How to Get
Around
MIT

ACADEMICS

First Things First, General Help

Suggested Readings: Get hyped with the stereotypes associated with the major, (major kudos to the work of Artists at MIT who worked on it during finals) https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/mit-major-arcana/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oSgNYFuacKRjX5e-BFz8Iah7a360LST9q2gnDkpfkwo/edit#gid=1873586376

Navigating Classes
Source : [https://canvas.mit.edu]

View your Current Schedule

Source : [https://studentschedule.mit.edu]

General Academic Deadlines and Information
Source : [https://registrar.mit.edu]

Register for Classes
Source : [https://registration.mit.edu]

Status of Forms and Petitions
Source : [https://studentformsandpetitions.mit.edu]

Find The Perfect Class for Your Requirements (HASSS Type, CI-H/HW/M, Institute Req)
Source : [https://picker.mit.edu/]

create your own curriculum
Source : [https://subjectproposal.mit.edu]

Organize your Degree Path
Source : [https://courseroad.mit.edu]

Organize Class Schedules
Source : [https://fireroad.mit.edu]

Form Class Group Chats
https://interstellar.mit.edu/

Find pset Partners
https://psetpartners.mit.edu/

Class Inventory and Search
https://student.mit.edu/catalog/index.cgi

Degree Requirements and Updates
https://catalog.mit.edu/

Academic Deadlines
https://registrar.mit.edu/calendar

Reading Break

General Departmental News
Source : [https://science.mit.edu]

Comedy Break

General Departmental News
Source : [https://engineering.mit.edu]

View Accreditation Details
Source : [https://accreditation.mit.edu]

Guide and Resources for Remote Teaching
Source : [https://learnremote.mit.edu]

View Past Lectures
Source : [https://mit.hosted.panopto.com]

Admissions
Source : [https://stellar.mit.edu]

Did you Know? Apparently professors and staff are allowed to take one course per term that seems interesting and professors are allowed to audit and evaluate the class of other people without being influenced
Source : [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/qa_round_two/]

Pre-Credit, Transfer Credit, and ASEs

High School Credit (APs, IBs, Pre-Us, FrenchBac, Abitur)

https://registrar.mit.edu/registration-academics/transfer-credit

What you need to know

You may request transfer credit for subjects taken before you arrived at MIT or while you were already enrolled as an MIT student. Each department has its own transfer credit examiner who can advise you on procedures and appropriateness.

Transfer credit will appear on your academic record with a grade of S. Although the grade is not used in calculating your term or cumulative GPA, the credit counts towards your Institute requirements. If there is no equivalent subject at MIT, the examiner may award elective credit.

Graduate students — your major department determines to what extent subjects are acceptable for credit toward the requirements of your advanced degree. Credit is considered with all other academic information in reviewing your application and in formulating your degree program.

Some key points to remember:

You cannot receive transfer credit for subjects used to fulfill a degree at another institution.
Transfer credit requests must include an official transcript showing work and final grade.
If the transcript is in a language other than English, you must provide a translation from a licensed translator.
Additional approval, beyond that of the transfer credit examiner, is required for HASS and CI transfer credit. See below.
Transfer credit requests for advanced degrees at MIT are considered special cases and are rarely approved.

What you need to do

Incoming first-year undergraduates and transfer students — review information about AP and transfer credit on the Office of the First Year website.
Consult the appropriate transfer credit examiner before registering for a class at another college to ensure that it is suitable for transfer credit and if a minimum grade is required.
Arrange for an official transcript, showing the coursework and your final grade, to be sent by email to records@mit.edu.
Request a copy of this transcript from the Registrar's Office to show to the MIT transfer credit examiner.
Bring your completed Transfer Credit Request Form to the MIT transfer credit examiner for approval, and submit your approved form to records@mit.edu.

What you need to do — HASS transfer credit

Generally, subjects taken outside of MIT are only eligible for HASS elective credit with the HASS transfer credit examiner's approval.

Contact the HASS transfer credit examiner for the HASS field in which you are seeking credit and obtain his or her approval on the Transfer Credit Request Form.
If the Examiner has awarded credit with a specific MIT subject number, HASS Distribution credit, or has recommended general HASS Elective credit, email hassreq@mit.edu for a final signature.
Submit your approved form to records@mit.edu.
Transfer students — submit your completed form to Room 7-104.

