Freshman / First Year Survey
Freshmen are surveyed on a range of topics before they arrive on campus. The topics include demographic characteristics, expectations of the college experience, secondary school experiences, degree goals and career plans, college finances, attitudes, values, and life goals, and reasons for attending college.
| Survey | Instrument | Response | Results |
| 2012 Survey of New Students | Web Preview | PDF | 93% | Highlights & Overall Results |
| 2010 First Year Survey | Web Preview | PDF | Emails | 92% | Overall Results |
| 2008 First Year Survey | Web Preview | PDF | 90% | Overall Results |
| 2007 First Year Survey | Web Preview | PDF | 94% | Survey Summary & Overall Results |
| 2006 Fall Freshman Survey | Web Preview | PDF | ||
| 2006 CIRP Freshman Survey | 92% | Overall Results | |
| 2004 CIRP Freshman Survey | 80% | Overall Results |
Recent Findings (2012 Survey of New Students)
- Student Self-Description: When describing themselves as students, 77% of respondents said they prefer to take courses that arouse curiosity, even if the course is difficult. 57% of respondents said getting the best grades they can is very important, while 49% are willing to work hard in a course to learn the material even if it won't lead to a higher grade.
- 55% of respondents felt quite well or very well prepared to succeed academically at MIT.
- 75% of respondents felt quite well or very well prepared to succeed socially at MIT.
- When asked how prepared they felt on a range of college-level skills and abilities, the top three categories were: relating well to people of different races, nations and religions (60% "very well prepared"), developing or clarifying a personal code of values or ethics (59%), and functioning independently without supervision (53%).
- When asked "How important is it that MIT provide you with the following?" the top three categories that resulted in "essential" responses were: opportunities to discover and pursue your intellectual passion (85%), skills for lifelong learning (69%), and deep expertise in a specific discipline or area of study (64%).
- 90% of respondents intended to pursue a graduate or professional degree after completing their bachelor's degree.
- Read more in the 2012 Highlights.
Other Freshman Surveys
The Dean for Student Life asks all incoming freshman to answer an
MIT Alcohol survey to assess students' experiences with alcohol and to offer a voluntary intervention to those students interested in examining the role of alcohol in their lives.