So philosophical entries with advice on the right strategies for conquering MIT are really great, but in my humble opinion, the most helpful thing I can do for you is to connect you with things that will give you a richer college experience. You'll figure out for yourself how you want to live the next four years, what you want to do, whether you want to care about x or y, etc. The least I can do is try to make your research a little easier. Here goes:

Transportation

Subway map: http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/
Campus map: http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg
Transportation (subway passes, shuttle info, plus parking info for visitors): http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/
ShuttleTrack (see which shuttles are where so you don't have to wait outside in the rain): http://shuttletrack.mit.edu/

Computing

Get certificates (super important): http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/certificates/
MIT-supported software (download stuff for free, post pictures to your webspace, etc.): http://web.mit.edu/software/
Athena clusters & printers: http://web.mit.edu/olh/Clusters/
Email list management (check which lists you're on, add yourself to other lists, etc.): http://web.mit.edu/moira
Directory search: http://web.mit.edu/search.html
Webmail: https://webmail.mit.edu/
SIPB (students who help with computer stuff): http://www.mit.edu/sipb/sipb.html
TechTime, MIT's Calendar system (you may prefer another calendar system for personal use, but register for this too since nearly 5000 faculty/staff keep their public schedules on it): http://calendar.mit.edu/

Activities

Association of Student Activities (ASA) database, which has all officially-recognized groups: http://web.mit.edu/asa/database/index.html
Reserve a room: http://cac-ems.mit.edu/VirtualEMS/
Student Life Programs (SLP) support: http://web.mit.edu/slp/grouptools/asa.shtml
What's going on? Events Calendar: http://events.mit.edu/
Independent Activities Period: http://web.mit.edu/iap/
Group accounts: http://web.mit.edu/slp/money/
Tax exempt forms: http://controllers.mit.edu/site/procurement/forms

Dining

General (hours, locations, menus): http://web.mit.edu/dining/
Boston restaurants: http://boston.citysearch.com/find/section/boston/restaurants.html

Housing

Undergraduate housing: http://mit.edu/housing/undergrad/index.html
Repairs: http://web.mit.edu/sapweb/PS1/facilities_home.shtml
Dormitory Council: http://web.mit.edu/dormcon/
Interfraternity Council: http://ifc.mit.edu/
Panhel (sororities): http://web.mit.edu/panhel/www/
Independent living groups: http://web.mit.edu/slp/involved/ilgs.shtml

Finances

TechCash (money for dinner, laundry, textbooks, etc.): http://web.mit.edu/mitcard/
MITPAY (tuition): http://student.mit.edu/cgi-docs/student.html
Timesheets for campus jobs: http://web.mit.edu/sapwebss/PS1/time_home.shtml

Academic

UROP (undergraduate research): http://web.mit.edu/urop/
Public Service: http://web.mit.edu/mitpsc/
First year info: http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/
Course catalog with times: http://student.mit.edu/@3713989.29448/catalog/index.cgi
Your personal Academic Record: https://student.mit.edu/cgi-docs/shrwstop.html
Committee on Academic Performance (CAP) petitions to add/drop stuff late: http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/cap/petitions/types.html
Academic Calendar 2007-2008: http://web.mit.edu/registrar/www/cal0708.html
Study abroad: http://web.mit.edu/studyabroad/index.html
Undergraduate exchange with Cambridge: http://web.mit.edu/cmi/ue/
MIT International Science & Technology Initiative (MISTI): http://web.mit.edu/misti/
My #1 love, MIT Libraries: http://libraries.mit.edu/
Course Administrators: http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/deptcontacts/undergrad_administrators.html
Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences (HASS) Concentration (which, at this time, is still required): http://web.mit.edu/shass/undergraduate/hass-req/concentration/index.shtml

Athletics

Zesiger center hours: http://web.mit.edu/zcenter/gen_info/z_hours.html
Physical Education (required!): http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/physed/
Varsity sports: http://mitathletics.cstv.com/
Club sports listing: http://web.mit.edu/athletics/www/clubsports/
Club sports council: http://web.mit.edu/clubsports/

Arts (selected)

Student Art Association: http://web.mit.edu/saa/index.html
MIT Symphony Orchestra: http://web.mit.edu/mitso/
MIT Radio: http://wmbr.mit.edu/
Concert Choir: http://web.mit.edu/21m401/www/about.html
Chamber Chorus: http://web.mit.edu/21m.405/www/
Concert Band: http://band.mit.edu/news.php
Wind Ensemble: http://web.mit.edu/mitwe/www/
Free tickets to the Symphony (BSO): http://web.mit.edu/arts/see/freetickets/bso.html

After MIT

Applying to Grad school: http://web.mit.edu/career/www/gradschool/
Premed: http://web.mit.edu/career/www/preprof/premed.html
Prelaw: http://web.mit.edu/career/www/preprof/prelaw.html
Careers Office (very good resume critiques!): http://web.mit.edu/career/www/
Alumni Association: http://alum.mit.edu/index.html
Alumni Career Services: http://alum.mit.edu/cs/index.html

Secrets

Scanner for free at Rotch: http://libraries.mit.edu/rvc/services.html
Subject evaluations: http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/sse/courselist.html
How to use the MIT logo properly: http://web.mit.edu/graphicidentity/logo/
Get on the homepage! (probably the best way to advertise anything ever): http://web.mit.edu/site/request.html

Let me know what I forgot

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

You don't have permission to access /acadinfo/sse/courses/course6.html on this server.

