. i was from a public school in a relatively small town, but a lot of my classmates were from top magnet schools in the country. i had applied here and to a handful of liberal arts schools thinking i wouldn't get into mit: some of my peers were hell-bent on going here and majoring in whatever since they were young. everyone is different, and it's kind of intimidating if you've not got the academic background, but it is possible to excel here without it.mit is totally an amazing place. it's a life-changing experience. it's a distilled version of college: there is so much more to learn, do, etc., and it comes at you all at once. and you learn to deal with that, and possibly even enjoy it. :)

3rd Year Female -- Class 2005

Education Quality: A+, Campus Aesthetics: C+