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Student Life on display for Campus Preview Weekend

Prospective students encounter an astonishing array of interests, activities, and passions at MIT
How do you know you're at MIT? You see a six-foot-tall beaver welcoming you to campus. Here, MIT's mascot, Tim the Beaver, welcomes prefrosh Marlena Ohl, Isabel Crystal and Ellie Laukaitis.
How do you know you're at MIT? You see a six-foot-tall beaver welcoming you to campus. Here, MIT's mascot, Tim the Beaver, welcomes prefrosh Marlena Ohl, Isabel Crystal and Ellie Laukaitis.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Director of Admissions Stu Schmill '86 addresses the admitted students at the official welcome for the Class of 2016 in Rockwell Cage on the first night. More than 1,100 prospective students attended this year's CPW.
Director of Admissions Stu Schmill '86 addresses the admitted students at the official welcome for the Class of 2016 in Rockwell Cage on the first night. More than 1,100 prospective students attended this year's CPW.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Prospective freshman Xitlali Juarez learns how to make electronics at 'Next Make,' a student-led hands-on engineering event at Next House, one of MIT's undergraduate dormitories.
Prospective freshman Xitlali Juarez learns how to make electronics at 'Next Make,' a student-led hands-on engineering event at Next House, one of MIT's undergraduate dormitories.
Photo: Holly Hinman
Visiting students and parents walking across the campus found events wherever they went, such as the MIT Concert Choir performing in Lobby 10 on the Infinite Corridor.
Visiting students and parents walking across the campus found events wherever they went, such as the MIT Concert Choir performing in Lobby 10 on the Infinite Corridor.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Pauline Varley '15 shows off her electroluminescent wire (EL wire) in the East Campus dormitory, which often hosts construction, destruction and other hands-on activities.
Pauline Varley '15 shows off her electroluminescent wire (EL wire) in the East Campus dormitory, which often hosts construction, destruction and other hands-on activities.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
During its East Side Water War with East Campus, Senior House launched a surprise attack with bouncy balls. Current students work hard — and play hard — to make CPW a success.
During its East Side Water War with East Campus, Senior House launched a surprise attack with bouncy balls. Current students work hard — and play hard — to make CPW a success.
Photo: L. Danielle DeSteven
Prefrosh Megan Belzner of New Mexico tries out a fish blimp at Burton-Conner, an undergraduate dormitory. Each dormitory hosted quirky and fun activities and social events to show off its unique culture.
Prefrosh Megan Belzner of New Mexico tries out a fish blimp at Burton-Conner, an undergraduate dormitory. Each dormitory hosted quirky and fun activities and social events to show off its unique culture.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Chris and Sherry Diener, parents of an admitted student, listen to a panel of student-athletes and coaches talk about balancing sports and academics at a question-and-answer session for parents in the Stratton Student Center.
Chris and Sherry Diener, parents of an admitted student, listen to a panel of student-athletes and coaches talk about balancing sports and academics at a question-and-answer session for parents in the Stratton Student Center.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
CPW was a whirlwind of activity around the Zesiger Center. Along with CPW, MIT was hosting a regional track meet, and lacrosse, rubgy and tennis games. Here, Daniel 'DJ' Ronde '13 races in the 200-meter dash. MIT's athletic program is ranked among the top in the nation in Division III.
CPW was a whirlwind of activity around the Zesiger Center. Along with CPW, MIT was hosting a regional track meet, and lacrosse, rubgy and tennis games. Here, Daniel 'DJ' Ronde '13 races in the 200-meter dash. MIT's athletic program is ranked among the top in the nation in Division III.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Krystal Arroyo '13 (left, red pants) and prefrosh Kianna Jackson work on a routine at a Hip Hop Dance Class in the DuPont Gymnasium.
Krystal Arroyo '13 (left, red pants) and prefrosh Kianna Jackson work on a routine at a Hip Hop Dance Class in the DuPont Gymnasium.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Members of the Shotokan Karate Club practice on the lawn in front of the Zesiger Center. Here, postdoc Arul Sundaramoorthy (facing camera) practices a rising block—counterpunch with graduate student Avril Kinney.
