DEECS: Discover Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

If you’re hoping to build an awesome project, hang out with cool people, learn a bit about one of MIT’s most popular majors, and hit the ground running as your MIT career begins, then Discover Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (DEECS) is the program for you. DEECS is a fast-paced, fun introduction to EECS at MIT, and more importantly, a great introduction to life at MIT.

The program is both challenging and exciting, and it’s designed for students of all levels of experience. No background knowledge is necessary; all we ask is that you come ready and excited to learn a bit about electrical engineering and programming. The first day kicks off with an awesome puzzle hunt and some fun activities to get you acquainted with your fellow participants. Over the course of the following five days, you’ll work in groups of three to build and program a LEGO robot; this is a great opportunity to learn some basic EECS skills and meet some of the people you’ll be teaming up with throughout your time at MIT. You’ll also get to tour several labs around campus and hear professors talk about their research.

The project, lab tours, and talks make DEECS is a nice introduction to the EECS major (also known as “Course VI”). But more than that, DEECS is a good way to have fun. You’ll spend five days with 38 other freshman, half guys and half girls, working and playing and making new friends. We’ll explore Boston, check out Harvard Square, see a museum or two, and go to the mall. We’ll play sports and board games together, we’ll have an epic battle of underground capture the flag in MIT’s tunnels, and we’ll relax on the beach one day. We’ll eat and hang out together, and you’ll get a chance to make new friends before orientation even begins.

You’ll also get to know the DEECS staff—friendly, knowledgeable older students who can answer any of your questions about MIT—as well as graduate students and faculty members, who can help you get involved in research. By the end of DEECS you’ll have a good network of friends to ask any questions you might have about how to plan your first academic year, how to get involved with research and what it’s like to be a Course VI student.

Overall, DEECS is a great introduction to MIT and Boston, and we hope you’ll have a great time in and out of the lab. We want to give you a well-rounded introduction to your new home, and to offer you every opportunity to become comfortable with the people and opportunities that will shape your MIT experience.

Robot Project Overview

Your team of three students will build a Lego-based robot, developing both the hardware and software for it. We will give you LEGOs, a controller-board, and the instructions and support necessary to design and build your team’s robot. When you are done, the robot will be able to navigate its way around a maze. The DEECS robots will be totally autonomous, requiring no human intervention; the robots will rely on basic artificial intelligence that you will develop and implement during the week. The project culminates in a final demonstration of all the robots, along with fun awards for most original design, best-decorated robot, etc.

Everything students need to know about building the robots and making them follow the course is taught during the week. Working with the other students and the support of the lab assistants, DEECS participants need no outside instruction to be able to complete the project. There is no experience necessary; we are looking for interested novices!

Program Specifics

Dates: Monday, August 24th through Saturday, August 29th
Place: Freshman will be housed in their assigned dormitory. The program begins, and is primarily located, in room 34-401A (Grier room A)
Available Spaces: 39
Cost: The EECS department will cover all costs for on-campus activities and food, as well as transportation to off-campus activities. For off-campus trips, students will be required to pay for meals themselves. The estimated cost for all off-campus food is roughly $50 (but probably less).

DEECS is looking for students who have an interest in EECS, but not necessarily with prior robotics, programming or electronics experience. Underrepresented minority candidates and women are especially encouraged to apply.

Check out the DEECS website at http://www.eecs.mit.edu/DEECS/ for more information.