Cambridge vs MIT retrospection

Goodbyes are never what we picture them to be ~
regardless, farewell Cambridge <3

[-- Academic (Maths) --]

Maths at Cambridge Uni: all the first years take the same 8 lectures; second years pick from ~6 lectures per term and focus on some for the final exam; the final exam (Tripos) contain questions from every lecture offered (16) but you can only answer a limited number of questions, so you obviously only focus on lecture you have studied. The Tripos and the grading/ranking system is confusing at hell.

Math at MIT: how many math courses are offered per term, ~70? There are natural course progressions, but students choose their own classes and math track they want. Plus we have to take other non-math classes. Obviously extremely different from maths at Cambridge.

Cambridge is very impressive in theoretical maths, the track is more focused and rigorous than MIT. However, Cambridge's definition of "applied maths" seems to equal "physics." My classes: Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Special Relativity, Fluid Dynamics... And I hate physics, therefore I did not like maths at Cambridge very much this year. My favorite was Optimization, but I sorely missed the 18.300 series. Plus I started missing my course 6 programming and algorithms too! wow >.< style="font-weight: bold;">[-- Social --]

UK Legal drinking age of 18 means you quickly get used to having alcoholic drinks around, no big deal. Hang outs are at college or local pubs; there are very few common areas like MIT. Each college has a room or bar area with pool table/etc., the amount of play things dependent on the college. (Caius wasn't that great..) Contrast to MIT where each dorm floor if not suite/hall has a common space with TV, Xbox, Wii, Playstation, etc. plus the dorm itself has movie and game collection for rental at least. The lounges are next to your room, so they're good to just eat, do your work there, and talk to other people walking by. Socialize without drinking *nods*

Cambridge going out = local clubs on weekdays (Brit Cheese music, ew..), college bar/bops on weekends to avoid the townies
MIT going out = fraternity parties on weekends, Boston clubs/bars for the 21+ people

Bottom line: Cambridge legal drinking = good, MIT free alcohol & good music at frat parties + common lounges = better


[-- Technology & etc. --]

This one is easy: Cambridge colleges have bandwidth limits (Caius is 5gb a week!) (with ridiculously high fees for excess!), almost no wireless at all, and printing fees. Plus have we are issued three different passwords for various university systems, wtf?

Bottom line: All free at MIT: damn fast wireless, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited Athena printing and paper-taking. We at MIT have it sooooooo good.

[-- And so.. --]

One extremely redeeming quality of Cambridge? the students. Almost 30% international (altho most studied A-levels in UK, not a fresh-off-the-boat type of international, ya know? :P), compared to 10% at MIT. Just more diverse, different sorts of people, and in greater quantities, than you'ld find at MIT or an American university.

Friends make any place better. *hugs*

All in all, I'm glad to go back to MIT for one more year, kinda missing Boston now. Spending one year abroad was perfect. I think, for me at least, if I liked Cambridge maths more, I would really love staying here.

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