| Transcript
for the Math
Jam "MIT Admissions Math Jam"
on Oct 30. |
| Math Jam hosted by MattMcGannMIT
(Matt McGann ). |
rrusczyk18:31:44
Greetings and welcome to today's Massachusetts Institute of Technology Math Jam!
rrusczyk18:31:50
Before I introduce our special guests, I would like to briefly explain our classroom to those who have not previously attended a Math Jam or online class.
rrusczyk18:31:58
This classroom is moderated. This means that the messages you type will come to the moderators rather than going directly into the room. The moderators may choose some of the messages and questions to share with all of the participants.
rrusczyk18:32:14
Only the moderators have the ability to send private messages in the classroom. Sometimes they will use these to privately respond to your comments.
rrusczyk18:32:25
There are likely to be a lot of questions. Please be patient -- the moderators will be answering questions as quickly as they can, but it may take some time for them to get to yours. Also, your question may not necessarily be selected to be answered; please do not take this personally, as we only have a finite amount of time and there may be a lot of questions, so some may not get taken. Please only ask your question once.
rrusczyk18:32:47
In addition, there may be a delay between when your question appears and when it is answered -- please be patient and give our guests time to type in thorough answers.
rrusczyk18:32:55
Now let me introduce our special guests from MIT.
rrusczyk18:33:03
Matt McGann is the Associate Director of Admissions at MIT. Not only is Matt one of the people who reads applications and decides who is admitted, he is also an MIT alumnus (class of 2000), so he can likely answer a lot of your questions about undergraduate life at MIT. Matt's home page is http://www.mitadmissions.org/Matt.shtml.
rrusczyk18:33:35
Kiran Kedlaya is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at MIT. His research is in arithmetic algebraic geometry and algebraic number theory. Prof. Kedlaya is a former IMO medalist (several times), a Putnam winner (several times) and serves on the AoPS Foundation Board of Directors. His home page is http://www.mit.edu/~kedlaya/.
rrusczyk18:33:43
At this time I will turn the floor over to Matt and Kiran.
MattMcGannMIT18:33:54
Thank you Richard and AoPS!
MattMcGannMIT18:33:59
Hello! I'm glad to be here for our third annual Math Jam. You can view the transcripts of the previous Math Jams at\rhttp://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Community/AoPS_Y_MJ_Transcripts.php?mj_id=167\rand\rhttp://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Community/AoPS_Y_MJ_Transcripts.php?mj_id=114
MattMcGannMIT18:34:19
I've learned from previous Math Jams a number of things, including:\r1. There will be more questions tonight than Kiran and I can possibly handle. We'll field as many questions as we possibly can.\r2. At times, Kiran and I will cross post, make grammar/spelling errors, or do other things that happen in online chats. We apologize in advance; I know you can figure it all out anyway.\r3. People will stay in the room as long as Kiran and I stay around. Our first Math Jam went 3 hours and our second went nearly two. I think tonight, we'll try to be done by 9pm EDT. I'm sure the time will fly by.\r4. If you don't get an important question answered, please feel free to email me at mcgann at MIT dot EDU.
MattMcGannMIT18:34:54
To ask a question, I'd ask that you first introduce yourself with your name, school year, and home state/country. So if I was still a junior back in New York, and wanted to ask is the sky blue, I'd write: \rMatt / 11 / NY: Is the sky blue?
MattMcGannMIT18:35:50
Kiran, some thoughts you'd like to share?
MattMcGannMIT18:36:59
Kiran has a configuration problem... he;ll be right back.
