If you're curious about attending an elite university, the words MIT and Harvard would no doubt have tickled your muse. Harvard and MIT have a legendary rivalry based on their illustrious alumni, geographical proximity and status as the world's leading higher education institute. Let's look at this in more detail.
Harvard was founded in 1636, by English clergyman, John Harvard and the Massachusetts state legislature. MIT meanwhile, was founded in 1861 as a reaction to the ongoing industrialization of the United States. Both MIT and Harvard are based in Cambridge of course, and are divided by but a stretch of the Charles River. Because of their geographical relationship, many have encouraged the institutes to unite. MIT though, have resisted all attempts at such a union.
The result is a city with a concentration of America and the world's finest minds. These students pit their wits in a rivalry punctuated by 'hacks'.
What is a 'hack' then? A hack is no less than a practical joke. These include decorating John Harvard's statue and inflating a balloon during a Harvard-Yale game proudly emblazoning the phrase 'MIT'. MIT student's are famous for their tradition and mischievous nature. If you have a moment, check out their annual 'Piano Drop' or displaying a 200ft representation of Tetris on the Green Building.
Getting into MIT and Harvard isn't a task to be taken lightly. The competition is fierce and every year the acceptance rate falls. For the class of 2016 just under 10% of applicants were accepted. Harvard admissions are even more challenging though, with under 6% of applicants accepted. Applying to either requires a strategic approach, a notable academic record and an extra-curricular pedigree.
You don't have to have a 4.0 GPA and 2400 SAT to earn admittance to either institute, but it helps. What do I mean?
Some people mistakenly believe MIT and Harvard have minimum GPA requirements, but that isn't true. Some students earn acceptance to Harvard with sub-3 GPA's while others are rejected with a 4.0 GPA. You need to have a well rounded application that demonstrates character strength in addition to academic vigor. The same holds true for MIT.
We hope this short article has given you an appetite to learn more about Harvard and MIT. Students at MIT and Harvard are history in the making. They are the architects of the future. They are the next generations political leaders, entrepreneurs and billionaires. Should you wish to reach these heights, we wish you the very best.
Source by Ismail O Hossain