I have certificates installed.

Posted by: Fimus '11 on June 6, 2007

Yup, I get that too. Sometimes it doesn't work while they're updating the evaluations. Check back in August when you're picking classes, and if it doesn't work then, shoot me an email

Posted by: Mitra on June 6, 2007

I bookmarked this entry, I think I'm gonna need to come here pretty often. Thanks!

Posted by: milena '11 on June 6, 2007

O.O

Wow.

Thank you.

*bookmarks*

Posted by: Wings '11 on June 6, 2007

Wait. How do we install certificates?

Sorry =)

Posted by: Wings '11 on June 6, 2007

Nevermind. I saw it. Sorry for yet another comment =) Thanks again for this incredibly useful blog!

Can someone do a Mac vs PC comparison soon?

Posted by: Wings '11 on June 6, 2007

Start out here: http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/certificates/

First, you have to get an MIT CA (Certificate Authority)

Once you've installed that, you get your personal certificate (next link on the page). Do you have your email address yet?

Posted by: Mitra on June 6, 2007

Heh, okay I was too late. Good work

Posted by: Mitra on June 6, 2007

thanks so much, mitra!

Posted by: 0 on June 6, 2007

How about a Linux vs PC comparison?

Posted by: 0 on June 6, 2007

...I think I love you. ^^ A major thanks for all of this information. I will probably be viewing this blog entry compulsively for months to come.

Posted by: Robin on June 6, 2007

Haven't tested it out yet but apparently the new google mapping transit feature is live for Boston... try that out, too!

Posted by: Sam Jackson on June 6, 2007

Another idea for a blog entry: What would you guys suggest, starting at MIT? Tips on what we should do, and unexpected things you faced =)

Sorry. I just love reading your blogs =)

Posted by: Wings '11 on June 6, 2007

Ah, I think I'll be referring back to this entry quite often. Thank you! :D

Posted by: Lulu on June 6, 2007

should we have set up our MITPAY account yet and made it available to our parents? all it said in the parents' book was that we should have received information on how to do that...

thanks so much! this is truly a great entry!

Posted by: jenn'11 on June 7, 2007

AWESOME!!! Thanks so much!!

Posted by: Rach '11 on June 7, 2007

AWESOME!!! Thanks so much!!

Posted by: Rach '11 on June 7, 2007

hey mitra ,
i mailed u once ...n u replied wit som real helpful sites thnx.
its nile frm bangladesh

Posted by: nile on June 7, 2007

r ya registered in facebook can i addya?...plz do reply.

Posted by: nile on June 7, 2007

I want to ask this question that has been bothering me for last 2 years.... so here it is:

I was very good in Biology during my high school (got silver and golden medals in international Biology Olympiad). Then I got enrolled to the university where I graduated as an average student with 2 majors (Business Administration and Computer Science). It has been 2 years since I have graduated. Now I want to apply for MIT undergraduate program in Biology... as I think I will not qualify for a graduate program.

1. What are my chances in your opinion?
2. What would be your advice?

Posted by: Ali on June 7, 2007

Mitra, thanks so much!

I don't understand something.. what are the certificates for? Do I download them to any computer I want or only to the laptop I will be using at MIT?

Also.. does MIT provide some programs for free? Such as operating systems, MATLAB, MS office, etc? Or are students expected to buy them?

Thanks so much for your time. And sorry for the rather *basic* questions..

Posted by: an '11 on June 7, 2007

Hey An, no, these are great questions. Certificates (from what I understand) allow the website to identify you, and MIT uses them for both ID and security purposes. In general, they tell the website that you are MIT-affiliated so you can access private documents. They will also come in handy when you want to vote in class elections, sign up for classes, enter the PE lottery, etc.

You will need to download them on any computer you want to use for this sort of activity. I have them downloaded on my personal laptop and on my Athena account, but not on my parents' computers at home.

MATLAB and word processing programs are provided for free on Athena, the campus-wide computing network. I don't know anyone who bought MATLAB

What kind of computer do you have? The software website has tabs at the top for Macintosh, Linux, and Windows downloads. The Windows one for sure has word processing programs (XP professional & Office Add-ins).

Okay hope this helps!

Posted by: Mitra on June 7, 2007

Thanks so much, Mitra!

Posted by: An'11 on June 7, 2007

Oh, Mitra... I have one more question! Is there a software that can help us select classes? Like..we enter the class names and it generates some reasonable schedules? Or am I dreaming too much? =)

And when do you think is it a good time to seriously start considering which classes to take?

Thaaankksss! You rock!

Posted by: An'11 on June 7, 2007

Great, thanks a lot, Mitra! This really helps.

Posted by: Wun Min '11 on June 8, 2007

Nice

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