MattMcGannMIT18:37:09
You can read all of our blogs at http://www.mitadmissions.org/; You may also be interested in admissions statistics, test scores, etc, all of which can be found at http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml
MattMcGannMIT18:37:18
You can view the entire MIT Course Catalog at http://student.mit.edu/catalog/index.cgi\rAlso, you can view the entirety of many MIT courses through OpenCourseWare at http://ocw.mit.edu/
MattMcGannMIT18:37:27
And the fun stuff: MIT has nearly 400 student groups, you can read more about them at http://web.mit.edu/asa/resources/group-list.html \rWe're also know for our pranks, known as hacks, which you can read more about at http://hacks.mit.edu/
MattMcGannMIT18:37:35
A quick look at the undergraduate population: this year's freshman class is 54% male, 46% female; MIT students come from all 50 states, and our largest represented state is California; students also come from many countries across the world. Our international population is fairly large.
MattMcGannMIT18:37:51
Some notes on MIT admission: We admitted 1553 students last year from a pool of 12,445 applicants. Admission to MIT is extremely competitive because of the limited number of spaces in the freshman class and because of the many, many talented applicants.
MattMcGannMIT18:38:00
Admission to MIT is not based on a formula. Even at MIT, admissions is much more of an art than a science. The MIT admissions process is a subjective, holistic process. It is much deeper than just a set of grades and test scores. We are really looking for students who are a good fit and good match with MIT.
MattMcGannMIT18:38:09
What makes someone a good match with MIT? Someone who is genuinely excited to learn, to discover, to create, to innovate. Someone who believes in MIT's mission, that our education should be to improve the world, to create a better future.
MattMcGannMIT18:38:17
Someone who works well collaboratively, and is excited about solving problems. Someone with balance in their life, who has more than just studying but sees that having balance, having some fun, is important.
MattMcGannMIT18:38:54
We'll talk more about all of this in the Q & A. But first, Kiran is back.
kedlaya18:39:02
Thanks, Matt.
kedlaya18:39:17
Since this is a room of math people, let me say something about studying math in particular at MIT.
kedlaya18:39:44
We graduate about 100 majors per year, which includes a lot of double majors with departments like computer science, physics, and pretty much everything else on offer.
kedlaya18:40:17
Of those, a number go on to graduate study in mathematics, while others purse other subjects, or take jobs in industry, finance, etc.
kedlaya18:40:58
We have about 60 permament faculty, plus some temporary instructors, so we have enough personnel to offer a pretty broad range of courses.
kedlaya18:41:16
You will *not* be bored with what's on offer.
kedlaya18:41:44
You all probably know that we have a strangehold on the Putnam competition; last year, about 1/3 of the top 75 participants were from MIT.
kedlaya18:42:32
We have a summer research program for undergraduates (SPUR) run in conjunction with RSI, and lots of our students also do REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs at other schools during the summer.
kedlaya18:42:52
There is an active Undergraduate Mathematics Association, that puts on various events like faculty lectures.
kedlaya18:43:19
Again, you probably know about the HMMT (Harvard-MIT Math Tournament), fully operated by Harvard and MIT students.
kedlaya18:43:39
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but suffice to say that there is a lot going on, and there is rarely a dull moment.
kedlaya18:43:56
Maybe it's time to take some questions...
MattMcGannMIT18:43:58
So now, it's time for Q & A. \rAgain, to ask a question, I'd ask that you first introduce yourself with your name, school year, and home state/country. So if I was still a junior back in New York, and wanted to ask is the sky blue, I'd write: \rMatt / 11 / NY: Is the sky blue?
The Sigma18:46:38
Adithya/12/WA Could you give me an overview of MIT's EECS Department
kedlaya18:46:42
Adithya: EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) is one of the foremost departments at MIT, and conversely, it is one of the foremost departments in the world. About 25% of MIT undergraduates major at least partly in EECS. If you have a more specific question, feel free to ask again.
