Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:37     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
In that your daughter shows a broad interest across the natural sciences, I'd recommend she include colleges with strong geosciences departments on her list of schools to research further.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:36     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UVA surpasses MIT in what exactly? Tailgates?

In student charisma, physical attractiveness, virility, familial status, academic chops, you name it. Not to mention prestige.


Posts like this illustrate why my kid turned down UVA. UVA alums have zero self awareness.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:32     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Georgia Tech
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:30     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For a few ideas that aren't like MIT, but which would be excellent for physics and mathematics, look into Williams, Hamilton and Reed.

None of these are anything like MIT. The whole point of MIT is a theory-heavy research-heavy environment for science for social good. Look at research universities with a good campus culture.

If a student would like a chance of winning, say, an Apker, I'd argue that any of Williams, Hamilton, or Reed would represent at least the equal of MIT.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:11     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:For a few ideas that aren't like MIT, but which would be excellent for physics and mathematics, look into Williams, Hamilton and Reed.

None of these are anything like MIT. The whole point of MIT is a theory-heavy research-heavy environment for science for social good. Look at research universities with a good campus culture.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:07     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:UVA surpasses MIT in what exactly? Tailgates?


Age and enrollment.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 19:03     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To OP: It would also be helpful if you specify whether "STEM" for your daughter means "science" or "engineering" or "math" or some specific combo of those. STEM is so broad-brushy, it can lead to bad recommendations as people see it with their own preferred lens.


She has always loved any kind of science or math. She is honestly not yet "pointy" enough to be more committed to a particular topic than this.


I sm the MIT person. I was interested in physics or marine biology in grade school. By middle school, I knew it was physics. Without a passion for a discipline, a place like MIT is less important.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:37     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
CMU
JHU
Georgia Tech
UCB
Williams
UMich

Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:32     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:UVA surpasses MIT in most cases and is tentatively less hard to get into, though in many cases is actually harder to get into for certain majors and when taking into account admissions for particular schools.


🤣
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:26     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
For a few ideas that aren't like MIT, but which would be excellent for physics and mathematics, look into Williams, Hamilton and Reed.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:21     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:Olin is an interesting (and much less selective) option


But only offers engineering, which the OP says her child doesn't want.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:20     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What does STEM mean to this student? More like engineering or more like physics and mathematics?


As it says, SETM = Science, Engineering, Technology, Math

Are you the OP?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:19     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What does STEM mean to this student? More like engineering or more like physics and mathematics?


As it says, SETM = Science, Engineering, Technology, Math


STEM is a broad field. Knowing whether the kid wants engineering, for example, can really influence the school because there are schools that have wonderful math and natural sciences that
don’t offer engineering at all.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:18     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:Georgia Tech
Carnegie Mellon
Case Western
RIT
WPI






+1
Many of DC's classmates who aspired to MIT are going to CMU or GTech.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2025 18:16     Subject: Schools similar to MIT (but less impossible)
Anonymous wrote:What does STEM mean to this student? More like engineering or more like physics and mathematics?


As it says, SETM = Science, Engineering, Technology, Math