The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Grounded in Cambridge, MA, the university has global reach, with graduates leading the fields of engineering, science, mathematics, media, and more around the world. They seek out students who are more than brilliant — they also have to be intent on changing the world. They want applicants who are breaking out of the box, using the resources they have to push beyond what seems possible. Graduates and faculty have won 101 Nobel prizes, there are 61 National Medal of Science recipients in their ranks, and 17 A.M. Turing Award winners.
But MIT isn’t just about numbers and science experiments. There are a dozen museums and galleries on campus, and more than half of students take arts courses as part of their undergraduate education. The university is innovative, and they fuel that innovation by attracting students that want to be part of their weird and wild world.
In MIT’s own words, “We love data,” and they’re big on sharing it. We appreciate this transparency. They receive nearly 27,000 applications, and accept less than 5% of applicants. The Early Action acceptance rate is slightly higher at 5.7%. The international student acceptance rate is much lower — only 2%.
In this post, we break down the top 5 majors at MIT (in no particular order). As your reading through them, open your mind to options and ideas you may not have considered already, but that could lead you on an exceptional journey to a remarkable life.
If you’re a high school student trying to chart your path, send us an email. We match exceptional students with outstanding colleges and universities.
What do we mean by best major?
First, what do we mean by ‘best’? These are five majors that each bring together depth of resources and faculty, focus, and post-graduation outcomes that are truly enviable.
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
The Department of Architecture at MIT offers two majors in architecture, and our favorite is the Bachelor of Science in Architecture. The MIT architecture program for undergrads is a perfect combination of science and art, and students can take courses as close to home as studying the architecture on the MIT campus, all the way to courses like “Building Islam.” You can study “The History of Making Things,” and “Modern Art and Mass Culture,” both of which are courses we wish we’d been able to take in college. And if working as an architect isn’t your aim, but you really want to study design for buildings or smaller structures, you can minor in Architecture; Art, Culture and Technology; Design; or History of Architecture, Art + Design.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Aerospace Engineering (AeroAstro)
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics is an undergraduate degree in engineering in a form that only a few places on the planet can offer. The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics looks up, literally. They envision a world where the aerospace field, a historically homogenous industry, “is a diverse and inclusive community, pushing the boundaries of the possible to ensure lasting positive impact.” And they are working to create that world. The AeroAstro program is one of the best, if not the best, in the world, and as a major in the program you’d be able to take part in groundbreaking research that is shaping our understanding of the cosmos.
Archaeology and Materials
There are three amazing majors available through the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at MIT, but the “Archaeology and Materials” major is our favorite by far. This program brings the past and the present and the future all into one place and smashes them together. Students study how ancient societies worked with materials, from constructing buildings to making ceremonial objects, the relationships people had with materials, and the implications of time on those materials. It’s archaeology, engineering, geology, and materials science all wrapped into one, and you gain access to courses like “The Ancient Andean World” and “Ancient Mesoamerican Civilization.” Basically, it’s awesome.
The Course 12 Major (Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences)
The Major in Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Science, best known as the Course 12 major, is one of the most exciting majors for students who want to know our planet, and shape its future. Students can focus in on biology, physics, chemistry, math, data science, or engineering through a flexible academic program with small class sizes and close student-professor relationships. There are concentrations in Geoscience; Atmospheres, Oceans + Climate; Planetary Science + Astronomy; or Environmental Systems, and students get to work in the lab and in the field in addition to more traditional classroom time.
Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Engineering/Science
The Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Engineering, or in Humanities and Science, is a joint major between “one of 19 fields in the humanities” with either engineering or science. We love this option at MIT because it’s out of the box. Students in the program are able to put together seemingly divergent subjects, holding them as equals and finding commonalities and opportunities. Interestingly, the major isn’t 50/50, though. Students actually do 60% of their work in the humanities and 40% in either an engineering or science field. Popular combinations include putting together literature and mathematics, science writing and mechanical engineering, and comparative media studies and electrical engineering.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of your major, all undergraduate students at MIT will have to fulfill the Communications Requirement, a writing and speaking-centric requirement that ensures that all graduates leave not just as burgeoning experts with deep passion and boundless enthusiasm, but also as human who can communicate what they know with the world.
MIT is rightly known as a STEM-focused school, but we hope that this post has helped you to see that MIT isn’t a one-trick pony. They offer majors that truly push the boundaries of topic and arena, and that prepare students to truly change the world. That, for us, is wildly exciting.
If you’re looking for an education that excites, reach out. We help students access the exceptional.