Academic Year/Schedule [MIT vs. Cam]

There is a STARK contrast between the MIT and Cambridge "academic year."

This was one of the biggest culture/school shocks I've faced on the exchange - our two extremely intensive 13-week terms at MIT suddenly shrank to three fast-paced, over-before-you-blink-twice 8-week terms at Cambridge.

Like any comparison, there are pros and cons to both ... imagine all the continuous assessment any university could possible give you during term - then amplify that workload x10, and throw in endless hours of extracurriculars: that's MIT for 13 weeks at a time. Now, imagine barely any continuous assessment, but very dense lectures and lots of self-study: that's Cambridge for 8 weeks.

--------

MIT
Fall: September 9 - December 10
Final exam week: December 14-18
IAP: January 7 - January 31
Spring: February 2 - May 13
Final exam week: May 17 - 21

vs.

Cambridge
Michaelmas: October 8 - December 2
--5 week vacation--
Lent: January 14 - March 10
--5 week vacation--
Final exam weekS: April 19 - May 6
Easter: April 22-June 9


Anyway, I just thought it was hilarious when I received an email from the Course 2 department at MIT today, reminding us that it was ADD DATE. Back at MIT, people are approaching the deadline to add courses to their registration (at Cambridge, you must set your course selection in stone by day 3 - after that, you're taking the exam whether you like it or not) ... whereas at CAM, I only have 3 MORE DAYS OF LECTURES LEFT in term. That's right. Three.

I feel like this term has just started, and I blinked, and now it's over. Jesus.


Lori Hyke's email to course 2 reminding us about add date:

Please visit your advisor and obtain their signature today.

Add Date is Friday, March 5, 2010.
* Last day to add subjects to Registration.
* Last day for Juniors & Seniors to change an Elective to or from P/D/F Grading.
* Last day to change a subject from Listener to Credit.
* Last day for Sophomores to change a subject to or from Exploratory.
- Late Fee ($100) and petition required for students completing registration after this date.
* Last day to petition for second S.B. for February 2011 degree candidates.
* Last day for February 2011 degree candidates to apply for double major.
* Last day to drop half-term subjects offered in first-half of term.
* Deadline for completing cross-registration. 
- Late Fee ($40) for petitions approved after this date.

Academic Calendar:
http://web.mit.edu/registrar/calendar/index.html

lol.