The Independant Activity Period

By Brent Belland, INSPIRE Grad, Freshman, MIT

College is naturally about growth and academic development, but it need not be just a rigid schedule of classes. During January, my college encourages an active, exploration-based take on growth Independent Activities Period (IAP). Yes, there are still classes, but the semester is designed for an in-depth look into various interesting fields with sometimes-quirky classes (more about those later).

Part of the Institute’s goals for IAP is just to release the stress of its students, and there are many creative ways to distress (in fact, IAP is entirely optional, so anyone who is too stressed can simply take an extra month’s break). Every year MIT has an annual tradition of the mystery hunt, for example, that tasks teams of puzzlers with the most enjoyably challenging, unique puzzles imaginable, from analyzing seemingly random coin flips to listening to a sound from six sources “tracing” out the answer to the puzzle (they can be really crazy!). Yet, since IAP has a less heavy workload than a traditional semester, I have had extra time to enjoy talking with friends and appreciating the snowy weather (especially since I come from South California)—in short, we MIT students are given time during IAP to appreciate what might otherwise be forgotten in a bustle of pure academics.

But, classes are still a key part of IAP. MIT holds many varied classes during this period, from seminars on how to select a major or mentor to lectures about nuclear proliferation and “Charm School” (a series of classes where students learn business etiquette on their way to earning a Ch.D - Doctorate in Charm). Even the academic for credit courses can be wildly different than a stereotypical class. For example, my brother is taking a course about making iOS game apps that culminates in a competition judged by industry professionals with huge prizes! There can also be the more standard classes, though; I am taking a course in Lagrangian mechanics. While no prizes are awarded at the end of the class, I have found the focused time on this complex topic ideal for learning and understanding it deeply. While I am taking a more typical “college course”, I am also enjoying learning the atypical sport squash during this time.

Overall, IAP is designed to let each student lead the way to explore personally exciting, meaningful ideas, classes, and experiences, regardless of how quirky they may be. Despite the fact that my college purposefully sets apart a time for these activities, though, the principles of this period still apply at any time. If something is interesting to you, set apart some time for it each day to delve into it. As I constantly hear, “a task expands to take the time allotted to complete it,” so set apart some time now so you can explore your interests without pushing them off.  That way every day you can have an IAP of your own.

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