"Concourse gave me the tools I needed to succeed in my first year of this incredibly difficult school full of brilliant people. It gave me a smaller atmosphere in which I was able to know my professors, TAs, tutors, and classmates on a more personal level than I would have gotten had I taken my classes mainstream. I believe through this program, my understanding of the material was much better than the understanding I would have gotten had I taken mainstream courses. I made a lot of close friends and the food is plentiful and excellent. Freshman year is tough because you are making choices and on your own for the first time in life. Participating in Concourse was definitely one of the best choices I have made this year.
Kathryn Harris '12
"Concourse helped to ease the transition to MIT. It has a great atmosphere that makes you feel really comfortable, and the small class size help you get to know your peers and your professors. I made lots of great friends through Concourse.
Working on psets together in the lounge and pasta Fridays build a great community! I'm really glad I made the decision to join Concourse!"
Ellen McIsaac '12
"Concourse is amazing, you really get to know everyone in the program because you are all taking the same classes and do all your p-sets together. Concourse is a close-knit group and I have made my best friends in Concourse. It really made freshman year more manageable and fun.
Sebastian Velez '12
"Concourse was absolutely amazing. The professors are great, the faculty is caring, and the combination always makes the group feel like an extended family. No one gets left behind here, and there is never a shortage of people willing and able to lend a helping hand. The whole experience made freshman year a lot less stressful, and a lot more fun. I was able to get a lot of one on one attention from professors, which really helped me to succeed in the classroom. This success was only amplified by the gratuitous amounts of tutorials, which made understanding psets much easier.
Ozzie Figueroa '12
"Concourse is an excellent program, and I am really glad I participated both semesters. Through Concourse, I have made many excellent friends that I know will last my entire MIT career and beyond. One of the many great things is the lounge, where students meet others working on the same p-set and get to know everyone very well. It is also a convenient place to hang out between classes and work or just relax. The tutors are always available to answer questions or work through a problem with you. Because of this, I understand more and am able to get help easier if I need it. The classes are small, and we have the opportunity to ask questions in class without feeling awkward in front of tons of other people. I also enjoy getting to know all my professors very well. All of them know my name and are truly interested in helping and making sure I succeed. As a whole, I cannot imagine what freshman year would have been like without my Concourse family.
Dan Dorsch '12
“I came into Concourse expecting to have more opportunities to interact with the professors and fellow students. I was pleased to find that Concourse not only delivered this, but also become one of my new families here at MIT. Working on problem sets with other Concoursians over a pasta dinner cooked right in the Concourse lounge makes the work way more enjoyable.”
Joshua Hester ‘11
“Concourse definitely helped me to transition well into MIT. I found an amazing group of friends, and I learned to do problem sets in large groups. The lecture classes are smaller than in mainstream and definitely allowed me to ask any questions I had. Plus, we always had lots of fun in the lounge making food and eating. The professors, TA’s and tutors were so readily accessible that I felt like the focus was definitely on me and my friends. I would definitely suggest joining Concourse to any freshman for the academic and social foundation it creates during the first year at MIT.”
Samantha Marquart ‘11
“Coming to such a large, challenging academic community is daunting. What I love about Concourse is that within the structure of smaller classes and a common lounge/study area, which a lot of students use to work and study together, everyone really get s a chance to know and support each other. Also, Concourse’s supplementary academic support, like the tutoring hours, are built into the program. And the professors, who know everyone on a first-name basis, are easy to approach and talk to. Beyond classes, we have organized social events like Concourse dinners and breakfasts with the professors as well as informal pasta dinners that we prepare on our own. The Concourse program really makes it a priority to care for the students beyond just academics.
Mary Jue Xu ‘11
“Everyone and I mean EVERYONE in Concourse should sign up for Jeremy Wolfe and John Hildebidle’s class next spring. It’s a dream come true to have these two professors teaching together!”
Jessica Laviolette ’10
"Concourse made me love MIT. I came to MIT worried about grades, friends, professors, and making everything work so that I would be happy. Concourse took care of all of these problems. In small classes, I've been able to become friends with everybody. We spent a lot of time together working on homework, studying for exams, and hanging out together in the Concourse Lounge. Tutorials are definitely one of the greatest parts of Concourse. Being able to easily get personal help on homework greatly increases your understanding of the topic so that you can venture beyond the simple understanding of the concepts to being able to skillfully use the ideas to do really cool things. The professors in Concourse will know you by name and keep an eye out for you. Concourse is truly an amazing program!"
Richard W. Larson '10
"When I took all my courses in mainstream first semester, I had a group of friends to work with back at my dorm. In the second semester, I joined Concourse, which offered additional benefits. Concourse tutoring is superb. Mainstream classes have tutors, too, but the tutors at Concourse are more personal. Concourse teaching is excellent. I'm not saying that mainstream teaching is bad, but it's far easier to have access to your Concourse professors when they know you by name. The Concourse Lounge is a real plus. There are couches and comforters if you need a nap or had a long night. I love it."
Clinton L. Scroggins '10
"After taking mainstream classes during my first semester, I initially decided to join Concourse in order to avoid another semester of mainstream physics. However, Concourse ended up being so much more than a means of escape. Physics went from being my worst subject first semester to my best subject second semester. And I owe that to the fact that the Concourse faculty and staff are so eager to help students understand. The small class sizes make it much easier to speak up and ask a question during lecture. And even if you don't immediately understand the concepts in lecture, the professors, TA's, and tutors have an abundance of office hours, during which they are more than happy to continue the in-class discussions. Additionally, I particularly enjoyed "Prohibition and Permission" (The HASS-D class I took in Concourse) because the whole course was completely taught by two professors (no TA's), who actually read our papers themselves and wanted to meet with us individually to help us develop our ideas. The enthusiasm with which the faculty and staff approach their job is what makes Concourse such a great program. I would highly recommend Concourse to incoming freshmen."
Matthew S. Cohen '10
"Concourse keeps you from being one of the crowd and provides an opportunity to stand out, ask questions, and really get to know your professors. The Concourse Lounge and kitchen is like a home away from home. It's an awesome place to chill between classes and hang out with friends without having to trek all the way back to your dorm! With Concourse, it's personal. You know your professors and all your classmates and they know you. You get the feeling that they really want you to learn the material and do well in the class, and tutors are there to help. Concourse was exactly what I needed to succeed freshman year."
Rachel Kolesnikov-Lindsey '09
"Concourse is extremely convenient--all the classes are in the same room, and the tutorials are all in the lounge right next door, so you don't have to worry about getting lost your first few weeks. Plus, you have the same group of 50-60 people sharing most of your classes, so you have a better chance to get to know them, as well as collaborate on homework. The professors and TA's make an effort to know you by name--they have so few students that they have no problem rewinding to clarify something in the middle of a lecture, and if someone's struggling, they'll notice and try to help. Overall, Concourse makes MIT simpler and more personal, so you can focus on doing well and find whatever help you need."
Ashley Micks '09
"Concourse is great! I really like the crazy people in Concourse and the fact that I had the perfect place to pull all-nighters in when I felt like it, or do reasonable problem sets (compared to all the other freshmen's). No TEAL! (Yes!!) Friendly TA's, random toy swords, lots of food! It's a happy zone."
Julie Laure K. Maison '09
"There really is no reason for not joining Concourse. There is a misconception that being in smaller classrooms means making less friends. The truth is that in lectures with 300-400 students, you only talk to one or two people, but in Concourse you have a chance to make over 50 close friends. If you want an academic challenge, you'll be satisfied because Concourse's unique classes go beyond the material covered in mainstream courses. If you want to ease your way into MIT, Concourse's easy-to-approach professors, friendly tutors, and attentive staff will make sure you do."
Augusto M. Tentori '09
"I am incredibly thankful that I decided to join the Concourse Program, because it made my freshman year lots of fun! The students are friendly, and since we all have classes together, we get to know a lot about each other. My professors are very approachable - where else do you hear students calling professors by their first name? Also, it's great to have our classes scheduled so that exams never overlap, and the tutors arrange their schedules in order to best fit ours. The Concourse breakfasts and dinners are a treat (after all free food is always a good thing), and it's tons of fun to eat with the professors and their families. Also, our private lounge is a wonderful place to relax and work on homework or hang out with friends. No wonder I love Concourse so much!"
Diana Husmann '08
"Concourse is a program that I am happy to be a part of. The professors, recitation leaders, and tutors are all so supportive and really want each student to succeed. I could not have survived without the tutoring sessions before each problem set and test, and the small-class size helped me to meet people. I am glad that I joined this program, and I would definitely recommend it to all incoming freshmen!"
Becca Oman '08
"The professors, tutors, and fellow classmates in Concourse provide an excellent network of support to help your first year get off to the right start. With the small classes, I really got to know my professors and the subject material well. I also developed strong friendships with my fellow students by working and relaxing together in the Concourse lounge"
Jonathan Burnham '08
"I love the Physics and Math tutors!"
Debra Lin '07
"I really like the sense of community that Concourse fosters. Instead of the big, impersonal lecture halls, Concourse provides a friendly and caring environment that helps freshmen ease into MIT"
Sherry Xia '07
"Small classes, professors who know you by name, 24/7 lounge access, IAP dinners, wonderful tutors, and close Concoursian buddies -- these are all reasons why I love Concourse. It's an amazing group and a great way to start college off on a sure foot. I definitely recommend joining!"
