Some Last Impressions

Another metaphorical picture of mine; the sunset over MIT.  In the case of the picture it was July 4, 2010.  With respect to the blog entry, well, I think you can get the picture...so to speak...

The hour is late (though early by classic MIT standards), and in a few hours I’ll be having “graduation day” for the alto clef in my score reading class.  I was going to get in bed roughly an hour ago, but I got engrossed in typing an email to a potential MIT applicant who was asking about the music program at MIT.

Naturally, I had several (positive) things to say.  And having just sent off the email, I thought it would make a fitting blog entry, especially after my last entry chronicled the beginning to my post-MIT academic life.  So here is the email (in bold), and my subsequent response.




Dear Ben,


Thank you so much for your willingness to help! You seem like the perfect person to answer my question.  My main question is: Do you think it would be possible to have a balanced academic life between music and math/engineering at MIT? Or did this have the effect of eating up all of your time? Also, did your major requirements restrict what else you wanted to do with music classes?


Best,
Gabe


Hi Gabe,

Glad to hear back from you.  You're asking a very good question, here's what I think:

It is absolutely possible to have a balanced academic life between music and whatever else you may decide to pursue at MIT.  One of the aspects of MIT that I really appreciated--and that probably doesn't get enough attention--is the ease with which you can broaden your horizons, so to speak.  In other words, not only is MIT a top school in biology, mechanical engineering, or any other department for that matter, but it is also a school where you can create an multi-disciplinary curriculum for yourself.  In fact, as you might already know, MIT's new double major program specifically makes it easier for students to pursue multiple fields.

Granted, in studying both music and some kind of science or engineering at MIT there's less of an overlap (as compared to biology and chemistry, for example), but the requirements of the music department are not overbearing.  With the new double major, I'd guess that in most cases it is possible to double major and still only take 4 classes every semester (the standard load).  Having few (if any classes) that would satisfy both music and science/engineering classes is easily offset by having your music classes count for most of your humanities classes anyway.

In my case, I did the "old" way of double majoring (which yielded two separate degrees).  I completed all the requirements for physics and for music, and the necessary extra units beyond the core requirements.  I pursued the less intense physics degree (i.e., fewer requirements) and actually ended up taking more music classes than I did physics classes.  So to answer your last question, my primary major did not interfere with my musical ambitions.  And beyond that, I had time for extracurricular activities.  I played in and conducted (small) orchestras for the musical theater guild, participated in the improv troupe on campus all four years, and was part of a fraternity, too.  And after my freshman year I was holding leadership positions in the improv troupe and fraternity.  I tell you this not to tout my accomplishments of course, but to let you know that you won't have too much trouble having a life outside of class.

MIT can be a very intense place.  I had my share of late nights, and there were a few times when I felt overwhelmed.  Part of that was my own doing, from taking an extra class or two, but part of it is the nature of being at MIT.  I really feel like a learned a lot in college, but at the same time, I also feel like I barely scratched the surface of what MIT has to offer.  It's the whole "taking a sip from a fire hydrant" phenomenon (which you'll hear more about if you haven't already).  The bottom line, though, is that while your MIT experience would inevitably be relatively demanding (no matter what you pursue), following multiple passions is entirely possible, and manageable, too.  It's not necessarily easy (for most people, like myself), but it's far from impossible.

I'm sure I've long since written more than you had bargained for, but I have one other thing to say about the music department at MIT.  Because MIT is primarily (and acronym-ically) an institute of technology, the people who pursue music are really dedicated to and interested in the classes.  In most cases, the people who sign up for music classes are not doing so specifically to fulfill a requirement, but rather to learn more about something that really interests them.  I took a musical analysis class, for example (a class with three required papers and an oral presentation), and the discussions we would have about the music were very fulfilling and interesting because everyone enjoyed being a part of them, and everyone had something valuable to contribute.

That's "all" I have for now... If you have any other questions, or if you'd like me to clarify anything, I'm happy to do so.  Let me know if you end up applying, and best of luck in the coming months.

Ben