What is MIT Known for? Its History and Achievements
A private educational institute located in the state of Massachusetts known for its pure scientific and technical training, the world-famous MIT was built by William Barton Rogers. He organized the institute for years to make it a hub for complicated scientific studies, and later, in the days of the American Civil War, the institute could not grow until 1865.
However, the place evolved under the supervision of Carl T. Compton from 1930 to 1948, in which it was embraced as the world-class scientific institute of technology.
MIT has a significant role in shaping our world history as the institute educates highly intellectual and creative people. There is a list of MIT alumni who are world leaders and the father of great inventions. The institute has a rich history from the first class to today, so if you are interested, then come with me to find the facts and study the history of MIT.
MIT is known for its quality of education and successful alumni; there is no field to which MIT has not yet contributed. Although the institute is known for its scientific and technical studies, it also gave place to other fields such as Brain and Cognitive Science, the Philosophical side of cinema, and Dealing with advanced economics under the influence of technology. Simply put, MIT presents all the other courses known as social science and art in the light of science and technology.
When it comes to MIT, the great professor respected Sir Richard Feynman always comes to our mind. He pioneered quantum physics and was one of the most famous MIT professors. Furthermore, MIT is known for groundbreaking research and innovating extremely complicated gadgets, which I will discuss later.
Historical Background of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
In 1853, the president of the University of Virginia, William Rogers, resigned because he wanted to build an educational institute where practical and applied sciences could go hand in hand with technology. William Roger was a man of science who had earned his name in research methods, natural philosophy, and chemistry. He had served 18 years at the University of Virginia, but now he wanted to build a place that could revolutionize the field of science.
William Rogers believes that the United States needs an educational institute where science is presented as a practical thing and technological innovations are common in the country. Basically, his father was an Irish immigrant, Patrick Rogers, and a professor of Physics and Chemistry at the College of William and Mary; that’s why most of Rogers’ ideas were inspired by his father and the European scientific revolution.
However, in 1861, his dream came true when he found himself inaugurating the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. William Rogers played a key role in building the institute, and later, he served as the president of the educational building from 1862 to 1870, but because of calamities, he could not continue and left the institute in the hands of John Daniel Runkle, a strong advocate of practical science.
MIT Moved To Cambridge
The majority of the people do not know that the original campus of MIT was located at Boston Back Bay. To start a journey of education, Rogers focused on quality instead of place, and within a few years, the student population started growing. The authorities of MIT thought to move its institute to Cambridge University in Massachusetts.
In 1916, Cambridge and MIT merged for three reasons: more space, a more central location, and a more attractive setting. At that time, Cambridge was one of the top-scoring universities and well known all around the world, but MIT had just started its way, so it was a wise decision to move MIT to Cambridge.
In The Days Of World War 2
During the First World War, the university was on the verge of growth, but when the second world conflict erupted, the institute played a pivotal role. First, so many scientific graduates participated in the second global conflict and contributed as much as possible. Furthermore, MIT became famous in this era when people were more prone to care about gunpowder rather than reflecting thoughts to innovate new technologies.
- Radar: The world was fighting, and MIT researchers were developing the most advanced radars to detect enemy aircraft. Searchers developed multiple radars such as SCR-584, SCR,268, and ANPS-1.
- Sonar Systems: Almost all the researchers were eager to develop something that could stop the bloodshed all around the world and help the country win the war. In this quest, they came up with cutting-edge sonar systems; QC and SQS were the most in-demand sonar systems of that time.
- Synthetic Rubber: Another outstanding achievement of MIT researchers is the development of synthetic rubber. Basically, in the days of World War 2, the U.S.A. was cut off from its rubber supply. However, MIT researchers and students invented another way to develop rubber so the government could build tires, gaskets, and other related materials.
There is a list of the inventions by MIT researchers and students at the time of crisis. However, the institute became worldwide famous in that era and its accomplishments. Later, there were famous projects, professors, and students who played a significant role in shaping the postmodern world and bringing changes through their revolutionary innovations; let’s discuss the famous professors of MIT.
Famous MIT Professors Who Changed The Direction Of Institutes
1. Richard Feynman
The first professor that comes to my mind, and the best one from all aspects, is Richard Feynman. He is the man who invented a new way of teaching and techniques that all MIT professors, including me, use during their lectures. Feynman was a theoretical physicist and often known for his explanations related to quantum physics, in which he teaches in such an incredible way that everyone can become his fan.
2. Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky, the linguistics genius, is also related to MIT’s linguistics department. He started a professorship at MIT in 1955 and worked in different fields. Chomsky is known for his complicated philosophical ideas, and he is a famous linguistic expert who also gave theories related to cognitive science and artificial intelligence.
3. Robert Langer
Another great name with significant discoveries and inventions is the father of tissue engineering Sir Robert Langer. He has taught generations of students at MIT since 1978. Sir Langer has worked in nanoparticles, microparticles, and injectable hydrogen, which are very influential and later used in curing cancer and other chronic diseases.
Great Projects By MIT
MIT is the backbone of U.S. technological development, and it is the reason for winning the tech Cold War against the USSR. MIT played a significant role in the history of the U.S., and still, it is shaping global technology in an exciting way. When it comes to great projects, all the earth-shaking technological innovations are by MIT researchers and professors.
Manhattan Project
If there had been no atomic bomb during World War 2, the chances are high that Germany and Japan would defeat Allied forces. However, MIT researchers and engineers played a vital role in the Manhattan Project, in which scientists developed an atomic bomb. MIT researchers worked on a list of occasions with nuclear scientists in the construction of the atomic arsenals.
Apollo Program
MIT engineers and researchers also assisted the space and moon missions; they helped NASA scientists develop space suits, space crafts, and the gadgets required for the mission. Furthermore, MIT researchers developed a program for the Apollo mission to control the spacecraft. The Apollo mission’s success made the U.S. win the space war between the two giant forces.