MattMcGannMIT18:47:00
Johnny, I'm a good person to ask, as I applied to MIT from my junior year of high school. I had exhausted all of my school's resources, and that is one thing we look for. We do not require a high school diploma, but most students come in with one, or a near equivalent (gym requirements can be pesky). We consider everyone, including "early" applicants, in the same way, but we do want to be sure younger applicants are ready not just for the academic challenges but also for the social challenges of a residential college campus.
rrusczyk18:47:40
One note: please don't repeatedly ask the same question. Your questions go into a queue that Matt and Kiran will work their way through. So, your question might not get answered until 5-15 minutes after you ask (already, we have around 12 questions in the queue).
dsiddharth18:48:45
Siddharth / 14/ NJ : What math level do you expect applicants to complete?
kedlaya18:48:47
Siddharth: we see a wide range of backgrounds, but the minimum is that all students must arrive at MIT ready to take one-variable calculus (required for graduation). On the other end, well, the sky's the limit; if you want to major in math, you can start taking courses at whatever level is appropriate.
MattMcGannMIT18:48:57
Siddharth: Nearly every MIT undergraduate has come in having taken Calculus; some, but not the majority, have gone beyond. I have little doubt that most people here will complete calculus by the time they appl.
MattMcGannMIT18:49:32
Douglas: last year, we admitted 1553 students from 12445 applications; I'll let you do the math :-)
sunny52018:50:46
Sunny / 10 / PA: what's SPUR and REU?
kedlaya18:50:48
Sunny: REU programs (sponsored by the National Science Foundation) are summer programs where one or two faculty members work with a small group (anywhere from 3 to 10) of undergraduates on research problems. Often these are students brought in from other schools, so you may be put in a group of students from across the country. SPUR is a bit different: it is a program at MIT for MIT undergraduates only, in which each student is paired with a graduate student mentor to work on a research topic. (It's close to the way RSI is set up, not by accident.)
MattMcGannMIT18:52:43
Hi Peggy. We do suggest, but do not require, all three sciences. Biology is pretty exciting these days; many of our Biology faculty have a math background (including Eric Lander, the head of the Broad Institute for Medicinal Genomics, who has an IMO Gold Medal). I wouldn't rule it out. But it's not grounds for "auto-rejection" to not do it.
MattMcGannMIT18:54:21
TAM, many of MIT's students are recent immigrants, and we are pretty familiar with transcripts from Vietnam. I wouldn't worry. I hope your transition to the US is going well!
solafidefarms_^18:54:54
Billy/11/GA: Is it possible to graduate from MIT in less than 4 years?
kedlaya18:54:56
Billy: it is possible but not very common to graduate in 3 years. MIT offers the possibility of taking sophomore standing based on AP credits, transfer credits, and so on. But most students who take this option find that they have no desire to leave early!
MattMcGannMIT18:56:08
Douglas, I would make the choice that is educationally best for you. If that means sacrificing one semester for three awesome semesters, then go for it. But don't feel like you have to change schools; there are many ways (like AoPS) to challenge yourself.
eryaman18:57:24
Eric/12/TX : I'm interested in engineering. What makes MIT better than those of top state engineering schools, such as at UT-Austin?
kedlaya18:57:26
Eric: for one, we are a lot smaller than a typical state school, so you are more likely to get individual attention, not have trouble enrolling in courses you wish to take, etc. Having a world-class engineering faculty helps too.
MattMcGannMIT18:57:52
David, this comes through in a variety of ways. Soemtimes, it's through your activities and accomplishments; sometimes, it's in your essays; sometimes, it's in your teacher recommendations; sometimes, it comes through best in the interview. My sense is that in the context of the entire application, these things usually show through.
pokey18:58:37
I am not sure what to major in, is it alright to tentatively major in applied mathematics, and perhaps switch/double major later, and branch out into engineering or a science, because all the sciences use so much math skills anyways?
kedlaya18:58:41
pokey: Yes, one can easily shift like that, or set up a double major. The core science requirements are pretty broad anyways (some chemistry, physics, math, biology) so you'll get exposed right away to a range of topics.
MattMcGannMIT18:58:53
Of course, though these aren't the only things.
MattMcGannMIT18:59:58
I migt add to pokey: You don't apply for a specific major; everyone is "undeclared" freshman year and gets the entire first year to choose any major they want. After sophomore year, you can add another major. It is also very easy to switch majors.
sponge00819:00:02
Is AP (AB) Computer Science credit accepted at MIT? I've heard MIT beginner's classes are in Scheme, rather than Java or C++, making it rather different.
kedlaya19:00:12
sponge008: I don't know about the AP credit, but MIT is planning to shift the first course in computer science over to Python instead of Scheme.
