Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I've found that professors here intentionally design group projects to teach real-world teamwork. Those frustrating experiences pushed me to become a better leader—next time, I'll set milestones, divide work fairly, and coach my team. It's tough but incredibly valuable.

CI-HW courses sounded scary because they're seen as punishment, but they're really the same, just fewer choices. The FEE was very time consuming but not hard. I spent around 12-15 hours on the two essays, which was overkill due to sleep deprivation. One essay is a personal opinion about one article, and the other is argumentative using several sources; that took most of the time. The topics that year were fun: VR in schools and wildfire air quality effects, so it wasn't a slog.

I was worried about shared bathrooms at MIT, but the coed ones are actually very private. The stall doors are high and go close to the floor with full walls, so no gaps. The biggest downside is this one guy who plays a loud podcast while showering, which can be annoying. Overall, the bathroom setup is good.

The communal kitchens on every floor at Ashdown are great—I could always cook there and they were never too busy. I'm an oatmeal fan, but eating it twice daily for years would be a bad idea. Still, having those kitchens is a huge plus for grad life.

I lived in Random and spent a temp in EC. The dorm communities are very different. EC floors feel like a family—you know everyone and are constantly in each other's business, which fosters community but also drama. Random is quieter with less gossip. Baker felt more isolated. EC is closest to campus but the view is ugly, in my opinion. Overall, I preferred Random's vibe, but EC has its perks if you want tight-knit social life.

Grocery access at MIT is pretty good if you plan ahead. The shuttle runs to Costco, Target, Aldi, and Trader Joe's on weekends are a lifesaver. Definitely invest in a granny cart—I got mine from a local store and it was the best purchase. For daily needs, it depends on your dorm, but the student union store is overpriced and limited. On the flip side, the dining hall food is genuinely awful—edible if you don't care about taste or presentation.

REX is a lifesaver. I'd recommend random or introverted EC floors—they have strong communities and you can pop into wilder parties next door. BC is similar, but I know random and EC better, plus they've got a social justice vibe. One big downside: mandatory 225-meal plans at dining dorms are way too many meals to pay for. Most people hate that.

I took a thermodynamics class where the instructor was really bad at explaining concepts, his notes were hard to follow, and he seemed disinterested. He fell 1.5 weeks behind in a half-semester course, forcing the next instructor to scramble. Also, the TAs were overwhelmed first-year grad students, which made things worse. These classes tend to be low-rated because the math gets unexpectedly proof-heavy.