Location: Lexington, MA
Number of Respondents: 4
Rational Software is located in the town of Lexington, not too far from Boston. All the students lived in MIT dorms, and therefore had no trouble finding housing, even though the company would neither help in locating or subsidizing the housing. Getting to work required traveling for about 45 minutes each way. Fortunately, the company provides a rental car, although the students had to pay for gas. Most of the students found that the location did not offer any after-work activities.
Fortunately, there were a fair number of other interns and some social interaction, in part due to the fair amount of company-sponsored activities. The working environment was laid-back, dress was casual, and the hours were very flexible. The students were treated with a lot of respect by very competent group members, and had access to state-of-the-art equipment.
Three of the students worked in product development, and only one in applied research. The sizes of the groups ranged from 7 to 30 people, with the exception of a graduate student who was working solely with his supervisor. Three of the students knew their assignments upon arrival, and had a moderate amount of flexibility in defining their project, while one student says he did not have any freedom and was assigned a project by his manager after several weeks. On average, the students were fairly happy with their projects and believed they played a fairly important role in the group's work. Unfortunately, switching between groups was not really encouraged, and it was not deemed particularly easy to do so either.
Rational Software does not provide health or dental benefits and does not pay for moving costs, since the students remain at MIT. However, they do pay for fifth year first term tution. Salaries were above average.
Students had a very good overall impression of the company, but they were split evenly on whether they would choose the company again, and whether they would want to work there after graduation.
"The working conditions make work comfortable. The low pressure, free food and drinks, and the air conditioning make most everyone content."Statistics:
"Living on campus (at MIT) is cheap as well as more convenient for going to places in Boston, compared to living in Lexington."
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