[snikolov]

People who do hard work tend to bite off more than they can chew, especially at MIT, and there is obviously a limit to how much you can handle. What MIT does right when it comes to stress relief is its housing system. You get to pick where you want to live, and you mostly get your choice (or you can move eventually). That way you can live within a supportive community. It really makes a difference during those hell weeks.

- MIT '11 MEng '12

[haldean]

+1. Columbia is the same way; you're surrounded by talented people who don't need to be stressed, but they choose to be. A lot of people try to do everything (which many are used to from high school) and most find that it's too much too late. After a while, though, you find about the right balance. For most people, this happens second semester senior year (: