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Please note:

The MIT Welcome Center and Admissions Office will be closed for winter break December 23 through January 4. We will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026.

What does “drinking from a fire hose” mean?

Getting an education from MIT has been likened to taking a drink from a fire hose—the sheer number of opportunities and rigor of our coursework can leave students feeling hosed. So it’s only fair that students must pass a swim test in order to graduate!