MattMcGannMIT19:01:06
I'm pretty sure we don't accept AP CS credit, but I assure you that you won't be bored in class at MIT.
SuperThread19:02:25
Christian/11/CA: Which does MIT value more on an application, RSI or a second stint at Blue (or Black, theoretically) MOP?
kedlaya19:02:27
Christian: I don't think one is worth more than the other in principle. Both of those are things that we notice, and what's better is probably whichever one you find more intellectually stimulating, because it'll make you a better applicant overall.
MattMcGannMIT19:03:27
Alexander, I did a lot of work in the math department before ultimately getting my degree in Management Science. A lot of my coursework transferred over, and my math background was a big plus. You can see the course requirements for Management Science at http://web.mit.edu/catalogue/degre.manag.ch15.shtml
MattMcGannMIT19:04:36
See http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml
MattMcGannMIT19:05:42
See http://student.mit.edu/catalog/m16a.html
MattMcGannMIT19:05:56
It's an entire major...
MattMcGannMIT19:06:51
Not at all. We don't even look to see how many we've admitted from any given school until the very end of the process.
calc rulz19:07:32
How good is theoretical vs applied at MIT? I'm more interested in theoretical math, but I'm worried that MIT will have resources mainly for applied math or engineer people.
kedlaya19:07:35
calc ruiz: allow me a moment to stick up for theoretical math at MIT. At the research level, we are recognized as one of the top departments in the country. And MIT recognizes basic science, not just engineering, as a top priority. So yes, there are plenty of resources devoted both to theoretical and applied math (which are a single department at MIT).
MattMcGannMIT19:09:21
Matt, I can tell you that we don't count the number of words in your essays, and if you exceed our suggested limit by a bit, that's okay. But I do believe that being able to write and convey your thoughts succintly is important, and is something you should strive for in your application.
jli19:09:28
Johnny / 9 / CA: Do you accept credit from UC Irvine in multivariable, linear algebra, ode, pde etc.?
kedlaya19:09:34
Johnny: Transfer credit is accepted on a case-by-case basis; the instructor for the equivalent class at MIT has to sign off on whatever documentation you present, to certify that what you took is an appropriate equivalent. We tend to be pretty stingy for extremely advanced stuff, but for linear algebra and ODEs, you can probably get credit.
MattMcGannMIT19:11:39
We require two teacher recommendations, one from a math or science teacher, and one from a humanities teacher. It can be from anyone in your school who has taught you in an academic class, grades 9-12. Above all, it should be someone who knows you well and can talk about you as a student, and, to every extent possible, as a person. I recommend asking your teachers very early in your senior year to give them lots of time.
MattMcGannMIT19:13:40
Hi Daria. We recommend at least two years of foreign language. I think more is better, but if you're son doesn't do 4 years, or doesn't have the opportunity, that's fine. And it doesn't have to be the same language.
MattMcGannMIT19:14:07
Lots of parents here tonight, it's good to see you all!
MattMcGannMIT19:15:22
Warn, we actually don't compile AMC statistics like we do for SAT or ACT. So I don't know. The AMC score, when present, is just one of many things we look at.
jeez12319:16:41
Jesse/16/IL: How hard are the classes at MIT compare to well-taught high school AP courses?
kedlaya19:16:45
Jesse: as a general rule, classes at MIT move quite a bit faster than AP courses. To take an example that I'm pretty familiar with, one-variable calculus at MIT is roughly comparable (but not identical) to BC calculus, but all in one semester.
MattMcGannMIT19:17:17
Yuri, both are pretty cool! We've admitted students with both kinds of accomplishments, and I don't think one is necessarily better than the other. They're certainly different. I wish I could provide more help to tip you one way or the other!
