The Massachusetts Institute of Technology

My experience at MIT was kind of like being stuck in the middle of the ocean with waves bobbing you up and down and pushing you around, but not being able to find a foothold to take a deep, refreshing breath. Its extremely stressful. Almost like you're constantly on the verge of exploding. You'll work as hard as you can but it still won't be enough. It got to the point where my brain sort of stopped working. I couldn't think straight if I tried. I ended up falling into severe depression, the most horrible experience of my life. No doubt exacerbated by the expectations I had of myself at MIT. I took a medical leave which I wouldn't advise anyone to do. Once you're out they act like you are a leper. As if you aren't the same person who they accepted out of high school. As if you aren't more prepared for the environment since you've been in it. That is very frustrating. Don't expect to come back from a medical leave even if you do what is expected of you.

I suppose the issue is that all the pressure is self-inflicted. You don't know how good or bad anyone else is doing and nobody is checking in on you.

A lot of people drink way too much, but that is really the only way to cope with the immense amount of stress. Expect to not be able to do the things you enjoy while there.When everyone around you is struggling, there isn't anyone to go to for help. And that makes it more difficult. It is a very lonely and disenchanting experience.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2013

Scholastic Success: A+, Education Quality: F

When I came for CPW I thought MIT would be the place for me. After spending a year there, I realized it is nothing like what people make it out to be. People still never drop the snooty, I'm better than you attitude even though you've all made it to the same place. People are quickly closed off into their own little boxes and are quick to judge the type of person someone is based on how they look or where they live (i.e. East Campus vs. West Campus). If you don't know where you stand immediately you will be left on your own to figure things out. Instead of college being a place where you learn new things, MIT is a place where you continue being the person you came in as. People are willing you help you so long as you don't do better than them. Classes based on everyone else's grades are the norm no matter what people say. Go somewhere more small and open-minded. No one here cares about anything that doesnt involve academics or getting drunk on the weekends. Interested in social change or anything outside of the college bubble? Go somewhere else or your social life will suck because of all the things you feel like you are missing. The depressing Boston winters are just the icing on this already bitter cake.

1st Year Female -- Class 2013

Perceived Campus Safety: B, University Resource Use/ spending: F

Negatives:
*The campus is very utilitarian. They do not put much work into making the campus look nice.
*People are too busy to have real friends at the institute. You will end up picking your homework over your friends or friends over your homework and you lose either way.

*People here are crushed
*People will lie to you and say that they don't work that much when really they are working all the time- so mindgames

*people on perscription drugs to help them concentrate
*You constantly feel stressed out
*If you aren't the type to study in your room there aren't that many great places to study unless you go out to Boston

*dull campus life.
*socially inept stressed people lead to a bad combination
*Homeworks are created to learn new concepts you have not been adequately taught so you WILL have the experience of not knowing how to do a pset for sure. In this case you betterhave a tutor, know someone who has taken the class or get the answers out of the TA

*Classes assume a very good grasp of math before you even get there
*lack of socially conscious ppl
Positives
*You will leave here thinking critically about everything
*You will learn how to manage your life and learn study skills
*You will learn how to put your studies first and everything else on the backburner- so you will learn to focus

*reputation*confidence in your abilities to figure things out

5th Year Female -- Class 2009

Surrounding City: A+, Campus Aesthetics: F