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:
Applying to VI-A: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.
Acceptance: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.
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.
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:
Projects: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?
Company Philosophy and Work Environment: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?
Salary and Benefits: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?
Master's Thesis and After:What salary and benefits are offered? Does the company reimburse moving expenses?
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?
Here are some words of wisdom that veteran VI-A students think are important.
Choosing a Company:
Choosing a Project and/or Group: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.
Projects in General: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.
Preparation: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.
Master's Thesis:Read up on what you will be doing. Expect to spend the first month reading. Bring some technical books.
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.
VI-A students felt that it would have been a good idea if they had asked their future supervisors some of these questions.
Projects:
Group/Supervisor: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?
Company/Work Environment: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?
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?