MattMcGannMIT19:19:07
Ryan, like Warn's AMC question above, that's not a statistic we compile. Many students come from schools without AP classes (IB schools, international students, increasing numbers of private and public schools), and we don't have an expectation as to the number of APs you should take. We do, however, expect that you should challenge yourself to a reasonable extent in high school.
MattMcGannMIT19:22:05
Hi Ann. I f you oversee the education generally, and teach the humanities/social sciences, you can cover both in the letter that is the Seondary School Report. For homeschoolers, I recommend two recommendations from teachers outside the home in addition to yours; in this case, two math/science recommendations would be just fine. You may also want to add an addition rec from someone else who sees the student face-to-face, like a Boy/Girl Scout Troop Leader, a boss, etc.
MattMcGannMIT19:22:57
If you're referring to sign language, that's fine.
MattMcGannMIT19:23:43
Hi Sunny. We do have a separate form for your Guidance Counselor called the Secondary School Report. In addition, we ask for two teachers.
SuperThread19:23:57
Christian/11/CA: On the ugly topic of admissions: can you guys give us some idea of how much, respectively, USAMO qualification, Blue MOP qualification, and IMO qualification are worth? For instance, say you get two almost-identical applicants. Both like math. One has a 4.0, the other has one of the three items mentioned above. What GPA should the second candidate have to be considered "equal" to the first? (I'm sure that you hate generalizing like this, but a ballpark would be nice.)
SuperThread19:23:57
Christian/11/CA: How's the workload at MIT? Would you describe it as excessive? Tangentially, is there a lot of busy work assigned?
kedlaya19:23:59
Christian: it is no secret that MIT students work a lot, but largely that tends to be because they get excited by their options, take a lot of classes, and work a lot to keep up. Also, classes that involve labs or projects tend to involve large amounts of work, usually concentrated in a small amount of time during the semester.
MattMcGannMIT19:24:08
Oh, Latin's great, too.
MattMcGannMIT19:28:15
Hi Shari. I do agree that MIT and Caltech are different (but "couldn't be more different" is probably a little strong). I think size and geography are the biggest differences. Caltech's small size makes for a fantastic 3:1 student:faculty ratio and a very cozy feeling. MIT's larger size means more options for classes, activities, and an easier time getting critical mass of populations of groups traditionally underrepresented in math and science, like women and minority students. Caltech is on a beautiful California suburban campus, far from the hubbub of urban Los Angeles; MIT is smack in the middle of Boston's urban excitement. I'd encourage you and your daughter to visit both over the next few years, they're both cool places to check out (and feel free to stop by and say hi!)
The Sigma19:28:58
Adithya / 12 / WA: What is the VI internship program offered through the EECS Department? Also, if students complete the VI internship program, can they pursue a Ph.D. or Sc.D. if they choose?
kedlaya19:28:59
Adithya: There is more information here: http://www.eecs.mit.edu/ug/brief-guide.html#vi-a but the short answer is yes, it could be useful preparation for a PhD as well as for a business career. (And VI stands for "Course 6", the internal MIT designation for the EECS major. Majors at MIT are all numbered: math is Course 18, for instance.)
jli19:31:25
Johnny /9/CA: About what percentage of people on campus play music?
kedlaya19:31:29
Johnny: I don't know, but it seems to be pretty high. There are a number of performance groups, including the MIT Symphony Orchestra, MIT Concert Choir, MIT Wind Ensemble, MIT Jazz Ensemble, lots of chamber groups, a few a cappella groups, etc. Also, students are required to complete a humanities mini-concentration as part of the distributional requirement, and music is a popular choice.
MattMcGannMIT19:31:40
Hi again Johnny. You can read all about sports at MIT at http://mitathletics.cstv.com/ We offer 41 varsity sports, most at the Division III level, and we tend to be among the best in the world at the "Pirate" sports (e.g. sailing, rowing, fencing, shooting...). Among soccer, golf, and tennis, I'd guess soccer is the most popular (due in part to a large international population), followed closely by tennis. Golf is somewhat less popular, I would say, though we do field a varsity golf team.