Ashley Tran '07
"After taking classes in both Concourse and mainstream, I have found that it is much easier and more fun to learn the material through Concourse. The teachers are very approachable, tutoring is extremely beneficial, and the faculty and staff are more than willing to help me out. Concourse provides an excellent academic environment and small-group atmosphere, and I highly recommend it."
Kevin Stolt '06
"Concourse is a quality program, definitely worth considering as an incoming freshman. Concourse helped me get adjusted to the new environment, while still providing challenging courses. I have enjoyed the relationships that only a small learning community can build."
Calvin Sizer '06
"If you happen to be looking for more challenging and stimulating material, Concourse readings and problem sets provide it."
Justin Moore '06
"Concourse is a great way to start your education at MIT. Instead of having a separate group of people to work with for each subject, you work together with your Concourse friends in the lounge. The professors are really accessible and encourage questions during lectures. Upperclassmen help out as tutors. I know that the connections I've made in Concourse with classmates, upperclassmen, and faculty alike will last through my time at MIT."
James Wnorowski '06
"I think the best thing about Concourse is how easy it is to get help from tutors. You don't need to sign up for a tutor, just show up to the lounge during the tutorial hours (of which there are plenty). And it's not like only the dumb kids go to tutorials--everyone does, and we figure out the problems together with the help of the tutor. Plus, the tutors are all upperclassmen who quickly become your friends. In my mainstream classes, I find that I don't make the effort to get tutoring help."
Laura Stonehill '06
"I knew I wanted to participate in Concourse ever since I started reading about it over the summer. I came from a rather small high school, and Concourse proved to be a good transitioning point so I could become accustomed to MIT with more ease. I like how I could just ask questions in class; in many ways, our lectures were like mainstream recitations. My first math class at MIT had only 11 students! Also I got to know my classmates really well; we all know each other by name. Concourse has been a lot of fun!"
Jean Lu '05
"Concourse is tough. The classes are hard--exactly as hard as mainstream! Of course, mainstream doesn't have a lounge complete with refrigerator, kitchen, and tutors. And only Concourse could make studying fun. It's great to be taking classes with a group that have become my friends."
Daniel Wendel '05
"Concourse really helps students adjust to the critical first year at MIT"
Shang-Chien Sam Kwei '05
"When I first got to MIT, I thought I'd never fit in or survive the inordinate workload. However, in Concourse I found a wonderful group of companions with whom I was comfortable. We were able to tackle the problem sets together, and this made my first year at MIT a lot of fun!"
Evelyn Eastmond '05
"I'm glad I joined Concourse. The people in Concourse are great, and they are always willing to help you out if you need it. The lounge is a great place to do work or just hang out."
Lawrie Gibson '05
"Concourse is a great program! All of the courses are taught by professors who really like to teach. They have the unique ability to present the material in a highly interactive environment that would be impossible in larger classes."
Austin Roach '05
"In Concourse, the tutors and professors are very accessible. Working in the lounge allows students to be able to work together and learn as a group."
Ji Han '05
"After a seven-year break between high-school and college, I needed a lot of personal attention in order to relearn the things I was taught in high school. The Concourse professors and instructors gave me the extra personalized assistance I required."
Shawn Gallagher '05
"I am not one bit regretful of my decision to join Concourse. Because of the intimate setting of the classes, I have not hesitated to stop professors in the middle of lecture to ask for clarification--something that rarely happens in mainstream. And when the material covered in lecture was difficult, our professors understood our frustration and were always willing to give up ten minutes of class time to insure that everyone understood the concepts. They tried to make it easy and fun to learn."
Deepti Mehta '04
"Concourse students get individual attention and tutoring. I have learned more in Concourse classes than in my mainstream classes, and more easily. The material presented in Concourse is not less difficult than that in mainstream, but it is taught in such a way that it is easier for students to truly understand. Anyone paying $26,000 a year for tuition deserves this type of attention, and I encourage all freshman to take advantage of this opportunity."
Amanda Sorenson '04
"I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the program. The small-class size insured that I would get to know my professors, and that they would get to know me. I didn't think I would do well in a class of several hundred students, and while I never found out if this were true, I can say that I did well in Concourse. I also found it easier to meet people. Out of hundreds of students in my mainstream classes, I only made one or two friends. In Concourse, I got to know almost everybody and made quite a few good friends."
Irit Rappley '04
"In the busy, pressure-packed environment of MIT, the Concourse Program made going to class much less intimidating and more comfortable. I really enjoyed the special attention I received in reasonably sized classes, and I owe a great deal to Concourse for my success in my first term at MIT. As an incoming freshman, I was curious and unsure about the feel of this program, but I gave it a chance and now definitely recommend it to next year's class."
Andrew Frazer '04