Shilpa’s On Campus Perspective:
When you’re at MIT, there is always some assignment to submit, a paper to write, or a test to study for. But it’s not all work and no play. In a few years, when I look back at my time at MIT, I’m going to fondly remember all the memories made here on campus.
Orientation
While the first two weeks at MIT will be filled with workshops and classes, there’s plenty of events organized by the Graduate Student Council that help you get to know your peers better. Some of the highlights for us include a hiking trip to New Hampshire and a Boat Cruise Dance Party by the Boston skyline.
The Muddy Charles Pub
Done with an exam at 11:30 AM and feel like a drink? Head to the Muddy Charles! At this graduate bar, you never know who you may share a table with – an astrophysicist, nuclear engineer or an entrepreneur.
SCM Class of 2019 celebrating the end of the semester at Central Square’s Middlesex Lounge
C-functions
A monthly celebration of Diverse Cultures, organized by the various student clubs at Sloan, ranging from Japan to Latin America to Africa. Festivities may include cultural performances like song and dance put on by members of the student body. Events generally finish up with a can’t miss after-party at some local destination.
Graduate Dorm Events
When you don’t feel like stepping out of the dorm (which is most of the time), head to one of the dance parties where you can dance from 10 PM till whenever your legs give out. Alternately, get together with your friends to enjoy a game of ‘Secret Hitler’ (PS: you will not trust your friends again)
SCM Class of 2019 crashing the photobooth at a Sid-Pac sponsored dance party
Physical Education Classes
MIT has one of the best recreation and fitness centers: Z-centre. Here you can sign up for PE classes with your classmates ranging from golf, squash, Zumba, BollyX, Taekwondo and many more.
Free food!
Once you’re at MIT, you’ll notice that most of the events provide free food. You can head to any of the advertised events or if you don’t want to cook all through the semester, join the free-food mailing list
Brian’s Off Campus Perspective:
While you’ll certainly take part in many of the MIT-related social activities during your time on campus, please don’t forget to get off campus and explore the local area! For many of you, this might be the only time you’ll ever live in Cambridge/Boston. With that in mind, you definitely want to try and enjoy some of the great things that the area has to offer.
Having lived in the area for the past several years, I can attest that there is a wealth of great options on a range of different interests. To help get you started when you arrive on campus, I’ve provided a short list of fun things to see and do during your limited time here:
Into the arts?
- Want to see a play, but don’t have the time to go to Broadway? Support Cambridge’s local theater company and catch a play at the Central Square Theater
- Enjoy the movies? Take the MBTA Red Line north a couple of stops to Davis Square and enjoy the cinema at the Somerville Theater
- More of a live music fan? The Sinclair and The Middle East both host tons of acts throughout the year of various musical genres
Down to exercise?
- Hone your urban rock climbing skills at Somerville’s Brooklyn Boulders– and then add that to your resume’s “Skills/Special Interest” section
- Take in the Boston skyline while safely walking or jogging along the Charles River Esplanade
- Get an annual Bluebikes membership ($35 w/MIT student discount) and cruise the streets in style (also doubles as a faster means to class when you miss the shuttle bus!)
- See more of Cambridge by foot (more specifically, sneaker) by running one of the Cambridge 5K Series themed road races
Want to be a Boston sports fan?
- Cheer on the city’s teams! Catch a Red Sox(baseball) game (April-Oct) at the iconic Fenway Park or a Bruins(hockey) and Celtics(basketball) game at the TD Garden (Oct-June). (FYI: Venues also double as places to cheer against teams from New York)
Looking for nightlife?
- Dance the stresses of student life away at the Middlesex Lounge (First Alternate: Central Square’s Phoenix Landing, Second Alternate: Harvard Square’s Hong Kong)
- Grab a craft cocktail at a local speakeasy – Union Square’s backbar, Central Square’s Brick & Mortar, or Davis Square’s Saloon)
Need caffeine to start the day or power you through a capstone working session?
- Bring your own thermos for a reduced priced coffee at flour bakery + café! FYI – the snacks and pastries there are dangerously good!
- Looking for more of an “Italian café experience” – then look no further than Central Square’s Caffé Nero
Lastly, I’ll close with making a plug for The Boston Calendar. This is a great place to start when trying to figure out fun or interesting things to do for the week/weekend.
We hope you’ve all enjoyed this post, and more importantly, are able to enjoy some of its recommendations. Till next time!