Welcome! The last day of Junction 2014 was August 14. Please check back in March 2015 for details about next year's program.
Program Details
- Schedule
- Core Classes
- Seminar Classes
- Cost
- Payment
- Refunds
- Housing
- Meals
- Special Arrangments
- Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule
Junction runs during summer evenings, Mondays through Thursdays from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Students attend their core classes from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, dinner from 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM, and seminar period from 7:45 PM - 9:00 PM. Students take one core class that runs for the length of the program; seminar classes vary each night and are open to all Junction students. Junction 2014 will run July 7th to August 14th.
Core Classes
Core classes are intended to be challenging and are usually taught at a pace and depth appropriate to an undergraduate college course. As Junction teachers design their own classes, most Junction subjects do not conform to any standard high school or college curriculum. They are intense, exciting, and experimental. Students' curiosity, creativity, participation, and enthusiasm are key. Students are expected to spend time outside of class working on readings, assignments, and projects.
The core classes for 2014 can be viewed here.
Seminar Classes
After dinner, students choose from a list of seminar classes to attend during the 7:45 PM - 9:00 PM period. Seminar classes are single- or multi-session classes intended to have the variety of a set of Splash classes. Like core classes, seminar classes require student curiosity and engagement; however most seminar classes will not require any work outside of class. Although seminars are often challenging, we attempt to have as few prerequisites as possible for these classes. Attending the seminar block is mandatory, but does not require advance sign-up; students select their seminar at dinner each night.
Some of the seminar classes offered in previous years can be viewed here. Note that the seminar offerings differ considerably each year.
Cost
The Junction program fee is $600 and covers tuition, dinners on Monday, Tuedsay, and Thursday, and class supplies. Generous need-based financial aid is available; see Financial Aid.
Payment
Payment for Junction will be due on the first day of the program and we accept cash or check made out to "MIT ESP." Admitted students also receive an e-mail in June about the required forms they must fill out to attend the program.
Refunds
Refund requests will usually only be accepted through the first or second week of the program. All requests for refunds when a student is dropping out of the Junction program must be submitted to the program directors by the announced date. After this date, no refunds will be given.
Generally, full refunds will be given only for requests submitted if the student drops out in the first few days of the program. Partial refunds may be available up until the final deadline. If you would like to submit a refund request after this point and you believe your circumstances are exceptional, please contact us.
Housing
Junction is a non-residential program intended primarily for local students, and as such, we do not provide housing for any students admitted to the Junction program. Students are expected to commute to the program or find housing themselves, independent of the MIT Housing Office. MIT ESP will not sponsor or otherwise vouch for students to participate in MIT Housing over the summer.
Meals
As an evening program, we provide dinner three times a week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The costs of these meals are included in the admission fee for the Junction program. However, students are expected to bring or find their own dinner on Wednesday nights. The MIT student center provides several venues where students may purchase a meal.
Special Arrangements
If your student has any physical handicaps or special needs, please inform us ahead of time so we can make suitable arrangements. While we will try to accommodate to the best of our ability, our teachers are usually undergraduates and graduate students and are not trained in how to handle special needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I receive high school or college credit for a course I take at Junction?
- I think I am missing an e-mail from Junction about an admissions decision, financial aid, or something else. What should I do?
- Can I miss part of the program?
- Is the seminar block mandatory, or can I attend only the core block?
- I don't live in the Boston area, can I still apply for Junction?
Q: Can I receive high school or college credit for a course I take at Junction?
A: Probably not. Junction courses do not give out grades, and do not conform to any standard curricula. Part of our philosophy is to learn for the sake of learning, and Junction students choose to attend simply because they enjoy the challenge and interesting, unusual material the classes provide.
Q: I think I am missing an e-mail from Junction about an admissions decision, financial aid, or something else. What should I do?
A: Check your spam folder as sometimes our emails are improperly filtered and do not show up in your inbox. If you see nothing, send an email to junction@mit.edu. We often respond to simple questions in as little as a day.
Q: Can I miss part of the program?
A: Students should not plan to miss multiple days of the program. In the past, we have found that students who miss a full week or more, particularly the first week, have an extremely difficult time catching up with their classes, and it negatively impacts the program community. Students who miss more than 3 days of the program (excluding excused absences for illnesses or observance of a religious holiday) may not receive a certificate of completion for the program.
Q: Is the seminar block mandatory, or can I attend only the core block?
A: We believe the seminar block is integral to Junction, making what would otherwise be a disjointed set of evening courses into a unified program with a strong sense of community. Therefore, while it is fine if a student has to go home early occasionally, students are expected to attend seminars for the majority of the program. Students may not elect to attend only the 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM core block.
Q: I don't live in the Boston area, can I still apply for Junction?
A: Junction is a non-residential summer program, and primarily intended for students from the Boston area.
Out-of-state and international students are welcome to apply to Junction. However, we require all students under 18 to have a parent, guardian, or other adult responsible for them living within reasonable driving distance of campus for the duration of the program. Non-local students are also responsible for finding their own housing in the area (for example, with local relatives), completely independent of MIT. In particular, Junction students are not eligible for MIT housing of any kind.
See Also
Last modified on Sept. 08, 2014 at 04:53 p.m.