What is the name of the institution you attend and what year are you currently at the school? Additionally, please provide any information pertaining to your relevant background i.e. high school, ethnicity and gender. All of your answers to the questions below will greatly help parents with prospective students separate the reality from myth of different colleges.
MIT, freshman. Indian male.
1. What were your expectations of your college in terms of its academic and social culture? How did your time at this institution stack up to your expectations? Living
It was much more difficult than high school and I found myself devoting a lot of time to studying and doing homework. Socializing was done while discussing questions on the homework and at parties. It exceeded my expectations with academic rigor and the friendliness of my hallmates.
2. In your personal experience, what is the drug scene (excluding alcohol) at the college like? Please give estimates of the percentage of people that use them. What are the disciplinary actions taken towards student who are caught using substances?
Marijuana use is fairly common I believe, with maybe 10-15% doing so on a regular basis and probably upwards of 60% having tried it at least once. I have not heard of other drugs being used recreationally on a regular basis. Confiscation of material will probably be the consequence first time possession of cannabis, and perhaps fines later.
3. In your personal experience, what percentage of people drink on a regular basis (at least once or twice a week) at your college? What are the disciplinary actions taken towards students who are caught drinking?
I would estimate this to be around 30%. There are no disciplinary actions and medical treatment is anonymous and free.
4. What are some of the most significant differences between your college and high school experiences?
College is much more difficult academically. Studying is an absolute difficult. Furthermore, increased personal freedoms and interaction with other peers are benefits that I have found in my college experience.
5. What do you like most about your college? And conversely what do you enjoy the least about it?
I enjoy the academic rigor and willingness of peers to collaborate on solving difficult problems. When the going gets tough and research, problem sets, exams, and papers all clash, this easily becomes the least enjoyable aspect of college life.
6. What are some of the most important things you feel students should know or do going into college? What about going to your college?
Students should anticipate the newfound freedoms and learn to embrace them. I believe that learning to live independently is something that one show know how to approach before living away from home for four years at a time. At MIT, people should expect difficulty in academics and budget time well.