Less selective schools “similar” to MIT

[Anonymous]

Looking for less selective schools similar to MIT in that they encourage kids to pursue their interests and students are supportive as opposed to competitive with each other.

And the students are truly kind. That is key.

That is what has stuck out to us about MIT - it is not just a phenomenal school academically but they seem to have found a way to select and encourage those who foster team work.

Doubtful DC will get into MIT next year (it is truly a lottery even with great stats) so looking for other options where there is not fierce competition and the school has a truly a collaborative approach to learning. Also where professors engage with the students and it is not just rote learning.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking specifically for schools that are very STEM focused?

Two schools that come up a lot when I ask about schools for my kid who seems maybe similar to yours in what he wants are Colorado School of Mines and WPI.

[Anonymous]

Hard to believe MIT is all that collaborative despite what impression you got on your tour.

[Anonymous]

Harvey Mudd? Plus benefit of the 5C’s and cross enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to believe MIT is all that collaborative despite what impression you got on your tour.

This. MIT has been a lottery for decades. And “kind” is not an adjective ascribed to their students ever, I think.

[Anonymous]

WPI is the poor man’s MIT.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Harvey Mudd. Great school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to believe MIT is all that collaborative despite what impression you got on your tour.

This. MIT has been a lottery for decades. And “kind” is not an adjective ascribed to their students ever, I think.

Huh?? Ask a Boston cabby. No joke. Day 1 in Boston cabby says, "Ah you MIT kids are wicked smart and much nicer than the Harvard ones" lol.

I went to MIT and it was so hard we had to work together to survive. It was us against the institute. When I got stuck and needed help I ask the upperclassmen or friends that were genius in whatever class that was for help. At our sorority we also created course bibles to pass down and help others.

[Anonymous]

I don't have that much personal experience, but I went to MIT and Hopkins. I liked the vibe of both. But, at Hopkins, I was a grad student so other than being their TA I'm not sure what the undergraduate community felt like. Just that I loved the grad students and we had excellent research opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I think mit kids are far less entitled than the undergrads at Harvard. No legacy, just smarts.
I went to grad school in Cambridge and all I can say about the level of pretension I witnessed more than once by some undergrads at H is, for lack of a better word, yuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think mit kids are far less entitled than the undergrads at Harvard. No legacy, just smarts.
I went to grad school in Cambridge and all I can say about the level of pretension I witnessed more than once by some undergrads at H is, for lack of a better word, yuck.

So where did you go to grad school in Cambridge? Odd omission IYKYK.

[Anonymous]

Look into Mudd, WPI, RPI, RIT, Rose Hulman and Olin.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We hated the vibe at Harvard. I heard rumors, but kept them to myself. My DC said afterwards there was no way she was applying there after the visit. The whole tour had an air of self entitlement - the kids in the group plus the two different tour guides. Seems we are the only ones without a home in Aspen. 🙄

Was the expecting a similar vibe from MIT and was expecting everyone to be a bit more antisocial- and that was not the vibe at all. Kids seemed passionate about their work and we both got the sense that your economic background really did not matter to them. We also saw some projects being worked on and it truly seemed collaborative by the description- did not seem like an act they were putting on.

DC is interested in STEM and wants a school with a more equal gender ratio as well. Her current school is a bit cut throat and all about social mobility (at all costs) and our whole family wants out of that mind set. So seeing the collaborative aspect of MIT was so refreshing- but we know it will be a tough one to get into, so looking for schools with a similar vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to believe MIT is all that collaborative despite what impression you got on your tour.

This. MIT has been a lottery for decades. And “kind” is not an adjective ascribed to their students ever, I think.

Huh?? Ask a Boston cabby. No joke. Day 1 in Boston cabby says, "Ah you MIT kids are wicked smart and much nicer than the Harvard ones" lol.

I went to MIT and it was so hard we had to work together to survive. It was us against the institute. When I got stuck and needed help I ask the upperclassmen or friends that were genius in whatever class that was for help. At our sorority we also created course bibles to pass down and help others.

I don’t think “nicer than the Harvard kids” is a high bar to cross.

[Anonymous]

Check out Carleton.