A Random Stroll through Harvard and MIT

A three‑hour drive from New York took us to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to visit two world‑renowned research universities: Harvard and MIT. “Visit” is generous — we mostly took a quick stroll around both campuses.

Harvard was founded in 1636 by Puritan graduates of Cambridge University who had come to North America. Buildings like the Law School and the libraries show a distinct colonial flavor, while the Science Center and the Medical School feel more modern. There’s no iconic main gate — only a few old, narrow arches that subtly mark the boundary with the town. The campus has long merged with nearby residential and commercial areas, making the college town vibrant. In street‑side shops and on lawns, you often see small groups of students discussing academic questions.

MIT sits a few blocks from Harvard. Established in 1861, it is a quintessential science‑and‑engineering school. It grew rapidly thanks to heavy military engineering demand during WWI and WWII and a series of outstanding leaders. The campus seems quiet — but that’s only the surface. With its concentration of “closet‑showman” engineers, MIT is famed for elaborate hacks, often at Harvard’s expense next door.

MIT feels more open and welcoming than Harvard. Visitors at MIT can tour not only the grounds but also teaching and laboratory buildings. At Harvard, places like Memorial Hall instead post bilingual “No Entry” notices.

Published at: Sep 27, 2025 · Modified at: Oct 26, 2025