What you need to do — Communication Requirement transfer credit

Contact the transfer credit examiner for the academic department that teaches material similar to the course you took elsewhere and obtain the examiner's signature of approval on the Transfer Credit Request Form.
Email the Assistant Dean for the Communication and HASS Requirements at commreq@mit.edu.
We will help you prepare a petition to the Subcommittee on the Communication Requirement (SOCR).
Transfer credit for Communication Requirement subjects must be approved by SOCR.

The Types of Credit

Advanced Standing Exams (tests taken at MIT during the month of August or in January/February)
Advanced Placement (College Board Advanced Placement) Exam scores
International Examinations (including A-Levels, Cambridge Pre-U, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalauréat, Abitur), and
Transfer Credit for study at another college or university.

Credit for previous study is awarded as either the equivalent MIT subject or unrestricted elective credit, at the discretion of the department granting credit. All such credit appears on the transcript with a grade of S and does not count toward term or cumulative averages.

Address questions not answered here regarding MIT's policies and procedures on credit for previous study to ap@mit.edu or 617-253-6771.
Visit the MIT Admissions site for information on how previous study relates to Admissions decisions. We cannot answer questions about qualifications for admission to MIT.

AP Scores

Biology

No credit is given for the AP Biology exam.

Chemistry

No credit is given for the AP Chemistry exam.

Computer Science

No credit is given for the Computer Science AP exams.

Mathematics

A score of 5 on the Calculus BC exam will grant you credit for 18.01.

A score of 5 on the Calculus AB exam allows you to enroll in the accelerated Calculus sequence of 18.01A/18.02A.

Physics

A score of 5 on both Physics C exams—Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism—will grant you credit for 8.01. No credit will be given for the Physics 1 and 2 exams.

Other Science Exams

No credit is given for AP Environmental Science or Statistics exams.

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

A score of 5 on all AP exams listed in the College Board's categories of Arts, English, History & Social Sciences, and World Languages & Cultures earn 9 units each of unrestricted elective credit. A score of 5 on both of the Capstone exams – AP Seminar and AP Research, earns a total of 9 units of unrestricted elective credit. No credit is given for AP Environmental Science or Statistics exams.

Advanced Placement credit cannot be used to satisfy any part of the HASS Requirement.

Communication Requirement

In addition to earning 9 units of unrestricted elective credit, a score of 5 on either the English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition exam places you in the "CI-H/CI-HW Required" category without taking the First Year Essay Evaluation (FEE).

You are still required to take a Communication-Intensive subject (CI-HW or CI-H) your first year as part of the Communication Requirement. Students with scores lower than 5 on either exam should take the FEE or plan to complete a CI-HW subject.

Reporting Your Scores

For More Information

Address questions not answered here regarding MIT's policies and procedures on credit for Advanced Placement scores to ap@mit.edu.

For information about the use of AP and other exam scores in Admissions decisions, please visit http://www.mitadmissions.org/. We cannot answer questions about qualifications for admission to MIT.

How to Report scores

https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/sending-scores

A-LEVELS

Biology: No credit is given for the A-Level Biology exam.
Chemistry: No credit is given for the A-Level Chemistry exam.
Computer Science: No credit is given for the A-Level Computer Science exam.
Geography: A grade of A* or A will grant you 3 units of unrestricted elective credit.
Mathematics: A grade of A* or A will grant you credit for 18.01.
Physics: A grade of A* or A will grant you credit for 8.01.
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: A grade of A* or A on applicable exams will grant you 9 units of unrestricted elective credit for each exam

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) Higher Level Exams Only

Biology: No credit is given for the IB Biology exam.
Chemistry: No credit is given for the IB Chemistry exam.
Computer Science: No credit is given for the IB Information Technology in a Global Society examination.
Mathematics: A score of 7 will grant you credit for 18.01.
Physics: A score of 7 will grant you credit for 8.01.
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: A score of 7 on applicable exams will grant you 9 units of unrestricted elective credit for each exam.

CAMBRIDGE PRE-U EXAMS

Biology: No credit is given for the Pre-U Biology exam.
Chemistry: No credit is given for the Pre-U Chemistry exam.
Geography: A grade of A* or A will grant you 3 units of unrestricted elective credit.
Mathematics: No credit is given for Pre-U Mathematics or Further Mathematics exams.
Physics: A grade of D3, D2, or D1 in Pre-U Physics will grant you credit for 8.01.
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: A grade of D3, D2, or D1 in applicable Pre-U examinations will grant you 9 units of unrestricted elective credit for each exam.

FRENCH BACCALAURÉAT

Biology: No credit is given for the Biology exam.
Chemistry: No credit is given for the Chemistry exam.
Mathematics: Students with scores 16 through 20, will be granted credit for 18.01. For scores lower than 16, no credit is awarded.
Physics: Scores 16 through 20 will grant you credit for 8.01. For scores lower than 16, no credit is awarded.
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: Scores 16 through 20 will grant you 9 units of unrestricted elective credit for each exam.For scores lower than 16, no credit is awarded.

ABITUR

Biology: No credit is given for the Biology exam.
Chemistry: No credit is given for the Chemistry exam.
Mathematics: Students with scores 13 through 15, will be granted credit for 18.01. For scores lower than 13, no credit is given.
Physics: A score of 13 through 15 will grant you credit for 8.01. For scores lower than 13, no credit is given.
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: A score of 13 through 15 will grant you 9 units of unrestricted elective credit for each exam. For scores lower than 13, no credit is given.

Reporting Your Scores

Except for International Baccalaureate (IB) scores, to document your exam scores you must present an original, final, printed Certificate issued by an official examining authority. Please scan your original certificate and email to ap@mit.edu with the email subject as "Your Last Name" and "Exam Certificate" (ex: Santoro A Level Certificate). If you cannot email the file, please bring the original certificate to 7-104 for credit verification.

Final certificates for A Level and Pre-U scores are not usually issued until November following the June exams. In that case, you can either send your official Statement of Results to ap@mit.edu or you can bring your original printed Statement of Results to room 7-104. Staff can record preliminary credit, but final credit cannot be applied to your degree requirements until staff see the original, final, printed Certificate.

IB scores are downloaded electronically once you release them to MIT. Use the Candidate Results Service. There is no need to send or bring a copy of your certificate or diploma.

For More Information

Address questions not answered here regarding MIT's policies and procedures on credit for international exam scores to ap@mit.edu.

For information about the use of international exam scores in Admission decisions, please visit the MIT Admissions website. We cannot answer questions about qualifications for admission to MIT.

MIT departments may grant credit for study at other colleges and universities if the subjects are substantially equivalent to those taught at MIT & the grade earned meets MIT standards. However, each department sets its own policies and reviews each request individually.

Only the Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Departments review transfer credit requests over the summer. All other departments review requests after you begin classes. For summer review, you must submit all required materials by July 14, 2023.

Transfer credit requests must include:

Catalogue description and syllabus, including textbook information, chapters covered, number of class hours, length of term, and any other information that will help the examiner determine MIT equivalency.
An official transcript sent by the other college or university directly to MIT:

MIT Transfer Credit
Attn: Jocelyn Heywood
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 7-104
Cambridge MA, 02139

A completed Request for Additional Credit Form.

In addition:

For Math: The author, title, and edition of the textbook used, and the sections of it covered by the course. (You may be asked for a photocopy of the table of contents as well.). The Transfer Credit Examiner may also ask you to demonstrate your understanding of the subject.
For Chemistry: Copies of all of the written work you did.
For Physics: Students must also "validate" their transfer credit by passing the 8.01 or 8.02 Advanced Standing Exam. Validating transfer credit for other Physics subjects are not required for transfer credit for subjects beyond 8.02.

HASS Requirement Credit

MIT transfer credit for courses taken in the areas of humanities, arts, and social sciences at another college or university is usually granted as unrestricted elective credit. Occasionally, however, a Transfer Credit Examiner will grant subject credit and recommend that it be counted toward the eight-subject HASS Requirement.

For either type of HASS transfer credit:

First contact the Transfer Credit Examiner for the HASS field in which you are seeking credit. Submit your supporting materials, or meet in person.
If the Examiner signs your Request Form and approves general elective credit, submit your form to 7-104.
If the Examiner approves subject credit and recommends credit toward the HASS Requirement, contact the HASS Academic Administrator at shass-ug@mit.edu. Bring them your signed form. They will review the type of credit recommended.
For questions about the HASS Requirement and transfer credit, contact Patricia Fernandes at hassreq@mit.edu or 617-253-2313.

Communication Requirement Credit

If a HASS Transfer Credit Examiner grants subject credit (see previous section) and you want this credit to count toward MIT's Communication Requirement, take your signed Request for Additional Credit form to Patricia Fernandes, Advisor for the Communication and HASS Requirements.

For questions about the Communication Requirement and transfer credit, contact Patricia Fernandes at commreq@mit.edu or 617-253-2313.

For more information about transferring credit to MIT, email ap@mit.edu .

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/ap-transfer-credit/transfer-credit/

Only the Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Departments review transfer credit requests over the summer. All other departments review requests after you begin classes. For summer review, you must submit all required materials by July 14, 2023.

Requests for MIT transfer credit include the following elements:

1. An official transcript sent directly from the institution where you studied to:

MIT Transfer Credit Staff
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 7-104
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA.

or sent digitally to ap@mit.edu

Please note: If you submitted an official college transcript to MIT Admissions, please contact ap@mit.edu so that a copy can be requested on your behalf. No credit can be granted for courses listed only on a high school transcript, even if they were taken in a college or university, or courses documented only by a letter from an instructor or school official.

2. A course description and syllabus from each course for which you are seeking credit.

3. A separate Request for Additional Credit Form for each MIT department in which you are seeking credit. (Please use the custom form linked here, not the one posted on the Registrar's website.) Fill in all blanks except the last three in each row.

4. Additional supporting materials in certain departments:

Chemistry: Transcript, syllabus, and list of lecture topics (if not on the syllabus).
Mathematics: The author, title, and edition of the textbook used, and the sections of it covered by the course. (You may be asked for a photocopy of the table of contents as well.)
Physics: Students must also "validate" their transfer credit by passing the 8.01 or 8.02 Advanced Standing Exam. Validating transfer credit for other Physics subjects are not required for transfer credit for subjects beyond 8.02.
Other materials as requested by the Transfer Credit Examiner.

Once you've requested a transcript and gathered the materials listed above, send them to MIT as follows.

By email: Mathematics, transfercredit18@math.mit.edu (copy to ap@mit.edu);
By email: Physics, physicstransfercredit@mit.edu(copy to ap@mit.edu)
By email: Chemistry, chemistrytransfer@mit.edu (copy to ap@mit.edu)
By postal mail: All non-electronic materials for Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry to Transfer Credit staff in MIT Room 7-104, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139.

Transfer credit approved over the summer appears in your Online Advising Folder, which becomes available in mid-August. The Registrar will begin applying approved credit to your official record after Add Date (fifth week of term) and will most likely be uploaded by final exam period.

After the July 14 Summer Review Deadline:

For credit in other departments, or if you miss the summer deadline:

Contact the appropriate Transfer Credit Examiner to review your materials. Some will do so in a face-to-face meeting; others will ask you to deliver the hard-copy materials to them.
Return all signed Request for Additional Credit forms to Transfer Credit Staff in Room 7-104. We will record your pending credit and relay it to the Registrar's Office for posting.

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/ap-transfer-credit/transfer-credit/transfer-credit-examiners/

Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs)

5.111 & 5.12

6.100A

7.012

8.01, 8.02, 8.03 & 8.04

18.01, 18.02, 18.03 & 18.06

Source : [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/classes-i-wont-be-able-to-take/]
https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/advanced-standing-exams/

https://thetech.com/2020/09/09/math-diagnostic-ase-fall-20
https://registrar.mit.edu/classes-grades-evaluations/grades/grading-policies/advanced-standing-exam-grades

Advanced Standing Exams and First-Year Grading

Summer (Orientation): Graded P/NR. If exam is passed, P will show up on external transcript. Credit given does not count toward fall credit limit. No record is kept of a non-passing D or F grade taken during Orientation. Non-passing D or F grades taken any time later in the first year will be posted on the internal WebSIS record but not on the external transcript.

December (Final Exam Period): Graded P/NR. If exam is passed, P will show up on external transcript. Credit counts toward fall credit limit.

January/February: Graded ABC/NR. If exam is passed, A, B, or C will show up on external transcript. Does not count toward spring credit limit.

May (Final Exam Period): Graded ABC/NR. If exam is passed, A, B, or C will show up on external transcript. Credit counts toward spring credit limit.

Hot Takes

Source : [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/advice_youve_heard_before_and/]

Source : [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/expanding_on_pass_no_record/]

Gradescope Regrade Request Analysis

https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/regrade-request-analysis/

Semesterly Stroll

Your GIRs

HASS Credit

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/general-institute-requirements-girs/humanities-arts-and-social-sciences-hass-requirement/

The MIT HASS disciplines — the humanities, arts, and social sciences — are central to the Institute's mission to provide all graduates with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to make lasting contributions to the nation and the world.

Students may use their HASS subjects to broaden their perspectives, complement science and engineering coursework, experience new fields, or to pursue lifelong interests. Regardless of your personal approach, take the time to find a subject that sparks your curiosity. The SHASS website has lists of introductory and exploration subjects, subjects related to diversity and inclusion and other current US issues, and a tour of the many departments within SHASS.

All MIT undergraduates must complete 8 HASS subjects to fulfill the HASS General Institute Requirement. You are expected to complete at least one HASS subject each semester.

The HASS Requirement has three components: distribution, concentration, and electives.

Distribution Component (3 subjects): You are required to complete three (3) HASS distribution subjects, one from each of the following categories:
- Humanities (HASS-H)
- Arts (HASS-A)
- Social Sciences (HASS-S)
Concentration Component (3 or 4 subjects): Each student must complete a HASS concentration of 3-4 subjects (some fields require 3, some 4) that together provide an increased knowledge in a particular field.
Electives (1 or 2 subjects): The remainder of the HASS Requirement can be fulfilled with 1-2 additional subjects from any HASS category (HASS-H, HASS-A, HASS-S), including subjects designated as HASS Elective (HASS-E).

Note: Students interested in language classes, should visit the MIT Global Languages site for details on whom they should contact to have their language level assessed, see: https://mitgsl.mit.edu/fall-2020-class-location-and-level-placement.

Take aways:

The HASS Requirement overlaps with the Communication Requirement. All students must take two HASS subjects that are designated as CI-H or CI-HW. The first CI subject must be completed in the first year.
HASS Exploration (HEX) subjects are recommended to students as one pathway into the HASS Requirement. These subjects are team-taught by faculty and provide opportunities for faculty/student interaction. More information can be found at: https://registrar.mit.edu/hex.
Students may search for HASS subjects by HASS Category (HASS-H, HASS-A, HASS-S) via the Advanced Search feature available in the online subject listing in WebSIS: http://student.mit.edu/catalog/index.cgi.
HASS subjects provide a welcome balance to problem-set-oriented Science Core subjects.

Have Questions?

PE Requirements

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/general-institute-requirements-girs/physical-education-requirement/

Pre-Registration

At MIT, we have pre-registration as well as regular registration.
Pre-registration opens very early, pre-registration for the Fall Semester typically opens every May 1, THE PREVIOUS SEMESTER, registration opens until Late August, and For the Spring Semester it is December 1st and Late January respectively. You might find it insane to hear that places like BU and Northeastern their binding registration period is 1-4 months before the classes hand out their syllabus. The benefit for MIT is that Pre-registration is not binding, and even regular registration really isnt. You can alter your pre-reg subjects as often as you want until the regular registration comes in, then you will have to deal with add-drop forms and advisor approval for any changes.

But make no mistake staff and administration take Pre-registration seriously and often rely on it as their form of gauging how many spots to give to students, allocating funding, appropriately managing staff resources, and determining retention rate. So much so that you will be fined an annoying ($85) fee for not submitting it on time. To avoid all this, you really only have to preregister for 1 class.

It's not all pedantic, in addition to being helpful for your own degree progress, some very popular classes such as 2.009, may use your pre-registration as a determining factor to let people take the class.

Despite what you may hear, incoming freshmen do not have to pre-register.. First-Year Students have a separate registration process with their advisor. ^[1]

Cross-Registration

*See Colleges Around Campus

The Credit Limit for Units of Classes Is 24

Only Full Time Students Can Cross Register

Source : [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/invitation-to-cross-register/]

Your Classes

Discovery Classes

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/discovery-and-exploration-subjects/

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/discovery-and-exploration-subjects/first-year-discovery-subjects/

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/discovery-and-exploration-subjects/other-academic-exploration-subjects/

Completely unsure about what you might want to major in? Hoping to be inspired by a field you have yet to encounter?

Try taking an interdisciplinary subject and/or a few First-Year Discovery subjects in fields that sound interesting. At this point in your academic career, you will most likely benefit from exposure to many things at once. While First-Year Discovery subjects only give you a taste of each department, you'll connect with students and faculty who can answer any lingering questions.

Fairly certain of what you want to major in? Feeling like you don't need to explore other fields?

Now is the time to test your hypothesis. Try taking a full 9-12 unit subject in the major. The list of exploration subjects includes many of these subjects, and everything on the list has been selected by the departments to provide good exposure to their major. If you want to get a taste of the department's approach to research or careers, try a project-based class or class that teaches you the skills needed to pursue a UROP or internship. If you want a sense of what typical coursework in the major will be like, consider picking one of the introductory subjects that teaches you foundational content and exposes you to core problems in the discipline. You are also encouraged to take First-Year Discovery Subjects to gain exposure to other topics that might interest you. These subjects are only 1-3 units and can be great ways to discover a potential minor, second major, or HASS concentration, or you may realize that you want to rethink your initial major choice.

Have it narrowed down to just a few majors, but not quite sure which to choose?

In some cases, there may be subjects that are jointly offered by two or more departments, allowing you to explore both at once. You may also benefit from taking First-Year Discovery subjects in some or all of the departments you're considering. These 1-3 unit subjects are low-intensity, so it's easy to take a few at the same time. Some departments also offer 6-12 unit subjects for first year students, which offer even more opportunities for hands-on exploration, and can be great ways to test out a department that interests you.

Interested in pursuing a UROP as a way to explore?

Some departments have many opportunities for UROPs for first-year students, in others it is expected that you complete certain coursework first to gain the skills necessary for success in a lab. UROP staff can help you understand the best way to get connected to department research

The Most Units A Discover classes can be is 3, there are some at 1 units

Academic Exploration

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/discovery-and-exploration-subjects/other-academic-exploration-subjects/

Most Range from 3 to 12 Units with P/D/F Grading options

Finals and Exams

http://web.mit.edu/registrar/classrooms/exams/finals/

Senior Thesis

Source : [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/it_all_comes_to_this/]

Grades

First Year Grading

First-year students are graded differently and are subject to a credit limit by faculty rule. The grading policy is intended to help you adjust to MIT's teaching and grading methods as well as the increased workload without having to worry about accumulating a grade point average (GPA) and the credit limit aims to help you adjust to MIT's workload while also learning to live a balanced life with more autonomy than you may be used to having.

First-Year Grading Policies

The information provided below explains how first year students are graded at MIT, along with policies associated with the use and release of fall term internal "hidden" grades.

Special Features of First-Year Grading

First-year students are graded differently from upper-level students and your grades are also reported differently within MIT as well as on your outside official transcript. These policies are intended to help you adjust to MIT's teaching and grading methods and the increased workload without having to worry about accumulating a grade point average (GPA).

Students entering in Fall 2020 or later will not be eligible to use Sophomore Exploratory or Junior/Senior P/D/F grading options.

In your first semester and Independent Activities Period, you will receive grades of Pass or No Record:

A grade of "C" or better equals "passing" for first-years. Any subject you pass at the "C" level or greater is noted as "P" on both your external and internal transcripts.
Non-passing grades of D or F only show up on internal transcripts; unofficial grades do not show up on any external transcript. The external transcript will show no record of failed subjects, i.e., those graded D or F).
For advising purposes, you will receive internal "hidden" grades of A, B, or C. Hidden grades are neither figured into a GPA nor usable for any purpose other than advising.
See Official versus Unofficial Grades below.

In your second semester, you will receive "A", "B", or "C" grades.

These are recorded both internally and on your official transcript; "D" and "F" grades continue to be noted only internally.
You will begin to accumulate a grade point average second term, but note that only passing grades are used to figure your GPA.

Important caveats about the Spring 2024 semester for first year students:

First-year undergraduate students are covered by the new Flex P/NR grading option under which they have the option to designate up to 48 units to be graded on a P/NR basis after their first term and at any time during their course of study. Any subject is eligible for Flex P/NR designation including those that fulfill General Institute or departmental Requirements. To use the Flex P/NR option, students must designate the subject(s) after final grades are submitted and before Add Date of their next enrolled regular term.

Beginning in sophomore year, "A" through "F" grades will be reported, with "D" considered a passing grade. See the Registrar's site for complete grading information

First-Year Credit Limits

First-year students are subject to a credit limit by faculty rule. The limit aims to help you adjust to MIT's workload while also learning to live a balanced life with more autonomy than you may be used to. The credit limits for each term of your first-year are:

Fall term = 54 units (plus 6 units of discovery-focused subjects and related exceptions*)
Independent Activities Period (IAP) = 12 units (all students are limited to 12 units in IAP)
Spring term = 60 units (plus 6 units of discovery-focused subjects and related exceptions*)

First-semester take no more than 54 units (plus 6 units of discovery-focused subjects and related exceptions*)

Since most MIT subjects are worth 12 units of credit, this works out to 4 full subjects (48 units), plus 6 extra units, plus an additional 6 discovery-focused units that you may or may not choose to use.

Options for these extra 6 units beyond the main credit limit include an Advising Seminar (3-units), the Terrascope subject-12.000: Solving Complex Problems (which captures 3 units plus six of regular credit), or one or more First-Year Discovery subjects.

In the spring semester, 60 units (plus 6 units of discovery-focused subjects and related exceptions*) is the maximum

This credit limit increase allows you more room for exploration. While some students might benefit from taking 60 regular units, you should note 48-54 units is still considered a typical load and advisable for most students. Requirements at MIT are structured so that you do not need to exceed 54 units per semester (or 48 in many cases) to successfully complete your degree in 4 years. Please talk to your advisor about how many units would make sense for you given your fall experiences and goals going forward.

Options for using the extra units in the spring are: one or more First-Year Discovery subjects.
Students placed on Warning by the Committee on Academic Performance at the end of the fall semester have a spring credit limit fixed at 4 subjects, up to 48 units.

*The related exceptions are only 3 units for FAS and approved discovery classes.

Note: Physical Education classes are based on a point system and do not count toward the credit limit. Further, ROTC subjects, do not count toward the first-year credit limit.

https://firstyear.mit.edu/academics-exploration/credit-limits-grading/

Subject Evaluation Reports

https://registrar.mit.edu/classes-grades-evaluations/subject-evaluation/subject-evaluation-reports

https://registrar.mit.edu/classes-grades-evaluations/subject-evaluation

https://registrar.mit.edu/classes-grades-evaluations

https://fnl.mit.edu/september-october-2021/elimination-of-early-sophomore-standing-was-a-step-in-the-right-direction-eliminating-advanced-standing-credit-is-the-next-step/

Repeating a Subject

If you receive subject credit for previous study and then register at MIT for any version of that subject, note the following consequences:

You lose the credit for previous study.

If the subject meets a General Institute Requirement (GIR) or departmental requirement you must pass the subject at MIT.

The original credit for previous study can be reinstated only if you drop the matching subject before Add Date (fifth week of the term).

The Gospels of Every Course

Changing Your Major

https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/choosing_a_major/

Course 1 (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Talks all about Course 1 Program for First Years
Source : [https://climate-major.mit.edu]

Course 1 Alumni Group
Source : [https://eesn.alumgroup.mit.edu]

Environmental Health Science at MIT
Source : [https://ehs.mit.edu]

Center for Environmental Health Science
Source : [https://cehs.mit.edu]

Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP)
Source : [https://distap.mit.edu]

Concrete Sustainability Hub
Source : [https://cshub.mit.edu]

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Student Page
Source : [https://jpreps.mit.edu]
Global Action Impact Association
https://www.gaiacompetition.com/about-us
Environmental Solutions Initiative
Source : [https://environmentalsolutions.mit.edu]

Reading Break

Suggested Clubs

{[ ['Civil and Environmental Engineering Students Association', '52674', 'https://cee.mit.edu/education/undergraduate/undergraduate-student-life/', 'Course 1'], ['WHOI Student Organization', '53113', 'http://mit.whoi.edu/', 'Course 1, CAPD'], ['Ocean Technology Club', '53328', 'https://engage.mit.edu/OTC/', 'Course 1, Course 2'], ].map(([name, clubId, website, tags], i) => ( ))}

name

https://engage.mit.edu/student_community?club_id=$clubId

website

Chapters

ACADEMICS