As an institution dedicated to hands-on learning and research, we encourage parents of prospective freshmen to come find out for themselves what MIT is all about. There’s no better time for your research expedition than Campus Preview Weekend, an event that allows admitted students to get a taste of student life and academics at MIT. A range of CPW events is specifically designed to introduce you to the MIT community from a parent’s point of view, and to answer important questions.
You will have the opportunity to tour the campus, hear from the deans and administrators who create our living and learning environments, and meet and talk with other MIT parents, both current parents as well as parents of MIT’s Class of 2017. The weekend is also a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful and historic Boston area.
We hope you’ll join us!
Registration and Check-In
If you plan on coming to CPW, please ask your son or daughter to let us know that you’ll be attending using his/her online CPW registration form via MyMIT. (There is no separate parent/guardian registration form). And, when you arrive on campus, don’t forget to check in with us at the CPW Parent Registration desk — we’ll have CPW information waiting for you.
When you arrive: There will be a designated area near Stratton Student Center and Kresge Auditorium where you will be able to park briefly to drop off your child and unload luggage. Please see our campus map for the location.
We recommend that you leave your car at your hotel and either walk, take a taxi, or use public transportation to get to campus. Please do not count on finding street parking near MIT, as parking is extremely limited on campus and throughout Boston/Cambridge. If you can't avoid bringing your car, you can either look for limited on-street, metered parking or park in one of the pay lots within walking distance to campus, about 5-15 minutes. The pay lots near campus are listed on the Parents Parking page for your reference, see parking map (pdf) for approximate locations.
Parent Event Highlights
Below are just a few of the events specifically designed for parents that will be offered during CPW.
- Parent Welcome
- Insights for Parents by Parents
- Student Financial Services Open House
- MIT Alumni Club of Boston Parent's Reception
- Student Life and Learning Panel
- Introductions to Housing and Dining
- How to Help Your Student Have a Healthy First Year
- Family Reception Sponsored by MIT’s Black, Latino, and Native American Communities
- Insight into MIT Fraternities and Sororities