Free Stuff, Discounts and Avoiding Fines

1. Free SOFTWARE. The essential software of being a student is available to MIT as download. This list is long, but perhaps the most important to get started will be:
   1. Microsoft Office
   2. Windows 10
   3. VM-ware for a Windows partition on a Mac
   4. Matlab (takes a long time to download and install)
2. HARDWARE. MIT students can get discounts on Dell and Apple products. MIT also has a limited number of academic year loaners. If you ask early enough, you might be lucky enough to get a laptop. Some research projects will pay for a computer.
3. PRINTING. 3000 pages on MIT Athena printers is your allotment per academic year. You can see how much you use on your TechCash account. Color printing is only available on the 5th Floor Student Center (Stratton) cluster. Black and White printers are located in the libraries, dorms, student center, the infinite corridor and other clusters (inconveniently) located throughout campus.
4. DOCUMENTS. MIT Libraries gives access to many paid services. For those services without such a contract, MIT libraries, more often than not, can get access to publications. Just ask.
   1. Springer Textbooks. One of the nice benefits is the ability to download the electronic versions (pdf or e-book) of Springer Textbooks.
5. GYM. Students have memberships to the pools and gyms.
6. Coffee / Tea. NSE pays for the coffee break room in bldg 24. The coffee to NSE students (faculty and staff) is free.
7. Shuttles. Not only just around campus during the week, but to grocery stores, Costco, and the like on weekends.
8. Boston Pops 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza. OK, so this is really free to the general public and not just MIT. We just so happen to have a front seat on the Charles River for the fireworks and we live close enough to walk to the Shell and see the concert in person.
9. Sailing. Lessons and sailboats. Windsurfing too.

Links

IST Software http://ist.mit.edu/software-hardware

Athena Printing http://ist.mit.edu/printers

TechCash http://techcash.mit.edu/

Sailing http://sailing.mit.edu/

Shuttles facilities/transportation/shuttles/grocery.html

1. State Sales Tax. Merchants at the Student Center (Food Courts, Market) do not charge MA sales tax if you identify yourself as a student.
2. Zipcar. $15 per year with no sign-up costs (vice $70 annual + $25 initiation). You need to get approved by the MIT manager which is done when you sign up on zipcar's website, but might take some time.
3. Hubway. Bicycle sharing program offered in a cooperative run in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville. MIT students is $25/year (vice $85/year)
4. Beer. The Muddy and The Thirsty Ear. Two pubs run by the Graduate Student Council. Best prices for decent beer in the area. Many of our own (NSE Grad students) work part-time at these establishments. Tip well.
5. Local Attractions. MIT Activities Committee sells discounted tickets to local area attractions, movies, shows and the like. Purchase at the desk in Stata.

Links

MIT Tickets web.mit.edu/mitac/

1. Deadlines. MIT has a number of deadlines throughout the year. Missing a deadline will cost you a late fee. Unfortunately, the system is not set up to let you know about pending deadlines and one often finds themselves first getting notified of a missed deadline via a late fee. They are listed in the MIT academic calendar. Here are a few examples:
   1. Late Pre-Registration
   2. Late Registration
   3. Late Degree Application
      
   Perhaps the ones that catch most by surprise are:
   1. Pre-Registration for Summer Research (Even though you probably are not taking classes, you still register as a summer researcher: class 22.94)
   2. Registration for Summer Research
   3. Pre-Registration for Fall term (occurs at the beginning of summer).

Links

List of Late Fees (and other calendar events) registrar/calendar/index.html