The Human Genome Project
Another major success of the MIT researchers is that they initiated the research on the human genome in which humans studied their entire DNA and mapped it. It is very helpful for spotting genetic diseases and eliminating harmful genetic mutations.
MIT Famous Alumni
I joined MIT after studying the success stories of alumni such as the great world leader Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, or Ben Bernake, the Fed’s chairperson. I have been working at MIT for years, and what I have seen is that people come here to become something extraordinary. Anyhow, let’s discuss the famous alumni of MIT.
- Buzz Aldrin: The astronaut who walked on the moon.
- Tim Berners: The inventor of the World Wide Web www.
- Irene Greif: The computer scientist known for her contributions to human-computer interactions.
- Amar Bose: The founder of Bose Corporation.
- Megan Smith: Former U.S. Chief Technology Officer.
- Reed Hastings: The co-founder of Netflix.
- Marty Walsh: The mayor of Boston.
- Robert Gates: Former U.S. defense secretary of defense.
- Jonah Peretti: CEO of BuzzFeed and co-founder of The Huffington Post.
- Kofi Annan: The seventh secretary general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006.
Why MIT Is Famous?
Academic Excellence
As I have discussed above, the founder of MIT planned to build a place where practical applied sciences innovate new technologies. His dream came true when MIT was the one in World War 2 that developed advanced-level equipment. Further, the Apollo mission was an indication that MIT has more than better academic excellence, and now it is ranked as one of the top world educational institutes.
Rigorous Academic
Programs The reason why it always remains in US News and Reports is that the university offers rigorous academic programs. It offers long-term programs such as graduation, post-graduation, or doctoral degrees.
Plus, you can also study the diplomas or short courses designed by the higher authorities and experts of the institute. The most famous STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) discipline is well known all around the world.
Sophisticated Faculty
I have worked with many MIT professors, and the thing I find common in all of them is that they all are passionate about giving this world something and solving global issues. MIT faculty is known as the most educated ones, with excellent teaching techniques and admirable research. The focus of faculty members, from assistant professors to deans, is that they have to bring out new innovations or theories to revolutionize the current circumstances.
Hands-On Learning
The faculty of MIT concentrates on practical learning, in which we encourage students to participate in the research. These researches are funded by the institutes, and sometimes big companies give funds to finish the study. However, the overall focus is to teach students about their fields in a practical way so they can polish their skills.
Interesting Facts About MIT
Hacking Culture
Hacking is considered an unethical action in the world of cybersecurity, but at MIT, it is known as a game or prank. MIT is famous for its hackers, who prank on one another. It helps the institute to grow more and more efficient hackers, plus the victims try their best to protect their personal information.
Infinite Corridor
MIT’s primary consideration is Building 7, which is one of the longest corridors in the world. The building has an eye-catching design and pictures of the successful MIT alumni plus those world leaders who visited the institute. Because of the long length of the corridor, it is called the “Infinite Corridor.”
MIT Museum
There is a big museum in the institute known as MIT Museum, which is filled with technological innovations and exhibitions of the latest tools. Additionally, it has all the historical records of the buildings and past great projects and machines that MIT initiated. The museum is open for tourists so they can visit and see the place.
MIT Fee Structure
Almost all students dream that they get admission to MIT, but very few are able to enroll in a program. That is not because of the high fees; the university is 100% free for the students. It provides all facilities, from food to accommodation, books, and helping materials, and does not ask for a tuition fee.
However, getting admission to the university is extremely difficult as one has to score high on the SAT designed by MIT officials. Further, after a few assessments, one can study at the university. It is a highly selective university that accepts only 4% of students, and now you can consider how tough the admission procedure is.
Does MIT meet 100% needs?
Yes, MIT meets 100%, in which all the expenses are covered. The institute will provide you with food, accommodation, travel assistance, and books. You will have access to the essential research papers and required machinery for your research. It also pays your 100% tuition fee.
How many students are rejected from MIT?
MIT is one of the most selective institutes in the world. The acceptance ratio at MIT is only 4% for 2027. It means if 100 students apply for admission, only four students get a chance to study at the university because of the high merit and the institute’s admission policy.
Why is MIT tough?
MIT is a challenging university as the authorities’ expectations are high, plus the rigorous education system that makes the university unique in its own way. In addition, university students claim they get more schoolwork than an average university student completes in a year.
What is the lowest SAT score accepted to MIT?
1500 MIT SAT score is considered the lowest. According to the previous data, the lowest SAT score was 700 to 740.
What is the hardest subject at MIT?
Unified Engineering (Astro/aero, aka course 16) is the toughest at MIT. The students have to attend labs, perform system problems, 2 to 3 weekly problems, and 20 hours of class per week.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ranked #1 in the QS world university ranking, which means it is the best university in the world. The reason behind its perfection is a great vision and struggle to conquer the tech world via innovations and discoveries. MIT is not only an educational institute but also a place where new ideas are shaped as physical realities and where dreams are considered the possible future.
It is true that MIT is a highly selective institute that selects only a few of thousands, and if one is selected, he has to work hard to survive in the institute. Simply put, it is a place for those who believe that life is all about restlessness and search for something more interesting than what you hold in your hands.
Anyhow, I have explained all about MIT, its history, the basic idea behind the institute, and the achievements of the universities. I hope this information will help you in the future.
Disclaimer & Thanks: Before I end this article, I would like to thank Connor Gillivan, who helped me collect data related to MIT for this article on “What is MIT Known for? Its History and Achievements”. Connor is an incredible guy, and as an MIT graduate, he knows the ins and outs of MIT. His knowledge helped me collect facts about MIT and interview multiple other students.
