Life at MIT

Connect with someone from your culture/country! Find the various clubs at the MIT Engage website.

Any medication you need (be sure to bring any written doctor’s prescriptions for prescription meds);Toiletries (towels, toothbrush, hair comb/brush, travel size shampoo, soap, sunscreen… Note: you can buy larger size […]

In New England, the joke is “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” Boston especially is notorious for unpredictable weather, even on the same day. [Review our Preparing […]

The information provided below is an overview of housing at MIT. For questions and more information on housing, see the MIT Housing website. On-Campus Housing MIT’s approach to housing incoming […]

MIT Furniture Exchange Discover discounted used furniture and household goods while supporting scholarships at MIT. Bring your MIT, Harvard, Emerson, BU, or Suffolk ID and explore! The Furniture Exchange is […]

Bicycling Current MIT employees and students can buy subsidized annual Bluebikes memberships and ride at a discounted hourly rate. The subsidized annual membership for MIT employees and students is $35 […]

ISO Online Recipe Book Antoinette Browne in the ISO is a great cook and has shared her recipes with the MIT community through virtual cooking lessons. You can view her […]

When you arrive in the United States, we strongly recommend that you carry only small amounts of cash with you. You will probably want to set up a bank account […]

Tipping in the United States can be very confusing, not only for international visitors but for Americans alike. However, it is a requirement when you dine in at a restaurant […]

Use the free financial literacy platform iGrad (open to the entire MIT community). Access resources for budgeting and learning about building your credit history in the U.S. Why should you […]

Americans still write checks for things such as paying rent and paying back a friend (although nowadays it’s much more common to use apps such as Venmo to pay each […]

A State ID Card may also be obtained at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. (Please note that you must be age 21 or older in order to obtain a liquor […]

How to Get a Massachusetts Driver’s License To be eligible for a Massachusetts Driver’s License, international students must show that their visa status for their program of study, as written […]

Plan to bring your unlocked phone to the U.S. and obtain a SIM card upon arrival. The ISO offers a temporary SIM card at their office, so stop by to […]

MIT English Language Studies (ELS): Classes offered every fall and spring semester to degree-seeking students. The curriculum is designed for non-native English speakers to foster effective communication in a variety […]