Math Jams

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:33:09
Greetings and welcome to today's Massachusetts Institute of Technology Math Jam!

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:33:18
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.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:33:30
Only the moderators have the ability to send private messages in the classroom. Sometimes they will use these to privately respond to your comments.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:34:04
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.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:34:18
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.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:34:30
Now let me introduce our special guests from MIT.

draca 2009-10-21 19:34:32
Hello, and good evening. I'm sure I am speaking for everyone here when I say thank you very much for taking time to talk with us. We really appreciate it.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:34:43
We at AoPS appreciate it very much as well!

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:35:02
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.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:35:18
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/.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 19:35:26
At this time I will turn the floor over to Matt and Kiran.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:35:37
Good evening! Thanks for coming out to the 5th annual MIT Math Jam on AOPS. I'm glad you could make it.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:35:49
Prof. Kedlaya & I will begin fielding questions in just a moment. (format: Name / Grade / State-or-Country: Question; e.g. Matt / 12 / NY: How awesome is MIT?)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:00
First, note that over the course of the past 4 years, Prof. Kedlaya & I have answered many questions. The answer to one of your questions may be in a previous Math Jam transcript:

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:11
2008 MIT Math Jam: http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Community/AoPS_Y_MJ_Transcripts.php?mj_id=243

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:21
2007 MIT Math Jam:http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Community/AoPS_Y_MJ_Transcripts.php?mj_id=217

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:28
2006 MIT Math Jam:http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Community/AoPS_Y_MJ_Transcripts.php?mj_id=167

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:35
2005 MIT Math Jam:http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Community/AoPS_Y_MJ_Transcripts.php?mj_id=114

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:42
Also, the answers to many questions can be found either at the MIT homepage:http://web.mit.edu

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:49
...or on the MIT Admissions homepage:http://www.mitadmissions.org

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:36:57
...or on the Math Department homepage:http://math.mit.edu/

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:37:04
And now, we'd like to field some questions.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:37:10
I'd like to meet you with your question, so if you could preface your question with your name, grade, and location, that would be great.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:37:15
For example:

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:37:21
Matt / 12 / NY: How awesome is MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:37:31
Please be patient; we will get to as many questions as we can.

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:37:36
Excellent example, I should say.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:37:53
Anything you'd like to add before we start, Prof. Kedlaya?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:38:18
No, I think you pretty much covered it. Let's start taking some questions.

aopsuser2 2009-10-21 19:40:13
Amit/middle schooler parent/FL - Other than AOPS, what do you recommend a middle schooler to take on - as extra which can help them plan for a future at MIT? e.g. online EPGY courses?, SIG summer programs?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:40:16
I agree that AOPS is an excellent place to explore math & problem solving in middle and high school. As for what else, there are many things, from formal programs to informal tinkering to just reading that would be excellent uses of time. What is best really can vary from student to student and situation to situation.

bulutcocuk 2009-10-21 19:40:47
Deniz / 10 / NC: Do you have a pure computer science major?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:41:36
Absolutely! It is the most popular major at MIT. I think about 25% of students graduate from MIT with either a pure CS degree or a joint degree between CS and another subject (math being a popular combination).

hasan4444 2009-10-21 19:43:26
Hassan Al-Sibyani / 11 / Saudi Arabia: Hello, I can guess that international admission process is so competitive; so I would like to know what others factors (other than school GPA) that MIT take it in consideration the most among other factors. Please give an answer :)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:43:29
Hi Hassan. The MIT admissions process -- like most of the selective universities in the States -- in a holistic and subjective process, not simply based on exam results. At MIT, we certainly will begin by looking for academic excellence (this can be measured by classes/grades; exams; projects; research; math competitions; and much more). We also look for the students who will...

joeislittle 2009-10-21 19:44:32
Joseph / 12 / NY: How is the Putnam seminar for undergraduates run? What qualifications would be necessary to sign up for it as a freshman?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:44:33
The Putnam seminar is primarily intended for freshmen. It alternates between lectures (by Richard Stanley, myself, and other faculty) highlighting useful techniques, and presentations of homework problems by the students in the seminar. Most students in the seminar have done well on the USAMO (honorable mention and/or MOSP qualifier) or some international equivalent.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:44:40
...best take advantage of the MIT community. What is mean is, who will take advantage of the residential community life? Who will be the students who take advantage of the research opportunities? Who will live out the MIT mission of creating a better future?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:45:55
For us to determine this, we will look not just at your SAT scores, but also your activities, essays, recommendation letters, awards & achievements, interview, and more.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:46:12
(And yes, we have interviewers in Saudi Arabia, and most places across the world)

AIME15USAMO 2009-10-21 19:47:11
Chinthan / 9 / WI: why do you need our name, grade and state?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:47:13
I like when I get a small amount of context (age & geography). It also seems friendlier to me :)

anand.oza 2009-10-21 19:48:00
Anand / 12 / MD: How awesome is MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:48:01
...I guess I set myself up for that one ;) How's this: Very.

MathTwo 2009-10-21 19:48:42
Alexander Whatley/ 7/ Texas: Has MIT ever turned down any IMO medalists?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:48:44
Probably so; the IMO is not a "magic ticket" into MIT, since no such ticket exists. As Matt said just above, admissions is a holistic process, and no one factor will get you in (or keep you out)...

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:49:18
... That having been said, though, an IMO result is definitely one factor that will get your application noticed, which is good. And I suspect that with Matt in admissions, that is more true at MIT than at some of our competitors.

gldnrto 2009-10-21 19:50:07
Dominic / 9 / TX : What are the most common majors at MIT? What do you consider your university's best major to be?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:50:09
Hi Dominic. The three most popular majors at MIT are Electrical Engineering/Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Biology. Every math, science, engineering, and social science major at MIT -- everything from Aeronautics to Urban Planning -- is considered among the best in the world.

csl824 2009-10-21 19:51:44
Carmela / 16 / Philippines: In admitting students, do you still consider what they want for a major? e.g., if the student wants to major in Chemical Engineering, is his/her aptitude in Chemistry and Math higher on the list of requirements than let's say, if he/she wants to take up Computer Science?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:51:48
Hi Carmela. At MIT, we do not admit directly into a major. Every freshman is admitted as "undeclared." At the end of the freshman year, students may choose any major they want, without any additional entry requirements. (And shortly thereafter, students may add a second major)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:52:16
So no, it is not easier to get in as a ChemE or CS major or Literature major.

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:52:21
For starters, some of the world's best computer scientists, not just on the faculty but regularly teaching undergraduate classes. For instance, Ron Rivest, the R in RSA. (Or Erik Demaine, for those who know about him.)

bl.html 2009-10-21 19:52:24
Blake / 10 / NY: What is unique about the computer science program, that other universities might not have?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:52:36
(sorry, Blake, your answer is above your question rather than beneath it)

mathkid95 2009-10-21 19:53:15
Shankar/14/PA: My school does not do the AMC. Will that decrease my chances of admission?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:53:18
Not at all. (Though you've got lots of time -- convince a math teacher to start it up!)

Lazarus 2009-10-21 19:54:58
Daesun /12 / NJ: What is the ROTC program like at MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:55:00
Hi Daesun. ROTC -- the Reserve Officers Training Corps -- is a part of MIT. We offer Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine ROTC on campus. Students from other Boston-area universities, including Tufts, Harvard, and Wellesley, congregate at MIT for ROTC; MIT could be considered the "capital" of Boston ROTC. I recommend you get in touch with the folks at the MIT branch you are interested in.

garfielddisco123 2009-10-21 19:55:03
Felix/12/OK How are you guys now involved with MIT (like MIT major, or something like I teach there)?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:55:05
Felix: as for me, I teach in the math department, anything from freshman calculus to undergraduate courses to graduate courses. I also advise both undergraduates (math majors) and graduate students (PhD candidates writing theses under my supervision). I also supervise undergraduate research projects, organize research seminars, etc. There's a lot going on!

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:56:51
...and I am an Admissions Officer, and also a graduate of MIT.

Rohan.Shah 2009-10-21 19:57:00
Rohan / 8 / PA: What are the job prospects if you get a Math degree at MIT? Are there other variants of Math which are available?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:57:02
There are a lot of career directions possible with an MIT math degree. Of course pursuing an academic career in math, or a nearby field (computer science, physics, and nowadays biology) is an option. But our students also go into IT, finance, law, you name it.

kedlaya 2009-10-21 19:57:28
Followup to Felix: I should have also mentioned that I got my PhD from MIT (in 2000). I've been on the faculty since 2003.

draca 2009-10-21 19:59:01
Jessica / 14 / CT: According to some of the blogs I've read, MIT students either have to give up their friends, or their sleep to survive. How true is this?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:59:03
Hi Jessica. It is true that MIT is a rigorous school, but the idea that students have to give up their friends is pretty ridiculous. Most MIT students lead well-rounded lives, not just studying and researching, but also doing music, sports, dance, going to parties or theater productions, etc. It is the outside the classroom fun, combined with the exciting classroom- and lab-based work...

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:59:18
...that leads to a bit less sleep than you might be used to in high school :)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 19:59:50
I don't know what blogs you're reading, but I'd recommend checking out those on our website: http://www.mitadmissions.org

joeislittle 2009-10-21 20:00:30
Joseph / 12 / NY: Can freshman cross enroll in Harvard's Math 55?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:00:33
Joseph: before answering, let me explain to everyone else that Harvard's Math 55 is a fairly hard-core course for freshman, which (usually) covers multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and often some other topics the professor decided to include. MIT has no such course; our freshmen are advised simply to enter the math major at the appropriate course for their background...

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:02:01
... Just as MIT students can cross register for Harvard classes in general, they can technically cross register for Math 55, BUT: this requires permission from MIT which is almost never granted. As I said, we prefer our students to go directly into the appropriate undergraduate courses for them; in some cases, those turn out to be pretty advanced!

Vuntic 2009-10-21 20:02:36
Ben / 11th / TN: In what ways is it more difficult for homeschoolers to get in to MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:02:43
Hi Ben. It is not more difficult for homeschooled students to get into MIT. We have a pretty happy community of homeschooled students at MIT. On the admissions side, we look for the same things -- with the same application -- for homeschoolers that we do from everyone else.

stinstin 2009-10-21 20:03:33
Austin / 11 / WA: How much extra work is a double degree in math and computer science compared to just a CS major?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:03:34
Austin: not that much, really. The math major is pretty flexible, and there are a number of courses that count for both math and CS: algorithms, complexity theory, and so on.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:04:02
You may also want to check out http://mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/homeschooled_applicants_helpful_tips/index.shtml

joeislittle 2009-10-21 20:04:42
Joseph / 12 / NY: Do you have a "muggle quidditch" team?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:04:44
Yes! (It just started this term, I'm told)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:05:47
Austin: You may also be interested in the MIT program 18C, "Math with Computer Science" http://web.mit.edu/catalog/degre.scien.ch18c.html

maxedoutnoob 2009-10-21 20:08:11
Tony/ 11/New Jersey: Could you talk about MIT's financial aid?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:08:14
Yes. I could not have attended MIT without its very generous financial aid offerings. MIT will meet every student's full financial need -- the average (need-based) scholarship last year was upwards of $30,000/year (you're AOPSers, so I don't need to explain to you about average) MIT is very, very generous in its aid offerings, and most students on campus are on aid.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:08:16
See http://web.mit.edu/sfs/financial_aid/index.html

turak 2009-10-21 20:09:02
Sarah / 9 / CA: Why is MIT better than other colleges with strong math programs?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:09:03
There is also a "financial aid calculator" which can help you & your family get a reasonable estimate of what it might cost your family for you to attend MIT (for most of our students, it will be much less than the "sticker price")

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:09:04
Sarah: there are several things I think MIT has going for it. The students are incredibly good, so you'll probably learn just as much (or more!) from your classmates as from your professors. The department is big enough that there are many courses to choose from, but not so big that you'll get lost in the crowd...

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:09:49
... Plus we have a lot of faculty who are not just great mathematicians, but who genuinely enjoy sharing their love of their subject with students. Not just in class, but in other ways like supervising undergraduate research projects.

csl824 2009-10-21 20:09:52
Carmela / 16 /Philippines: Does applying for financial aid affect the admissions process?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:09:54
No. MIT is need blind (and meets full financial need) for all students, foreign and domestic.

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:10:38
But the best way to explain why our math department is so successful is probably to come visit and talk to a few of our undergraduates, and get a sense of the kind of energy they have.

mathking123 2009-10-21 20:11:23
Does MIT offer any merit-based scholarships to exeptional students who happen not to be in need?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:11:25
No, though students admitted to MIT are often great candidates for other outside scholarships based on merit. MIT, though, only provides aid based on need -- and for those with need, we will ensure that finances are not a barrier to your attendance.

maximusjesse 2009-10-21 20:12:34
Jesse/11/GA: I have a friend who told me MIT has the highest suicide rates in the nation for colleges. Is this true?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:12:37
That has absolutely no basis in fact. MIT students on the whole are happy, healthy people.

patrish 2009-10-21 20:12:49
Mark / 15 / MT: Does MIT have a "declared" religion? I know there are some Christian colleges out there. Are you one of them? Also, how will the other students react to know that someone is "X" religion? I realize that everyone has their beliefs, but how open are the students?

steelforce2004 2009-10-21 20:14:01
Nikhil/9/PA: Would you suggest participating in Math and Science competitions to get into MIT?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:14:03
Nikhil: I wouldn't suggest them specifically for that purpose. But if participating in competitions helps you find your passion for math (say), then that would definitely be beneficial!

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:14:35
No. Many students at MIT are religious, but it has no impact on admission. The community is accepting of many belief systems. At MIT, there are clubs for many Christian denominations, from Catholic to Baptist to Mormon and beyond (I think there are 30+ Christian groups alone), a large and active Hillel, a Hindu Students Group, Buddhist Students, Pagan Students, Muslim Students, Athiest Students

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:14:51
not to mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

dragon96 2009-10-21 20:15:14
The Flying Spaghetti Monster?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:15:19
Yes, that too.

SonyWii 2009-10-21 20:15:37
What is that?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:15:44
Sorry -- you can Google ;)

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:15:58
I only mention it to highlight that MIT students are often a pretty irreverent bunch...

Neil30z 2009-10-21 20:16:28
Indroneil/15/NY: Does MIT have any double major that combines theory and engineering, for example astrophysics and materials science and engineering?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:16:31
You can double major in anything you like at MIT (though doing those two would be quite difficult at any college, I would say)

skylord5816 2009-10-21 20:16:36
hacks.mit.edu <- more proof

gldnrto 2009-10-21 20:16:59
Dominic / 9 / TX : Am I any less likely to gain admittance if I'm a white male?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:17:02
No.

draca 2009-10-21 20:17:04
Jessica / 14 / CT: Are any of the professors working on the ultra-cold atoms research taking on interns, or is that work to important for the unexperienced?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:17:06
Jessica: I don't know about them specifically, but MIT strongly encourages faculty to involve undergraduates in their research work through the UROP program, and many faculty (including myself) participate.

jjx1 2009-10-21 20:17:07
Andrew/ 14/ Wisconsin- If you dad went to MIT, would that help you get accepted?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:17:10
No.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:18:01
(Longer answers for Dominic and Andrew -- we do not have legacy preference, and do not discriminate based on race or gender in admission)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:18:37
Jessica -- I've know a number of undergraduates (freshmen, even) who have worked in the Center for Ultra-Cold Atoms.

patrish 2009-10-21 20:18:37
Would prefer not to post personal info: What does MIT have in the way of Psychology/Social Science courses? I have looked and have not found much. It seems to be mostly a Math/Science base, but I would like some more information. Thank you.

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:18:39
You may wish to check out the Sloan School of Management, which is where many of those courses are taught. As with most everything at MIT, it is world-class.

tskuzzy 2009-10-21 20:19:28
Chenyu / 12 / MD / Is starting a research project at MIT a competitive process, or are there always enough opportunities for everyone to engage in research of their interest?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:19:30
Chenyu: there are plenty of opportunities, so I wouldn't say it's a particularly competitive process.

draca 2009-10-21 20:19:54
Jessica / 14 / CT: Just to satisfy my silly curiousity, how popular is the anime club at MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:19:56
It is one of the largest clubs at MIT (probably not quite as popular as, say, the Dance Troupe, but pretty popular) http://web.mit.edu/anime/www/index.shtml

IntellectMage 2009-10-21 20:20:21
John/12/FL: What is something that you would like to change about your experience at MIT (either by going back into the past or by currently changing some facet of the MIT experience)?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:20:38
I wish I had taken advantage of some of the many abroad opportunities at MIT. http://global.mit.edu/

darkdieuguerre 2009-10-21 20:20:47
Nick / 12 / MD: Do you often accept multiple students from a given high school?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:20:57
Yes. We have no quotas by high school.

diego627 2009-10-21 20:21:44
Diego / 8th/ Mexico: Are any of the proffesors working on string theory?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:21:48
Yes. See http://ctp.lns.mit.edu/research-strings.html

worthawholebean 2009-10-21 20:21:56
Patrick / 12 / CT: Harvard's Math 55 is well-known as quite possible the hardest class in the country. Does MIT have a comparable class, and how does placement work?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:21:57
Patrick: MIT does not have a comparable class, by deliberate choice. We advise our incoming students to start with whatever is appropriate for their background. In some cases, this means starting with a course in analysis, abstract algebra, combinatorics, etc.

Zzarkc-20 2009-10-21 20:22:36
Geoffrey/12/IN: Are we using the 2nd number in the name format to describe age or grade?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:22:42
Grade...

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:23:02
(though for people who list "15" I've figured out that it is age)

joeislittle 2009-10-21 20:23:34
Joseph / 12 / NY: What are some undergraduate research opportunities in math?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:23:36
Joseph: the math department runs a summer program called SPUR which is a bit like RSI, but for undergraduates: undergrads do research projects supervised by graduate students. There are similar programs at other universities (usually called REU programs, for Research Experience for Undergraduates) that MIT students can apply to. You can also arrange a project directly with a faculty member...

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:23:45
... through the UROP program, for either summer or term.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:24:37
Quick note: this is our 10-minute warning. We will try to field as many questions as we can in the next 10 minutes, but will not get to all of them...

Lazarus 2009-10-21 20:25:16
Daesun / 12 / NJ: How is the music scene around MIT?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:25:17
Daesun: many students are active in a musical group or activity. There is a symphony orchestra, a concert choir, a chamber chorus (which I have participated in as a faculty member!), a jazz band, a wind ensemble, several a capella groups, you name it. Not to mention musical theater, Gilbert & Sullivan, and so on.

maxedoutnoob 2009-10-21 20:25:52
Tony/ 11/New Jersey: Are all students eligible to apply for the MITES summer program?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:25:54
Current high school juniors can apply to any of MIT's summer programs (with the exception of the Women's Techology Program, which is only open to women, as you can guess). See a full list here: http://mitadmissions.org/topics/before/summer_programs/index.shtml

inquisitivity 2009-10-21 20:27:39
Philip/9/MI How many (or what percent of) courses are taught by graduate students or assistants?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:27:40
Philip: not that many. In the math department, a few courses (calculus, differential equations, linear algebra) are taught in a lecture-recitation format; that is, you have a large lecture from a faculty member, and discussion sections supervised by a graduate student, a postdoc, or sometimes another faculty member. Anything more advanced is taught by faculty.

karatemagic7 2009-10-21 20:28:23
mom here - old enough! though my son is passionate about math, etc, I think social life on campus is key - are there general dining halls so the students can socialize during the day, and if not, just how DO most of the students socialize outside of their intense work schedules? Thanks

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:28:25
MIT students work hard, but also have a lot of fun. I think our student blogs give a good view of student life: http://www.mitadmissions.org Also 400+ student groups http://web.mit.edu/asa/resources/group-list.html 33 varsity sports http://mitathletics.com/ and lots of interesting events http://events.mit.edu/ I had a fun MIT undergraduate experience!

artofproblem 2009-10-21 20:28:54
Albert Yang/7th/TX-What is the influence of Physical Education on application? I mean, I like the academic subjects, but PE, not so much...

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:28:55
Albert: I don't think it has that much effect on the application, but do note that MIT does have a PE requirement for graduation. However, there are lots of fun ways to meet the PE requirement.

PowerOfPi 2009-10-21 20:29:43
Vahid / 8 / ND: Are there any online programs available?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:29:44
Yes, some of you may be interested in MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu/

jjx1 2009-10-21 20:30:34
Andrew Liu / 9th/ WI- Would not having a perfect GPA (4.0) exclude you from having a chance to get accepted to MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:30:36
Absolutely not. You don't have to be perfect to get into MIT, just a good match.

PowerOfPi 2009-10-21 20:30:51
Vahid/Grade 8/ND: Is it possible to get a double degree between Mathematics and Engineering, more specifically, Electrical Engineering? If so, how hard is it and what is required?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:30:52
Vahid: in general, it is not hard to get a double major between math and something else, because the graduation requirements for math are pretty flexible--some courses will count for both. Math + EE is not as common as, say, Math + CS but it is not so unusual.

turak 2009-10-21 20:31:08
Sarah / 9 / CA Some "fun ways" to meet the PE requirement are?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:31:10
One legendary way is to go for the "Pirate Diploma" -- fencing, sailing, shooting, rowing.

Stokes93 2009-10-21 20:32:39
John/SC/11I have been hearing some different opinions about how my "environment� will affect my chances of admission. I'm from a poor rural school; we have 1400 students, but only 4 AP classes; there is usually only one student a year with a 2000+ SAT score, etc.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:32:42
My (public) school had ~300 students and only 3 APs. We don't care what high school you attend, we care how you made the most of your opportunities. (And taking advantage of AOPS is a good way to go beyond your school's somewhat meager offerings!)

vfiroiu 2009-10-21 20:32:54
Vlad / 12 / MA: what are the possible/popular double majors/minors along with mathematics? And what kinds of research opportunities are available in these fields?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:32:55
Vlad: computer science and physics are probably the most common. However, there are lots of new opportunities in biology (and MIT is a leader in quantitative biology, with people like mathematician-turned-geneticist Eric Lander on the faculty), so we're starting to see more double majors that way.

whisk16 2009-10-21 20:33:26
How many of your students are from out of state?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:33:27
Almost everyone -- 92%, I think.

turak 2009-10-21 20:33:33
Sarah / 9 / CA: Coes that mean you have to be good at fencing, sailing, shooting, and rowing? :)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:33:54
Not at all ;) (Though we do have the national champion shooting team and a Division 1 Crew team)

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:34:33
Okay, Prof. Kedlaya, one more answer each, and then we call it a night?

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:34:48
That sounds about right. It's been a busy evening!

gldnrto 2009-10-21 20:38:52
Dominic / 9 / TX : What is the best thing that I, as a high school freshman, can do to increase my chances of getting into MIT?

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:38:54
I would say, pursue the things that excite you with gusto. If that's math, don't just take the honors classes -- do AOPS, competitions, read journals, etc. If that's engineering, don't just take a physics class, build stuff! If it's music, keep it up. If it is biology, try out some research, red some journals, keep up with the excitement.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:39:29
There's no magic formula for admission. But if you keep up with the things that excite you, that can only help you out in the long run -- regardless of where you go to college.

AwesomeToad 2009-10-21 20:40:16
Beilin/8th/IN: If we had a question we didn't get answered here, where could we ask it? I am a little anxious to get my question answered...:')

jjx1 2009-10-21 20:40:16
IF we have any more questions, can we email you or someone at MIT?

vfiroiu 2009-10-21 20:40:19
Vlad / 12 / MA: MIT seems to be very popular among math people (a few years ago, all 8 seniors on my ARML team went to MIT). Why do you think that is? (Why do math people like MIT, and why does MIT like math people?)

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:40:20
Vlad: I can safely say that MIT likes math people because you all are really smart, talented, hard-working, and generally pretty interesting to have around. I think math people like MIT because it's a great place to share your passion with math (or many other things!) with people that are just as passionate as you are.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:41:13
Stop 1 is the MIT Admissions website, http://www.mitadmissions.org. Leave a comment on a relevant bog post. Or, call the office: 1-617-253-3400, we're happy to chat. Or come visit!

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:42:00
For questions about the math major, the math department, or the like, feel free to drop me an email.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:42:06
And I try to hang out at the AOPS College board when I get a chance, so feel free to post a question there; hopefully I, or one of the many MIT undergrads who hang out around here, would be happy to answer questions.

MattMcGannMIT 2009-10-21 20:42:45
Thank you all for coming! Sorry we couldn't get to all of your questions, but I hope this was helpful and informative.

rrusczyk 2009-10-21 20:43:23
Thanks much to Matt and Kiran!

kedlaya 2009-10-21 20:43:56
And thanks to Richard for organizing this event for yet another year.

MIT Admissions Math Jam

Facilitator: Matt McGann