Members of the Shotokan Karate Club practice on the lawn in front of the Zesiger Center. Here, postdoc Arul Sundaramoorthy (facing camera) practices a rising block—counterpunch with graduate student Avril Kinney.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Annie Wang '04, MEng '04, PhD '11, from the MIT Chinese Ensemble, holds her pipa, a traditional Chinese four-string lutes, as she prepares for a talent show at Next House.
Annie Wang '04, MEng '04, PhD '11, from the MIT Chinese Ensemble, holds her pipa, a traditional Chinese four-string lutes, as she prepares for a talent show at Next House.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Graduate student Charles Guan, a member of the MIT Electronic Research Society (MITERS), flies a mini-copter in Lobby 7. MITERS is a student group that describes itself as a 'build-anything-you-want' club.
Graduate student Charles Guan, a member of the MIT Electronic Research Society (MITERS), flies a mini-copter in Lobby 7. MITERS is a student group that describes itself as a 'build-anything-you-want' club.
Photo: Holly Hinman
Two RAAs — Anne Juan '12 and Miriam Zachau Walker '13 — talk with parents of admitted students about the Residence Based Advising (RBA) Program, which provides academic support in the dorms. Resident Associate Advisors (RAAs) are upperclass students who live in the residence and mentor first-year students.
Two RAAs — Anne Juan '12 and Miriam Zachau Walker '13 — talk with parents of admitted students about the Residence Based Advising (RBA) Program, which provides academic support in the dorms. Resident Associate Advisors (RAAs) are upperclass students who live in the residence and mentor first-year students.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Prefrosh Julie Heyman tie-dyes a shirt at Senior House, an undergraduate dormitory.
Prefrosh Julie Heyman tie-dyes a shirt at Senior House, an undergraduate dormitory.
Photo: L. Danielle DeSteven
The steps of the Stratton Student Center were a hotbed of activity from sunrise to sunset during CPW. Here, members of the MIT Live Music Connection perform for passers-by.
The steps of the Stratton Student Center were a hotbed of activity from sunrise to sunset during CPW. Here, members of the MIT Live Music Connection perform for passers-by.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
It doesn't take long to make ice cream using ultra-cold liquid nitrogen (or, LN2), but it does make Sebastian Denault '13 and Mark Spatz '14 look like mad scientists while they're mixing up a batch outside the Zesiger Center.
It doesn't take long to make ice cream using ultra-cold liquid nitrogen (or, LN2), but it does make Sebastian Denault '13 and Mark Spatz '14 look like mad scientists while they're mixing up a batch outside the Zesiger Center.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
Students rehearse for a talent show at Next House, one of many performances throughout the weekend. From left: Karen Hao '15, Kristina Presing '15, Colin Beckwitt '13, and Joseph Chism '15.
Students rehearse for a talent show at Next House, one of many performances throughout the weekend. From left: Karen Hao '15, Kristina Presing '15, Colin Beckwitt '13, and Joseph Chism '15.
Photo: Thomas Gearty
(From left) Prospective freshmen Ariella Yosafat, Alex Garzon and Annie Kuan straddle their brooms as they get ready to start a game of Quidditch organized by members of the MIT Marauders, the school's club team.
(From left) Prospective freshmen Ariella Yosafat, Alex Garzon and Annie Kuan straddle their brooms as they get ready to start a game of Quidditch organized by members of the MIT Marauders, the school's club team.
Photo: Holly Hinman
Dan McCue '11 (left), a graduating senior and member of the champion MIT Men's Basketball team, shows around his younger brother, Christian McCue, '16 (right), who will be attending MIT as a freshman and playing for the squad starting in September.
Dan McCue '11 (left), a graduating senior and member of the champion MIT Men's Basketball team, shows around his younger brother, Christian McCue, '16 (right), who will be attending MIT as a freshman and playing for the squad starting in September.
Photo: Thomas Gearty

Each spring, admitted students are invited to MIT for Campus Preview Weekend (CPW), an annual event sponsored by the Office of Admissions to give "prefrosh" a taste of life at MIT. This year more than 1,100 admitted students and 900-plus parents visited campus from Thursday, April 19, to Sunday, April 22.

Some prefrosh travel to Cambridge with their minds already made up: the Institute is where they are going to enroll. Others who have not made up their minds come to experience what it's like to live and learn at MIT before they decide. For both groups, the students, housemasters and Student Life staff help fill a jam-packed schedule that highlights the community's astonishing array of interests, activities and passions.

From dinners and barbecues to performances, hands-on building, sports and social events, students helped showcase life at MIT for CPW. View the slideshow to learn more.

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