1,089 admitted students attend Campus Preview Weekend 2025
CPW turns 40 this year
Lee Chen–The Tech
Vivian Hir–The Tech
Lee Chen–The Tech
Lee Chen–The Tech
Lee Chen–The Tech
From April 17 to 20, MIT held Campus Preview Weekend (CPW). According to Director of Communications Chris Peterson, 1,089 admitted students attended CPW, which consisted of 692 registered events.
2025 marks the 40th birthday of the annual event. In celebration, the Admissions Office held a CPW Birthday event at La Sala de Puerto Rico in the Student Center on April 18. Students, staff, and admits wore party hats, ate cake, and played games.
According to “The rise and fall of CPW,” an MIT Admissions blog post written by CJ Quines ’23, the first admitted student programs were held in 1985 — Campus Preview for women, and Minority Spring Weekend for minorities. In 1987, the programs were merged and renamed “Campus Preview Weekend.” In 1999, CPW became open to all admitted students, resulting in a large increase in attendance in the next decade, from 714 students in 2000 to 1,061 in 2009. The number of events and level of undergraduate participation also grew significantly, from 196 events in 2004 to around 600 events in 2007.
In an email to The Tech, Senior Assistant Director for Outreach Lauren Rodriguez described CPW as “unique” for being a combined effort by the entire MIT community. “We know that what our admits love the most about MIT is its people,” she wrote. “CPW really shows off what our people are capable of doing together to celebrate themselves and the next generation of students.”
The majority of events were student-run —119 by FSILGs, 224 by residence halls, and 235 by student groups — but the Admissions Office, academic departments, and administrative offices also organized activities. Long-running traditions included “CryoFAC,” an East Campus liquid nitrogen ice cream event, and the MIT Spinning Arts Club’s CPW showcase. New events included a jigsaw puzzle scavenger hunt organized by MIT Admissions and a 24-hour marathon of Avatar: The Last Airbender at Simmons Hall.
Although the structure and format of CPW 2025 remained similar to those of recent CPWs, a few changes were made. According to Rodriguez, the admitted students’ welcome ceremony was moved from the Rockwell Cage to the Johnson Ice Rink for improvements in space and temperature control. The Admission Office also increased and streamlined access to air mattresses for volunteer hosts who requested one, distributing more than 600 mattresses on April 17.
The Tech spoke with admitted students about their CPW experience and impressions of MIT.
Sophia Smith, an incoming coxswain for the women’s openweight crew team from Washington D.C., enjoyed learning about academic requirements and the various first-year learning communities at the academic expo. Smith noted that she didn’t expect the active Greek life scene at MIT. “I definitely came in with some different ideas about fraternities and sororities,” she said.
Madison Sutkaitis from Bristol, Connecticut, found CPW “really fun” because of its many parties and opportunities to meet people, such as Burton 1’s “b1ue party” or New House 4’s “P4rty in the St4rs.”
“I thought there wouldn’t be a lot of parties and a lot of culture at MIT because it’s the really smart, kind of nerdy school,” Sutkaitis said. “There’s actually a lot more than I thought and it’s been really cool.”
K’vion Berry from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, had positive opinions of the MIT community, finding the students friendly and interesting. “Everyone is happy to talk to you,” he said. In addition, Berry appreciated how the academic environment at MIT encourages teamwork and collaboration, rather than competition. In terms of student groups, Berry expressed interest in the MIT Rocket Team and the MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team, as he wants to “physically build new things.”
Jake Jackson from Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, also had favorable impressions of MIT, from the people to the campus. “I’ve actually never been in a big city before — it’s my first time,” he recalled. “This is a ten out of ten impression.” Although Jackson acknowledges that academics will be “super hard” at MIT, he is excited to attend. “I think it’s going to be very worth it. I’m really looking forward to it.”