MattMcGannMIT19:32:41
No. (And no need to cry! Keep doing your best!)
MattMcGannMIT19:35:13
Yes, the interview is an important part of our application process. You can read all about it here http://mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/interviews_educational_counselors_ecs/index.shtml and lots of blog entries about it here http://mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/interviews_educational_counselors_ecs/completearchive.shtml The interview is done in your home area by an MIT graduate (no on-campus interviews). The interview is meant to be conversational. There will be no grilling, no brainteasers, no calculus questions. It helps us greatly to get a good sense of you as a person.
JAM19:35:33
Jeff/12/CA: Realting to Peggy's question, how would you compare Caltech and MIT in terms of math (specifically pure/theoretical math)?
kedlaya19:35:37
Jeff: they are both strong, but I'd say there's a "top tier" of theoretical math departments in the US consisting of (in no particular order) Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Chicago, and Berkeley. Caltech is close, but it's a much smaller department and so doesn't cover nearly as many subject areas as we do.
kedlaya19:37:50
The tradeoff between Caltech and MIT is largely the large/small school issue; Caltech students may get more face time with faculty, but MIT students have many more options available, and that is mirrored in the math departments.
MattMcGannMIT19:38:46
Warn, I can tell you that I could not have afforded to attend MIT without significant financial aid. MIT admits all students in a need-blind process, and we meet the full financial need of every student. I believe the average grant/scholarship per student per year last year was in excess of $25,000. As a first generation college student, the aid I received was very helpful. It made MIT more affordable than many of the state schools I considered. You can find out all the official stuff at http://web.mit.edu/sfs/financial_aid/index.html
MattMcGannMIT19:39:31
(Let me know if I can tell you more)
MattMcGannMIT19:40:55
Daria, Yes, it is not unusual to see MIT applicants in more advanced levels in math/science than in English/History. We do not expect that all applicants take the highest level subject in every discipline.
ScienceJar19:41:33
Josh/11/NJ How does MIT react (both in the class room and acceptance process) to kinds with ADHD, ect.
kedlaya19:41:35
Josh: Matt can tell you more about the acceptance process, but on campus, students with ADHD or other issues that may interfere with academic procedures can consult the MIT Disabilities Services Office. With appropriate certification from there, students can require appropriate accommodations (I know this process works because I had a student once who used it).
MattMcGannMIT19:43:13
Yihe, there's awesome molecular bio here. There are 3 or 4 Nobel Laureates here doing molecular bio work. There are great research opportunities for students. Biology is really one of the star departments at MIT. You can learn more at http://mit.edu/biology/www/ and I may be able to answer more specific questions if you like.
MattMcGannMIT19:45:04
Josh, we're pretty accepting of such things; you may want to talk about it in your application, and call the MIT DSO if you have further questions.
sponge00819:47:50
Why do you say that?
greencheeze9219:47:50
Prastuti/10/WA which school, Caltech or MIT, has a better astrophysics dept?
kedlaya19:47:53
Prastuti: that's a tough one. Caltech's astrophysics is quite prominent; after all, they have the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. But I think MIT can hold its own; see http://web.mit.edu/astrophysics/ to convince yourself.
MattMcGannMIT19:50:39
pokey, I think the dorm culture at MIT is one of the best things about this place. I believe that in 5 of the 11 dorms you can not only paint your room, but also install random projects in your room (see slashdot for some examples). Refridgerators are present in all of the dorms and you can have them in your rooms. You can read more at http://web.mit.edu/housing/undergrad/freshman.html
kedlaya19:52:51
I guess it should be added that a decent fraction of upperclassmen (but not freshman, by MIT regulations) live in off-campus housing (fraternities/sororities, Independent Living Groups, etc.), which would probably have even more flexibility.
MattMcGannMIT19:53:16
Not at all, but I do like to encourage math (and the AMC) in schools... so bug your favorite math teacher (also tell that math teacher about AoPS!)
