MIT Summer 2008 First Year Survey MIT

Welcome Tim Beaver!
(If you are not Tim Beaver, please retrieve your unique web link to this survey.)

Thank you for participating in the MIT Summer 2008 First Year Survey. The survey consists of several linked sections. Once you submit a section by hitting the "next" button, your answers will be saved for that section. After you have submitted a section, you may go back to it by using the back arrow on your browser. You may also return to the survey at a later time by returning to this web page. Your previously submitted answers will be displayed for you to edit if you wish. If you edit answers in a section, you must click the "next" button for that section to save the changes.

The survey is voluntary and you may answer as few or as many questions as you wish. Your responses will be confidential, so please be candid. Survey results will not be reported in any form that could identify an individual.

Your participation is very important and greatly appreciated!

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If you have questions about this survey, or encounter difficulties in taking it, please contact firstyear-survey@mit.edu.

Your Time in High School

1. During your last year of high school, about how many hours did you spend in a typical 7-day week doing each of the following?

  None Less than 2 hours 2-4 hours 5-10 hours 11-15 hours 16-20 hours 21-25 hours 26-30 hours 31-40 hours More than 40 hours
Working on scheduled courses outside of class or lab (i.e., homework)
Working for pay
Volunteer work
Participating in organized activities (e.g., arts, clubs, athletics, religious activities)
Engaging in self-directed projects or activities (e.g., programming, tinkering, hobbies)
Relaxing and socializing (watching TV, partying, etc.)

2. During a typical week in high school, how many hours of sleep did you get, on average, each night?

1 hour
2 hours
3 hours
4 hours		 5 hours
6 hours
7 hours
8 hours		 9 hours
10 hours
11 hours
12 hours or more

Your Time in High School

3. We are interested in learning about some of the experiences (both in and out of school) that you had before coming to MIT.

Did you create or build something in any of the following areas, either as a project or as a component of a larger project? Yes No
A construction of a structure in wood, metal, stone, or other material?
An assembly of moving mechanical parts?
An electrical circuit?
A working computer program?
In total, how many different projects of these types would you estimate you have been involved in?
How many projects have you worked on in these areas that:
   Provided detailed instructions that you followed closely?
   Provided instructions but you made your own changes to the design?
   You used your own design?

4. During the past school year, have you ever felt overwhelmed by all you had to do?
 Never
Occasionally
Often
Very Often

5. How many close friends do you have (meaning people that you feel at ease with, can talk to about private matters, and can call on for help)?

0 (none) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 or more

Abilities and Knowledge (1)

The list below contains some abilities and types of knowledge that may be developed in a bachelor's degree program. How confident are you in your current ability to do the following?

Confidence in current ability Not at all
confident		                   Completely
confident
0%         50%         100%
Write effectively
Communicate well orally
Acquire new skills and knowledge on my own
Think analytically and logically
Formulate/create original ideas and solutions
Evaluate and choose between alternative courses of action
Lead and supervise tasks and groups of people
Relate well to people of different races
Relate well to people of different nations and religions
Function effectively as a member of a team
Use quantitative tools (e.g., statistics, graphs)
Place current problems in historical/cultural/philosophical perspective
Identify moral and ethical issues
Understand myself: abilities, interests, limitations, personality

Abilities and Knowledge (2)

The list below contains some abilities and types of knowledge that may be developed in a bachelor's degree program. How confident are you in your current ability to do the following?

Confidence in current ability Not at all
confident		                   Completely
confident
0%         50%         100%
Function independently, without supervision
Gain in-depth knowledge of a field
Plan and execute complex projects
Read or speak a foreign language
Appreciate art, literature, music, drama
Develop an awareness of social problems
Resolve interpersonal conflicts positively
Synthesize and integrate ideas and information
Understand the process of science and experimentation
Evaluate the role of science and technology in society
Make new friends easily
Identify appropriate sources and cite them properly in your work

How confident are you in your current ability to do the following?

COMMUNICATION Not at all
confident		                   Completely
confident
0%         50%         100%
Write a clear and precise description of an experiment's purpose, procedures, and results.
When giving a talk, understand when you need to stop and clarify an idea for your audience.
Write a two-page report summarizing a project and its outcome for a supervisor.
Convincingly talk about your most important work experiences in a job interview.
Write a letter explaining your career interests for a summer job application.
Use technical drawings or graphics to communicate key project ideas to a class.
Write a persuasive analytic or interpretive essay.

Abilities and Knowledge (3)

How confident are you in your current ability to do the following?

TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP Not at all
confident		                   Completely
confident
0%         50%         100%
Give constructive criticism to a team member who is not performing well.
Make sure a team sets ground rules for how the team will work together.
Motivate others to work long hours to meet a deadline.
Facilitate a group with members who strongly disagree so the group can reach a successful project solution.
Make firm decisions even when not all the facts about the best choice are clear.
When responsibility for a task is unclear, take the initiative to get work started on it.
Keep pursuing an idea you believe in even though you are receiving public criticism.
CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL ABILITIES Not at all
confident		                   Completely
confident
0%         50%         100%
Generate an idea or concept that seems completely new.
Design and build something new that performs very close to your design specifications.
Apply knowledge of math in solving technical problems.
Apply knowledge of science fundamentals in solving technical problems.
Understand exactly what is new and important in a groundbreaking scientific article.
Recognize and understand the key organizing principles (laws, methods, etc.) underlying a technical problem.
Quickly grasp the limits of a technology well enough to judge whether a project should use it.
Create an original work of art, literature, or music.

Your Time in College

During the coming school year, about how many hours do you think you will spend in a typical 7-day week doing each of the following?

  None Less than 2 hours 2-4 hours 5-10 hours 11-15 hours 16-20 hours 21-25 hours 26-30 hours 31-40 hours More than 40 hours
Working on scheduled courses outside of class or lab (i.e., homework)
Working for pay, including Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
Volunteer work
Participating in organized activities (e.g., arts, clubs, athletics, religious activities)
Engaging in self-directed projects or activities (e.g., programming, tinkering, hobbies)
Relaxing and socializing (watching TV, partying, etc.)

Expectations for Freshman Year (1)

The statements below reflect a variety of expectations about the first year of college. Thinking about the coming academic year, please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with these statements.

  Strongly disagree Disagree somewhat Neither agree nor disagree Agree somewhat Strongly agree
My classes will be more exciting than my high school classes.
I will be challenged intellectually.
I will be able to study things I feel passionate about.
My classes will stimulate my interests in new areas.
Some of the subjects I study this year will be so interesting that I might do more than the required work.
I will have opportunities for hands-on activities (lab work, experiments, project-based experiences, etc).
I will be involved in a research project.
My classes at MIT will teach me how to be a good problem-solver.
What I will learn my first year will help me determine how I can use my skills to solve real world problems and issues.
  Strongly disagree Disagree somewhat Neither agree nor disagree Agree somewhat Strongly agree
My instructors will be exciting and engaging.
I will be able to talk to faculty outside of class about my interests.
Faculty will be encouraging and helpful.
I will collaborate with and learn from other students.
The connections I will form at MIT will make me feel that I belong to a close-knit community.
I will have an opportunity during the first year to explore different majors.
The first year will give me good preparation for the academic work of sophomore year.
I will be able to maintain a balance between my academic work and other aspects of my life.
I will read material not assigned for a class or class project (e.g., books, scientific articles, newspapers, magazines).
I will participate in an educational or public service experience outside the U.S. (e.g., study-abroad program or internship).
I will know some faculty well enough to get a good letter of recommendation.

Expectations for Freshman Year (2)

In the coming academic year, how often do you anticipate doing each of the following?

Research, Writing and the Arts Never Occasionally Often Very Often
Conduct research using historical archives, surveys, field work, or other primary sources on a project.
Prepare two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in.
Attend a concert or other music event, on or off campus.
Participate in a music activity (orchestra, chorus, etc.) on or off campus.
Participate in art (pottery, painting, etc.) or theatrical production (acting, dancing, etc.) on or off campus.
Write a poem, story, or other creative writing piece for a class.
Use MIT Libraries' website to access electronic journals, books, and other materials.
Faculty Never Occasionally Often Very Often
Work harder than you thought you could to meet the instructor's standards or expectations.
Work with a faculty member on a research project for credit or not for credit.
Discuss your career plans and ambitions with a faculty member.
Discuss your academic work with a faculty member.
Discuss your course selection plans with a faculty member.
Have intellectual discussions with a faculty member outside of class.
Interact with a faculty member at a social event.

