Less selective schools “similar” to MIT

[Anonymous]

GaTech maybe?

[Anonymous]

JHU for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GaTech maybe?

Yessss!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Have you been to Boston? The townies don't exactly mince words. If he wanted to say MIT students are d&cks he definitely would've said that to me.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it likely because there are no grades first year (or just pass-fail) (or course I am basing that entirely on an instagram reel I watched because I don't have a STEM kid)? I wonder is any other STEM heavy schools take a similar approach.

[Anonymous]

I'm an entitled Harvard grad. MIT kids are pretty nice, and not just nicer than Harvard kids. Many Richard Stallman types, in the best sense of that.

Anyway, OP should definitely check out Harvey Mudd.

[Anonymous]

Can confirm MIT has only p/f for freshman year.

[Anonymous]

When i think of intense but fun nerds, i think of places like Olin College, RIT/University of Rochester, Cooper Union (maybe a little less fun tbh), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Rice (the nicest experience of the bunch imho), Case Western (if johns hopkins students were chill midwesterners who knew how to have fun.)

UMBC and VCU for instate options.

[Anonymous]

Caltech

[Anonymous]

Do people even read the post? Caltech is NOT less selective than MIT. Get a clue.

[Anonymous]

Rice is a good recommendation look into. What about Purdue? My parents didn't take me on college tours so I literally have no idea what schools are like personality wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

So ironic to hear a poster saying her kid won't apply to Harvard because she thinks the kids are too "entitled" so she's applying to MIT. Anyone who thinks they're in a position where either Harvard or MIT gives a damn about them is the definition of "entitled."

[Anonymous]

OP - thanks for the suggestions so far!

To the prior poster - My DC has worked hard for her grades, stats, EC, etc. She is absolutely not entitled and knows that any top school is a stretch to get into. She does not think the world revolves around her/knows she may not get into a top school since there are equally qualified candidates- and knows there are more qualified candidates.

There was a very clear difference in the vibe between Harvard and MIT. No one we encountered at MIT had an air about them. DC pointed out that students went out of their way to open doors for her when visiting. Little things like that stood out after. We absolutely did not get the sense that they were all pampered kids who got in based on connections.

[Anonymous]

Northeastern

[Anonymous]

Definitely Rice