Massachusetts Institute of Technology

to join alternative learning communities, such as Experimental Study Group, Concourse, or Terrascope.
MIT's curriculum encourages students to apply scientific knowledge in practical domains, an idea summarized in the institute motto of mens et manus or "mind and hand." Courses emphasizes uses of engineering knowledge in arenas like product design competitions and control design. In 1969, Margaret MacVicar founded the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) to enable undergraduates to collaborate directly with faculty members and researchers. Students join or initiate research projects ("UROPs") for academic credit, pay, or on a volunteer basis through postings on the UROP website or by contacting faculty members directly. A substantial majority of undergraduates participate. Students often become published, file patent applications, and/or launch start-up companies based upon their experience in UROPs. The program has been widely emulated at other U.S. universities.
In 1970, the then-Dean of Institute …