The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (referred to as MIT) is a private research university situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of the top universities in the world. It places a strong emphasis on engineering, technological, and scientific education and research. MIT became part of the Association of American Universities in 1934, and enrols over 10 000 undergraduate and graduate students annually. Its 168 acre campus lines the northern bank of the Charles River. 45 Rhodes Scholars and 78 Nobel laureates are currently or were once affiliated with the university, either as students or faculty.

History

On April 10th, 1861, the governor of Massachusetts signed a charter which was proposed by William Barton Rogers to create the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rogers wanted to create an institution to address rapid technological and scientific advances. He wanted to combine elements of both liberal and professional education into one establishment. The Civil War delayed the opening of MIT, but eventually the first classes were held in Boston in the Mercantile Building in 1865. The last two decades of the 19th century saw the introduction of new programs in chemical, electrical, sanitary and marine engineering under the leadership of President Francis Amasa Walker. New buildings were constructed and the size of the student body increased rapidly under his reign as well. In 1916, MIT moved to a new campus in Cambridge along the side of the Charles River, where it presently is located today. MIT was an important player in military research during World War II, and became the United States’ largest wartime R&D contractor by the end of the war. Today, MIT has kept pace and has helped advance the digital age with new technological developments.

Programs

MIT has the best engineering program in the country. U.S. News ranks MIT Engineering as the top school in the country. The Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering programs are all ranked #1 in the country by U.S. News. Engineering is the most popular major at MIT, with 44% of graduate students and 60% of undergraduate students enrolled in the school. The MIT School of Engineering aims to educate the next generation of engineering leaders to help serve society and create new knowledge. There are close to 20 research centers on campus, each of which explores a wide variety of topics. The MIT Sloan School of Management is ranked by U.S. News as the 4th best business school in the country, and its Information Systems, Production/Operations, and Supply Chain/Logistics programs are all ranked #1 in the country. The Sloan School has over 20 000 alumni worldwide, and offers graduate programs in many concentrations, including accounting, economics, and marketing. MIT Sloan’s MBA program is one of the best but most selective programs in the world, and prepares inventive leaders to make responsible management decisions on a global scale. The program is inherently global in nature and offers numerous opportunities for students to study abroad.

 Pros & Cons

MIT is ranked by U.S. News at the 6th best institution in the country. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is across from downtown Boston. Boston is a major metropolitan area with numerous employment opportunities and daily activities. MIT also offers residence housing in one of the best dorms in the country (known as “The Sponge”). Over 300 MIT students live in the dorm, and it is ranked by U.S. News as the 8th best dorm in the country. The average freshman retention rate is 97.5% which is excellent, speaking to the quality of the education. It is extremely selective, however, with an acceptance rate of only 9.7% despite receiving over 18 00 undergraduate applications a year. It is also very expensive, costing well over $50 000 for tuition and room and board. Because of this, almost 70% of undergraduates require financial aid.