MattMcGannMIT19:54:40
(This is re: foreign language requirements) We don't require, though we recommend, 2 years of foreign language class in high school. Many of our students are multilingual; I would encourage you to follow through with some foreign language classes, though it is by no means required.
MattMcGannMIT19:55:03
That's fine :)
MattMcGannMIT19:55:26
Yes.
sponge00819:55:48
Yuri/11th/MA
Is there a way to skip courses that cover material a student has already covered completely or almost completely through independent study?
kedlaya19:55:52
Yuri: it depends what you mean by "skip". For certain required classes like calculus, you can use AP credit or take a placement exam after arriving at MIT to fulfill the requirement. For more advanced courses, one can get transfer course credit in some cases, but this is at the discretion of the instructor of the nearest MIT equivalent course. (For instance, you may have to take the final exam in the equivalent course.) If you are just looking to use independent study to fulfill a prerequisite for a more advanced course, this is usually easy to do by just meeting with the instructor.
MattMcGannMIT19:56:21
It's about the 5 minute warning here... we'll do all we can to answer questions.
MattMcGannMIT19:58:28
Visiting and staying overnight can be a great way to get to know a school. Staying overnight won't give you bonus points on the application (though at some schools this kind of "demonstrated interest" is important). It can be good for juniors or seniors, and many students wait until they are admitted to visit, which is fine too. For those who do the Overnight Program, I think most folks have a good experience. Learn more at http://my.mit.edu
wgpark092419:59:07
Warn/Dad of 10th/IN, My family is going to visit MIT during this coming thanksgiving days. Would you recommend what spots we must see even though the MIT will close most of bldgs and facilities? Or, please give any comments to help my son and daughter for their first visit MIT?
kedlaya19:59:09
Warn: much of the main campus is open all the time, but most offices are closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. In any case, it can't hurt to contact Admissions to find out what they can tell you.
MattMcGannMIT19:59:58
There is no minimum. I think there's a little too much stress generally about the number of APs; as long as a student challenges themselves, AP or not, it's the rigor of the program that's important.
calc rulz20:00:26
David/11/MA: How bad is it not to take science in senior year? I'm a top math/sci student at my school, I've taken bio/chem/physics already, and all I'd do is an easy ap chem course just for credit, so I'd rather pursue other things while in high school (like take a college math course...)
kedlaya20:00:28
David: if you want to take senior year to do something you wouldn't get the chance to do otherwise, that's probably more important than trying to make your transcript look balanced.
MattMcGannMIT20:01:43
Warn, campus will be pretty quiet -- even the international students have friends or host families to spend the holiday with. If you drop me an email that Tuesday or Wednesday, though, I can try to remember to leave you a packet of goodies and maybe even some advice on things to see. One that comes to mind is the FAT Chain Reaction at the MIt Museum (FAT = Friday After Thanksgiving), a tradition that I've never attended (since I'm usually at home with family)
billwuyu20:01:52
is the IB program an advantage when applying for mit?
kedlaya20:01:54
billwuyu: see Matt's answer about APs. Whatever extra rigorous structure your program has, AP, IB, whatever, is something that we can take into account. The main thing is that you should be challenging yourself.
kedlaya20:02:13
I have seen the FAT Chain Reaction; it's pretty impressive
MattMcGannMIT20:04:02
At this point, Kiran and I would like to thank you for "jamming" with us [that looks/sounds extremely dorky]. Feel free to email or comment on my blog, http://matt.mitblogs.com Lots of answers to questions at http://web.mit.edu and http://mitadmissions.org
kedlaya20:04:24
Thank you all for coming, and for asking great questions.
MattMcGannMIT20:04:25
Many thanks to rrusczyk and AoPS for hosting us tonight!
rrusczyk20:04:33
Special thanks to Kiran and Matt for spending a couple hours with us tonight!
rrusczyk20:05:11
Their interest and openness is one reason so many excellent AoPSers go to MIT.
