This is where we show you why it is amazing to be in grad school, at MIT and at NSE!
Student Activity Groups
The full list of MIT student groups is available at ASA (Association of Student Activity) website here.
To learn more about different groups, go to the Activities Midway to find most student groups represented to learn about what they do and how you can join. Warning you might end up on a lot of email lists if you check out too many groups, but never fear you can unsubscribe using either moira or mailman's link at the bottom of the email to unsubscribe.
The following is some of the activities that we have enjoyed:
- Acapella Groups
- Concert Groups
- Dance Groups
- Energy Club
- Fossil Free MIT - a student group advocating for MIT to take action on climate change.
- Global Zero - commits to working for a legally binding verifiable agreement including all nations, to eliminate nuclear weapon.
- Graduate Student Council - various committees advocate and organize events and policies for graduate students, check out their open house during orientation.
- Outing Club (MITOC) - MITOC is a student group for all things outdoors- hiking, climbing, kayaking, and more. The club has regular events for people interested in these various activities, in addition to renting out a plethora of outdoor gear to members (including sleeping bags, tents, skis, climbing gear, etc.).
- Religious Clubs: various religious denominations
- Sports Clubs (see below)
- Yoga 24x7
Don't see a group that fits what you're looking for? You can start your own!
Athletics & Sports
- All students have free access to the athletics facilities. Be sure to get your ID card activated at the front desk of the Z-center to take advantage!
- Go to the Athletics Gateway during orientation to learn about all the different sports teams (varsity teams and usually club teams).
- Go to the Activities Midway to find club sports teams (depending on space availability club sports teams will be at the athletics gateway, the activities midway or both; unfortunately it changes every year).
Intramural Sports
NSE has a Athletics chair who helps organize intramural (IM) sports teams for the department. There are a wide array of different sports. Our department has typically had teams who play football, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and volleyball. There are three IM Sports seasons so look out for emails from the athletics chair for how and when to participate. Even if our department doesn't have a team your living community might or you can sign up as a free agent to join a random team (athletics chair may be able to help you find a team too).
Club Sports
Lulu Li has been enjoying MIT kickboxing club, which meets bi-weekly for 2 hours each. Becky Romatoski plays on the Women's Ice Hockey team. Most of these clubs have their own website so you can just search the internet for MIT followed by the club you are interested in or use the ASA database here and search the athletics category. Most teams allow you to join regardless of skill level or previous experience so it's a great time to try things out. Don't see your sport? You can start you own.
Recreational Sports and Physical Education (PE) Classes
PE: grad students can sign up for PE classes too (through MIT rec sports' own website system at the beginning of each semester). Certain classes are more popular than others, and undergrad does have priority over grad students in signing up for classes.
Group Exercise: MIT gyms offer group exercise classes throughout the day. You need to purchase a pass to join these exercises, but there is one free session at noon Monday through Friday that everyone can attend. Just show up 5-10 minutes early to make sure you get a spot. Also these sessions tend to be more crowded at the beginning of each semester.
In addition to the more regimented athletic activities, MIT has many facilities for you to use from the Olympic-sized swimming pool for laps to squash courts, a multipurpose rink, basketballs, badminton and volleyball nets, and our very own sailing pavilion (highly recommended to take the sailing class so you can sail whenever you want) which are all free!
How to Find Events
In addition, there are other events that happen less frequently but here's how you can find out about them:
- For all graduate students, be sure to read the GSC Anno, a weekly email of events for graduate students including academic/professional, extracurricular, family, and social events. You should be automatically signed up for this email list, but if you are not visit the GSC website here to subscribe.
- For graduate students who live in on-campus housing, your living community will have plenty of fun things to do.
- For off-campus students, be sure to check out the GSC's off campus subcommittee's email list to be informed about fun activities to meet other off-campus students.
- For families, there's a network out there for you to find fun activities and a community of other families too!