HKN Underground Guide to VI-A

Getting into VI-A

The Process

          The following is a list of steps in the application and acceptance procedure for the VI-A program. Remember, at all steps there are many sources of information, including the company itself. Call the company from the VI-A office. Check with the VI-A office to obtain the dates for these events and make sure to get everything done by the deadline. Get organized!

Preparation:

  • Attend the orientation lecture.
  • Read this guide.
  • Prepare your resume and obtain letters of recommendation
  • Attend the student open house. Ask questions.
  • Ask friends who are already in the program.
  • Read the company brochure booklet.

  • Applying to VI-A:
  • Hand in application material (including interview preference list, letters of recommendation, and resumes).
  • The VI-A office then arranges the interview schedule. This information is handed out at the Company Open House. Here, you can talk to company representatives and have a chance to add or delete company interviews.
  • Company interviews take place. Check your schedule for place and time.
  • Companies make up ranked preference lists of the students they interviewed. These are made available to students in the VI-A office.
  • Each applicant appearing on a company preference list makes a ranked preference list of company offers (s)he is interested in. This is due in the VI-A office.
  • Applicants are then matched with companies by the VI-A office according to the company and student preference lists. Students find out which company they could work at in the VI-A office. This information is not posted. Students must check with the VI-A office in person.

  • Acceptance:
  • Student signs form: "Agreement to participate in the VI-A program."
  • VI-A office notifies companies of their new students.
  • VI-A office sends students formal letters of acceptance.
  • Students attend a meeting called by the VI-A company Faculty Advisor before the end of the spring term. The Advisor will notify students about time, place, etc. Both continuing and new students should be present.


  • Questions for Student Open House

              This section summarizes some questions that current VI-A students wished they had asked when they went to their Student Open House. It is not a definitive list, but probably includes many questions which you might not think of asking.

    Social Life and Living Arrangements:

  • What is the social life like? Did you have fun?
  • How many other summer students were there besides VI-A students?
  • Were there any organized team sports? other activities ?
  • Did the company help you find an apartment?
  • Projects:
  • How are assignments chosen?
  • Does the company do interesting work?
  • Does the company use MIT students to their full potential?
  • How much research will I be able to do?
  • Company Philosophy and Work Environment:
  • What type of orientation is given to new students?
  • What is the work environment, including other employees, like?
  • How much of the work is military related?
  • Typical equipment, computer languages, machine availability?
  • What is the reputation of the company in the industry?
  • Is the company research or development oriented? How much of the company's resources are dedicated to research?
  • What is done at given sites?
  • Salary and Benefits:
  • What salary and benefits are offered?
  • Does the company reimburse moving expenses?
  • Master's Thesis and After:
  • Do you think you will be able to stay in your current group to do your thesis?
  • How is a thesis topic chosen? How much freedom is there in defining your thesis?
  • Does the company offer financial assistance during the Master's assignment?
  • Have you been offered a permanent position? If you were, would you say yes?

  • Advice and Comments

              Here are some words of wisdom that veteran VI-A students think are important.

    Choosing a Company:

  • Match your own interests with work of companies - money, location, benefits, etc. should come second. Your choice of a co-op company is a gamble - if it doesn't work out after two summers, drop it. Try to get work that matches your background.
  • Choosing a Project and/or Group:
  • Contact the company early on to discuss your assignment.
  • Talk to people at your future division and group.
  • Call and call and call and find out all you can about what is available.
  • Better to be in a group which has students each year than one that has students occasionally.
  • Projects depend on what the group does and the supervisor's interests - choose a group, not a project.
  • Projects in General:
  • Be enthusiastic.
  • Not everyone is willing to let you learn as much as possible.
  • Don't let MIT status infect you with a condescending attitude.
  • Just let it happen.
  • Define your assignment before you get there, set your goals early.
  • Preparation:
  • Read up on what you will be doing.
  • Expect to spend the first month reading.
  • Bring some technical books.
  • Master's Thesis:
  • The first assignment is often introductory. The second one should be a stepping stone to the M.Eng. thesis.
  • VI-A can cheat you out of valuable contact with professors, especially when looking for TA-RA'ship or Ph.D.
  • Pick a topic and a thesis supervisor before you leave MIT!!
  • Make sure you get a good thesis project, even if it takes longer to finish.
  • The stipend you receive in your semester away IS taxable as regular income.

  • Questions for Supervisors

              VI-A students felt that it would have been a good idea if they had asked their future supervisors some of these questions.

    Projects:

  • What exactly will my project be and what are the details?
  • What will be the goal of my work over the summer?
  • Will I get to do something creative or just grunge?
  • How much freedom will I have in deciding which project to work on? Once I have a project, how much say will I have over what I will be doing?
  • Has any work been done on this project yet? Has anyone else in the group worked on anything similar?
  • What do you want from me by the end of the summer?
  • What will I be expected to know?
  • How much time will I have to research future assignment topics?
  • What language will I be programming in?
  • Will the equipment be ready for me once I arrive?
  • How will my time be broken up between learning and doing?
  • Group/Supervisor:
  • What is the group trying to do, and how can I help?
  • Will I work closely with you or a mentor? May I have the phone number?
  • What are your qualifications?
  • Who will evaluate me?
  • Have you had VI-A students before?
  • How big is your division or group?
  • Are you going to quit before my assignment is over?
  • Company/Work Environment:
  • Can I change groups and/or projects if I find out I'm unhappy early on?
  • How much mobility is there between and inside divisions?
  • Will I get a cubicle or an office and will it be my own or shared?
  • What equipment will I be using?
  • Is there any research or is it all development at this branch? What is the most exciting thing happening there?
  • Overtime?