Learning Styles

Below are a set of items that ask you about how you study and learn. Please indicate how likely you are to do each of the following: Not very likely
1 		2 Somewhat likely
3		 4 Very likely
5
1. When something in a professor's lecture is unclear, how likely are you to go up to him/her after class and ask for clarification?
2. When you are reading in preparation for a class, how likely are you to notice connections between the reading and other things you have learned in the past?
3. When you realize something new and important, how likely are you to write that new understanding into your earlier notes?
4. When you have difficulties understanding an important concept, how likely are you to look for help from someone with a deep understanding of the subject?
5. If you encounter an issue that is really interesting, how likely is it that you will take an hour or more to pursue it?
6. When you are reading in preparation for class, how likely are you to carefully note which things you don't understand as you study?
7. When you are having trouble understanding an assignment, how likely are you to go to materials that were not required for the course?
8. If you received a bad grade on an exam, how likely are you to change the way you study in order to do better on the next one?
9. When you are working on a project, how likely are you to periodically check the assignment requirements to be sure you are meeting them?
10. When you learn a new rule or principle in a course, how likely are you to apply it in a useful way to one of your interests?
11. When you are preparing to write a research paper, how likely are you to set goals for when you need to finish different sections?
12. When you study alone, how likely are you to take the time to go to a study location that is good for you?
13. Before you turn in an assignment, how likely are you to ask for feedback on a draft?

Perceptions of MIT Priorities

Please indicate how much emphasis you believe MIT currently places on each of the following:

  Very little/ none   Moderate   A great deal   Don't Know
Faculty research  
Teaching undergraduates  
A broad liberal arts education  
Intercollegiate athletics  
Extra-curricular activities other than intercollegiate athletics  
A commitment to intellectual freedom  
A racially/ethnically diverse student body  
Quality of residential life  
Skills valuable in the workforce  
Moral/ethical development  
Need-based financial aid (based on ability to pay)  
Non-need (merit) aid  

Expectations for Major

1. At this point in time, what major are you most interested in?

(Regarding the major listed above)
How confident are you that this will be the right major for you?
Not confident at all/ Don't know enough yet
Slightly confident
Somewhat confident
Confident
Very confident

2. If you are uncertain about the major selected above and are trying to choose between two majors, what is the other major you are thinking about?

3. What is the highest academic degree you think you might obtain at MIT or elsewhere:
 Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Ph.D.
Professional master's degree (MBA, MSW, etc.)
Medical degree
Law degree
Professional doctorate (EdD., DDiv.)
Other

About You

1. Is English your native language?
 Yes    No

2. How would you describe the racial composition of the high school you last attended and the neighborhood where you grew up?

  Completely non-White Mostly
non-White 		Roughly half
non-White 		Mostly White Completely White
High school I last attended
Neighborhood where I grew up

3. Which of the following religions best reflects your own childhood and family background?

4. What is the highest level of education completed by each of your parents?
Please mark their highest degree below:

Mother Father  
No high school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary school other than college
Some college or associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Graduate or professional degree

5. Do you have any concern about your ability to finance your college education?
 None (I am confident that I will have sufficient funds)
Some (but I probably will have enough funds)
Major (not sure I will have enough funds to complete college)

6. Did you apply for financial aid from MIT?
 Yes    No

7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: I will be seriously burdened by loan payments when I graduate.
 Strongly disagree
Disagree
Agree
Strongly agree

8. What is your best estimate of the total annual before tax income from all sources of the parent, parents, and/or stepparents who helped pay for your undergraduate education?

MIT OpenCourseWare

MIT OpenCourseWare makes the course materials that are used in the teaching of almost all MIT's undergraduate and graduate subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world.

1. Which of the following best describes your awareness of the MIT OpenCourseWare site?
 I became aware of the MIT OpenCourseWare site prior to my decision to apply to MIT
I became aware of the MIT OpenCourseWare site after my decision to apply to MIT (skip to Question 4)
I am unaware of the MIT OpenCourseWare site (select "Next" at the end of the page )

2. How significant an influence was the MIT OpenCourseWare site on your decision to attend MIT?
 Very significant
Significant
Insignificant
Very insignificant

3. In what way(s) did the site influence your decision to attend MIT? (check all that apply)
 demonstrated quality of teaching materials used at MIT
provided insight into teaching approaches at MIT
provided insight into programs at MIT
highlighted the work of particular professors of interest to you
illustrated unique aspects of the MIT community/culture
other. Please specify:

4. How often do you currently visit the OCW Web site?
 Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Occasionally (less than once a month)
Never (select "Next" at the end of the page)

5. How many times have you visited the OCW Web site before today?
1
2-5 times
6-10 times
11-25 times
26-50 times
More than 50 times

6. Please describe any impacts OCW has had on you personally or on your educational experiences.

Final Thoughts

1. Thinking about starting your freshman year at MIT, what are you most looking forward to?

2. What worries you the most?


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Thank you for participating in this survey. Your responses will be very helpful to faculty and administration as they work to improve the quality of all aspects of life at MIT.

If you have any questions, please contact firstyear-survey@mit.edu.