Some of the world’s brightest young minds are getting a social education outside of the laboratory — for free.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Charm School teaches students how to act in different personal and social situations to get ahead in life.
“MIT had a very unfair stereotype, which was that MIT students were all nerds and some of them are,” Eve Sullivan, a Charm School professor, told CBS. “We love them but they can also be charming.”
The free program brought out over 200 students this year, according to Alana Hamlett, an assistant director of student activities at MIT.
“This year we had about 16 classes available,” she said. “We grouped them into professional development, interpersonal, social communication, leadership, health and wellness, and financial.”
Since it first began in 1993, the program has gained popularity and “has become a strong MIT tradition,” according to the school’s website.
Hamlett said everyone looks to get something different out of Charm School.
“I think for our students it’s just a matter of where they are. For our first-year students, you know, maybe they’re not thinking about how to be a gracious host or a gracious guest,” Hamlett said. “But what they are thinking about is how they’re going to ask their adviser for a letter of recommendation or how being new in the MIT community, what are appropriate do’s and don’ts.”
“Every year, we look to tweak and twist what sessions that we offer. We also do a dating workshop and an etiquette lunch,” she added.
Hamlett said the classes can be very helpful when entering the professional world.
“Our students use the program as a sort of first step to figure out their style when they go into an interview,” Hamlett said.
Charm School takes place every year during the schools Independent Activities Period, a four-week period in between the school’s fall and spring semesters.
