|
Each Fall, the world’s sharpest young minds gather in Cambridge, Massachusetts to matriculate at M.I.T. Renowned for it’s brutal curriculum and cut-throat competitiveness, M.I.T. can be overwhelming for even the most brilliant of minds. It is for that precise reason that the office of Residential Life and Student Life Programs published "How To Get Around MIT". Join me now as I mine this guide for basic information that no one should be without. [ed. All excerpts appear here exactly as they do in the Handbook.]
- Try taking a break.
- Try to exercise.
- Make a list of ten good things about yourself. Force yourself to put ten things down, even if it’s “I had perfect attendance in 8th grade” or “My eyes are a nice shade of brown.”
- Try starting a journal.
- Do something nice for someone else.
- Talk to a friend you trust.
- Buy a joke book. Read out of it every day until you get one good belly laugh. Before the next day’s reading, tell the joke that made you crack up to someone else.
- Do something childish once in a while. Buy a box of 64 crayons and a pad of white paper. Use them. Blow soap bubbles. Skip while singing.
- ox3 – Thou shalt keep holy the hour of Star Trek
- ox5 - Thou shalt not decrease entropy
- ox7 - Thou shalt not sex toads
- oxA - IHTFP
- oxD - Thou shalt not take pass/fail in vain
- oxF - Thou shalt not divide by zero
- kludge - (rhymes with “stooge”) A Rube Goldberg-style device which appears unlikely to work but does anyhow.
- Townie - a you native of more backward parts of the Boston area. Characterized by their Trans Ams (in males of the species), big hair (in females of the species), and use of phrases such as “That would be a wicked pissa” and “Let’s go down Joey’s for a tonic.”
- wicked - (adj.) very. Ex.: Kiss 108 is a wicked awesome radio station.
- wicked pissa - something really good.
- Wicked fucking pissa - just about the best thing in the whole world.
• All freshmen are graded Pass/No Record for their first year. Most subjects report “hidden grades” and you receive a copy of these from your advisor. MIT keeps no official record. p. 20
• MIT offers the following degree programs: Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and Literature. p. 23
• Sometimes It’s Who You Know: If you really want to butter up the faculty member, look at an article or book he or she has written and ask questions about it. You may even want to read it. Most faculty are passionate about their intellectual interests, and more than willing to talk about what’s exciting in their field. Just like you, faculty can be shy and uncomfortable with small talk. If you need to break the ice, look around the office for something to talk about. Ask about the poster on the wall, the piece of equipment on a table, a book that looks interesting. p. 32
• Sex: Deciding to have sex for the first time or with a new partner can be a big decision. If you think everyone in your living group is having sex, you may feel pressure to do so yourself. Know that everyone at MIT is NOT having sex. Remember this is a deeply personal decision and what is right for other may not feel right for you right now. If you are unsure about what is right for you, that’s a good indicator to collect some more info or talk to one of the people listed earlier in this chapter under “Health and Counseling” to help you figure out what is right for you. The chance of unprotected sex is greatly increased when intense emotions become involved. p. 46
• Tips for managing stress:
• Mental Health Services: Most of the people who consult the Mental Health staff are psychologically indistinguishable from the general MIT population, and can in no way be classified as sick or disturbed. p. 42
• The Mental Health System is designed to maintain confidentiality. Only the Mental Health staff can access the records—not Charles Vest, not the Deans or your parents, not the FBI, nor anybody else. p. 42
• Excerpt from the “MIT Commandments”: p. 148
• MIT Dictionary: