Majors: Computer Science, Engineering

Minor: Biology

Email: nfaro@mit.edu

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Questions about Academics and COVID-19

 

What were your classes like in your first year or in your major/concentration, especially transitioning from Shen? 

My first year at MIT was composed mostly of fulfilling the General Institute Requirements (GIRs), which are general electives such as Biology, Physics I/II, Chemistry, Multivariable Calc, etc. These were the classes that I had expected Shenendehowa to best set me up for, and I believe that the education I received in high school really did do just that. In Physics I, Intro to Biology, and Intro to Chemistry specifically, I saw myself already having known the material from classes that I had taken prior to my college education. I think I can directly attribute this to the excellent teachers that I had in these subjects at Shen, but on top of this I think that the skills that Shen pushed into the teaching of its core subjects really prepared me well for all walks of my academic life, whether it be classes in my major or these GIRs.

 

Outside of my first year, the coursework was much different as I advanced into my major's curriculum. The courses, in a rapid change of pace, took a much deeper dive into subjects, became much more difficult in terms of homework assignments and exams, and were all around just more time-intensive. However, I discovered how passionate I was about Computer Science and its applications in biological settings, and thus these apparent difficulties were seamless as I was extremely interested in my coursework.

 

I think it is difficult to judge how Shen prepared me for this advancement in my studies, but what I can say is that Shen did equip me with the time management skills, the problem solving skills, and the perseverance to succeed in even the hardest parts of these classes. I believe that the way teachers at Shenendehowa conducted their curriculums (in my experience many of my teachers gave frequent exams, homework assignments, and projects that I had to juggle concurrently) gave me enough challenges and adversities to give me the experiences necessary to overcome whatever came my way.

 

To summarize, I'd like to say to students that are currently looking at schools or are worried about the college transition that Shenendehowa likely gave you one of the best foundations for success in your adult life - take pride that you came from such an amazing school and be confident in your abilities when you venture out into the real world!

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What academic experiences have stood out to you at your college in either positive or negative ways?

MIT is the best school I could ask for in terms of what experiences they offer their students, and all of them have been incredibly beneficial to me.

 

The first thing that I would like to bring up are the opportunities to have work experience as an undergraduate. Since I have been at MIT I have not had a time where I have not either had a job or an internship. During the school year while I am taking classes, I have had multiple different research opportunities that I can use for either pay or credit towards my major. These opportunities are called UROPs: there are dozens of different research labs on campus for any major, and MIT does an amazing job of coordinating student involvement within them. Almost every student I know has had a UROP at some point in their college career, and some like myself have consistently had one since they joined the institution.

 

On top of this, the ability to get an internship for the summer is seamless and is the best from any school I have seen. MIT has a multitude of resources to connect their students with amazing summer experiences - they have two career fairs a year, have multiple websites for career opportunities targeted for MIT students, have advisors whose only job is to pair you with potential companies and give career advice, and have an incredibly extensive alumni network.

 

There are also a multitude of abroad opportunities available. The most utilized one, MISTI, is a fully funded (and paid) internship in almost any desired country. I was intending on applying to the Spain MISTI program for this summer, but unfortunately with COVID-19 that was not a possibility. Additionally MIT gives the option for students to study in complete semesters abroad at other universities if your major allows, which is another cool thing if you are interested.

 

The last thing I will mention is that the academic support system at MIT is unparalleled. For the most part the atmosphere between students at MIT is not competitive, and instead is purely collaborative. Professors, TAs, and Administration also provide more resources than a single student can utilize: for any class there are help sessions almost daily, there are review seminars before every exam, the professors are always available to schedule individual meetings to discuss questions about material, and there are smaller classes called "recitations" twice a week where TAs review material from the previous lecture and do practice problems. It is almost impossible to feel lost in a class if you utilize these resources, and I have done so extensively and it has really helped me succeed at MIT. This wonderful environment and support system might be my favorite part of my academic experience!

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How was your online learning experience at your college? What resources did your college provide you during this time?

In all honesty it was very tough, but was the best it could have been given the circumstances. The grading schema changed to pass or fail, so there were no longer A/B/C grades attached to classes, alleviating some of the pressure that COVID put on the students. There were still online office hours and professors were willing to meet, and on top of that professors usually gave extended time frames for exams (as in being able to take the exam any time over 24 hours, and giving a 3 hour exam for what usually would be a 2 hour exam). Lectures were asynchronous and could be watched whenever the student was available, and deadlines for assignments and the quantity of assignments did not change. What made online learning difficult however was the lack of collaboration possible between myself and my peers, and with MIT's student body so heavily involved and reliant on this aspect of academics, it made the learning itself very difficult.

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What did your college do well or poorly to support students and communities when COVID-19 first hit?

When COVID-19 was first discovered in America, MIT immediately sent out an email to students regarding the potential of the situation, and they also put up hand sanitizer stations around campus to support cleanliness. As it ramped up in intensity, MIT was very transparent with what actions they took. They sent out surveys to the student body, met with student committees to discuss potential plans, and sent out consistent emails with updates on their decision making process. When they announced that we had to be removed from campus, they gave us a week to do so, and provided up to $500 of financial support for any student (with more if necessary) to be able to travel home and get their belongings to a safe location. Additionally, after we were sent home, we were given a 2-week break from classes, assignments, and exams so that we could transition to life at home.

 

The negative side to all of this decision making and transparency was that it took a long time - MIT was one of the last schools in Boston to be sent home, or given any final decision regarding the rest of the semester. Similarly, MIT undergrads given the final decision about the upcoming Fall 2020 semester in July, again one of the last schools I've heard to make such a decision. This slow process is based on them wanted to gather input from the student body and make the decision that will benefit everyone, which is a good thing, but the long delay in decisions can sometimes be frustrating regardless.

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Questions about Student Life

 

If students are interested in your major/concentration, what extracurricular activities do you recommend they do at your college?

MIT has an outrageous number of extracurricular activities that you can involve yourself in, many of these tailored to specific majors. Personally, I am involved in an organization called Camp Kesem, which provides year-round support for children whose lives have been affected by cancer and also annually provides a free of charge camp to these children to fill them with positivity, laughs, and wonderful experiences. Regardless of your major or what school you go to I highly recommend getting involved in this, as Camp Kesem is a national organization that has dozens of chapters across the US! If you are directly interested in health and medicine, MIT GlobeMed is also another wonderful group that works with grassroots organizations to provide medical support in impoverished communities, although I personally have not found the time to involve myself in it yet.

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What are common things to do on weekends? Do students commute back home for the weekend or are there events on campus?

For the most part everyone stays on campus during the weekends, as there are countless things to do in the Boston area. There are beautiful parks that you can go to, you can go shopping or go for walks in the Prudential area, or if it is nice you can take a ZipCar to a nearby beach. Additionally, there is a lot of nightlife during the weekends around Boston and especially within the MIT community, as 45% of MIT is affiliated to either a fraternity or sorority. All students in the Boston area attend MIT for its nightlife, which is really something to take into account as there are over 150,000 college students in Boston. Rarely are there MIT administration run events for students on the weekends, but there are more than enough things to keep you busy and take some stress off your shoulders from the school week.

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Are you involved in athletics at your college? How do you balance sports, academics, and extracurricular activities?

Yes, I am on the varsity soccer team. Although this is usually the cliche answer from collegiate athletes, it has been especially true during my time at MIT that during season, being an athlete has given me a better lifestyle to support academics. It provides me with more structure to my day, and forces me to plan ahead for exams, assignments, my extracurriculars, and social plans. Additionally, the athletics at MIT are not drowning - they do not take up 6 hours of your day each day, and leave more than enough time for you to involve yourself in extracurriculars while still staying on top of your academics.

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Do you have a job during the school year, or is it common for students to have on-campus jobs? What is that experience like?

As referenced in a previous question, it is common for students to have on campus jobs, but more often than not they are in the form of research opportunities. Because of the abundance of research opportunities available on campus, most students participate in one if they feel they have the time to, as by doing this they can get a little extra pay or get credits towards their major. From everyone involved including myself, I can say that the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The hours are not crazy - they can be a maximum of 12 hours per week - and the supervisors are usually extremely considerate as they know that you are also a full time student. Additionally, you learn a ton about your field of interest, which is invaluable experience.

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Extra Questions

 

What advice would you give to current Shen students when applying to your college?

MIT has its own special process for applying, and the questions seem to be super random - but they aren't. The best advice I can give to someone that is applying is to be genuine. MIT does not care if you did a million extracurriculars, were valedictorian, or were the star athlete of your school. All that they want are people that they think will be awesome members of an amazing community, and so if you are honest and truthful in your application, and are willing to show a bit of flare about your character in your application, then you have a good chance to get in. For reference, in a question that was asked of me as a follow up to my application by MIT, I referenced me being disappointed that the Patriots lost the Superbowl in 2018. Just be yourself!

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What makes your college special to you?

To me, MIT is special because of the people there. I have never been a part of such a generous, caring, and supportive community in my entire life. Every student wants all other students to succeed, and everyone is more than willing to take time out of their day to aid others in need. Nothing done at MIT is done alone, and as soon as you get to MIT you will see countless other students opening their arms to welcome you. But the wonderful community does not stop with the students - MIT professors are some of the best role models I've seen in my life, as their care for their students and their interest in our lives and wellbeing is something I have never seen before. Additionally, MIT administration's only goal is to make sure their students are given the best possible support system they have - there are countless mental health services, career support services, academic advising services, and networking events. Overall, everyone looks beyond themselves and puts effort into making those around them better and happier, and for that I am forever grateful.

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What do you wish you knew about your college when you were a senior at Shen?

Firstly, I wish I knew how difficult the academics would be. I know the stigma around MIT is that it is a difficult school, but prior to actually having the assignments and exams I hadn't realized just how difficult it would be. The difficulty isn't a bad thing either - in hindsight, me being able to accomplish what I have at school has given me the confidence to do whatever my heart desires. But it came with countless late nights and hard work, and it really took me by surprise when I first came to MIT.

 

Secondly, I wish I had known not to put so much pressure on myself during my first semester of my freshman year. The first semester at MIT is on P/NR, meaning that there are no letter grades and it is only Pass or Fail. I strived to get A's in those classes and stressed myself out when I should have been networking and enjoying myself. It was an opportunity that I do wish I had taken advantage of, and for anyone that gets that opportunity at any school make sure you don't miss out on it!

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Before COVID-19, what was the housing like at your college? What would you recommend to Shen seniors to find their roommates?

I was honestly very lucky with my roommate situation - MIT has a weekend were admitted students visit MIT overnight and stay in undergraduate's dorm rooms, and I met all of my friends during that weekend. My three closest friends and I became roommates, all joined the same fraternity, and now have a group of friends that we will have for the rest of our lives.

 

However, during that weekend I was trying to meet people just like any incoming freshman would at any other school. With that experience, the best advice that I can give is just to talk to literally everyone you see. If you get admitted, and have the option to not be assigned a random person as your roommate, DM admitted students on Facebook and get to know them. Remember that everyone is in the same boat as you, looking for friends and roommates. So take advantage of it, and meet as many people as possible!

 

ALSO! Do NOT get a single if you can avoid it. Get as many roommates into a room (I was in a quad) as you can your freshman year. You may think that you will want the privacy at first, but I promise that having roommates is the best way to get close with someone, expand your social group, and always have a support system around you in times of need.

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How is the financial aid situation at your college?

MIT is a strictly need-based school with no scholarships offered, just an FYI.

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Is there anything else you'd like to share about your college experience that hasn't been addressed yet in this questionnaire?

Leaving your friends from high school is hard. I remember being driven to MIT, and that was the hardest day of my life. I was scared, and nervous, and afraid I'd lose my friends from home. Little did I know that the best days of my life were ahead of me, I'd always stay close with my friends from home, and I'd make countless new ones at MIT. Don't be nervous, be excited!

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