everyone* knows each other by Victor D. '27

When I arrived at Sin Limite (MIT’s admitted students weekend geared towards Hispanic students), I was surprised by how many people knew each other from high school, or even before. I learned there’s an ecosystem of academic competition kids, from math, physics olympiad, research competitions, and similar circles. These circles tend to intersect and so even if not friends, many are acquaintances. Furthermore, MIT has several programs for high schoolers such as MITES (MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science) and WISE (Weekend Immersion in Science & Engineering program), so more adMITS know each other from those programs.

Before coming to MIT, I hadn’t interacted with these circles .⁠01 well, mostly. i did apply to MITES my junior year, so I was in that Discord server. My freshman/sophomore roommate and I discovered recently that we had a brief conversation there lol It’s an uncomfortable asymmetry to walk into a space where it seems like everyone is friends but you’re the stranger. I imagine many of you will be in my situation.

I’m writing this as a PSA so you won’t be as surprised when you walk up to a group and introduce yourself, only to realize two of them are cousins, another two are family friends, three went to the same high school, and five are acquaintances from academic competitions—and they are all friends .⁠02 moderate exaggeration

What helped me was networking on the Class of 2027 Discord server before I arrived, so I had a few people to reach out to once I was actually at MIT. If you’re like how I was in high school, I’d really suggest joining the Class of 2030 server. For me, meeting people online felt much easier than trying to do it all in person.

Of course, not everyone knows each other beforehand. Glhf meeting all your new classmates!!