MIT Doctoral Student Exit Survey MIT

Welcome MIT Doctoral Student,

The purpose of this survey is to gather your opinions on your graduate education. The information obtained from you and other students will help us identify strategies to improve graduate education, and some of the data will be shared by MIT with the National Science Foundation as part of the Survey of Earned Doctorates.

The survey is entirely voluntary and you may answer as few or as many questions as you wish. All of your responses will be kept strictly confidential.

Your participation is very important and greatly appreciated!

Start the survey >>
(You will need MIT Web Certificates to enter the questionnaire.)

Further information on the Survey of Earned Doctorates can be found at
http://www.norc.org/projects/Survey+of+Earned+Doctorates.htm
This includes reports of past surveys and an informational brochure on "How the SED Keeps Your Information Strictly Confidential".

[INSERT FIRSTNAME LASTNAME FROM CERTIFICATE]

According to the MIT Registrar's Office, you are expected to graduate soon with a doctoral degree.

Have you graduated recently, or are you graduating in the next three months with your doctorate?
Yes
No

What is your MIT ID number?

Have you legally changed your name? If yes, please indicate your birth name or former name:


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PROGRAMMING NOTE: if graduating=2 (No), go to later.html otherwise go to p2.html

Assessment of your MIT Experience

Overall, how would you rate the quality of: Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent
Your academic experience at MIT
Your student life experience at MIT
Your overall experience at MIT
The intellectual quality of the faculty
The intellectual quality of fellow graduate students
The relationship between faculty & graduate students
Overall quality of graduate level teaching by faculty
Quality of academic advising and guidance
Overall program quality

Please select your MIT department:

Please select the primary field of your dissertation research.

If your dissertation research was interdisciplinary, please select your secondary field.

Did any of the following happen during your graduate program at MIT? Yes No Not applicable
I took a course, workshop, or orientation on teaching.
I received advice on preparing for candidacy examinations.
I received advice on the process required to select a thesis advisor.
I received feedback on my research.
I received advice on the standards for academic writing in my field.
I received advice on writing grant proposals.
I received advice on publishing my work.
I received advice on career options within academia.
I received advice on career options outside academia.
I received advice about research positions.
I delivered a paper or presented a poster at a national scholarly meeting.
I published in a refereed journal.

How many research presentations (including poster presentations) did you make on your campus during your graduate studies (not including presentations given in class or in regularly scheduled not-for credit lab meetings)?

How many research presentations (including poster presentations) did you make at meetings away from your campus or university (regional, national or international)?

If you made a presentation away from campus, did you receive any funds for travel from your program?
Yes     No

Based on research conducted while you were a graduate student, how many articles or book chapters have you authored or co-authored that have been published or accepted for publication?

How many others are currently under review?


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Financial Support and Debt

Which of the following were sources of financial support during graduate school? Yes No
Fellowship, scholarship
Grant   
Teaching assistantship
Research assistantship
Other assistantship  
Traineeship  
Internship, clinical residency
Loans (from any source)
Personal savings  
Personal earnings during graduate school
(other than sources listed above)
Spouse's, partner's, or family's earnings or savings
Employer reimbursement/assistance
Foreign (non-U.S.) support
Other - Specify

Which TWO sources listed above provided the most support?
 Primary source of support

Secondary source of support (Check if no secondary source)

    If yes, how helpful was this experience
with respect to your professional development?
  Not at all helpful Not very helpful Somewhat helpful Very helpful   Not applicable
Were you a teaching assistant (TA) at any time during your graduate studies? Yes No    
Were you a research assistant (RA) at any time during your graduate studies? Yes No    

During 2009 or 2010, did any of your financial support come from the Federal stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009)?
 Yes      No      Don't know

When you receive your doctoral degree, how much money will you owe that is directly related to your undergraduate and graduate education?
UNDERGRADUATE DEBT
None
$10,000 or less
$10,001 - $20,000
$20,001 - $30,000
$30,001 - $40,000
$40,001 - $50,000
$50,001 - $60,000
$60,001 - $70,000
$70,001 or more - Specify 		GRADUATE DEBT
None
$10,000 or less
$10,001 - $20,000
$20,001 - $30,000
$30,001 - $40,000
$40,001 - $50,000
$50,001 - $60,000
$60,001 - $70,000
$70,001 or more - Specify


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Your Education

The next few questions ask about the degrees you have received. Please provide the following information for this doctoral degree, your most recent master’s degree, and your first bachelor's degree in the appropriate columns below.

Your research doctoral degree from MIT
Month/year degree granted or will be granted
Month/year that you started your degree
Primary field of study
 
Most recent master's degree (e.g., MS MA, MBA) or equivalent
Have you received a master's degree? Yes No
Month/year degree granted
Month/year that you started your degree
Primary field of study
Institution name
 Branch or city
 State or province
 Country
 
First bachelor's degree (e.g., BA, BS, AB) or equivalent
Have you received a bachelor's degree? Yes No
Month/year degree granted
Month/year that you started your degree
Primary field of study
Institution name
 Branch or city
 State or province
 Country

Excluding those above, have you attained any additional postsecondary degrees?
Yes     No

If yes, please list the additional degree(s), granting institution(s), and years.

First Additional Degree
Degree type
Degree field
Month/Year granted
Institution
Branch or city
State or country
 
Second Additional Degree
Degree type
Degree field
Month/Year granted
Institution
Branch or city
State or country


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Your Education

Was a master's degree a prerequisite for admission to your doctoral program?
 Yes     No

Were you provided with a written set of expectations about academic requirements and expected progress?
 Yes     No

Other than course grades and results of written or oral examinations, did your program provide a formal assessment of your academic progress at least annually?
 Yes     No

In what month and year did you first enter any graduate school in any program or capacity?

How many years were you taking courses or preparing for exams for this doctoral degree (including a master’s degree, if that was part of your doctoral program)?

How many years were you working on your dissertation after coursework and exams (non-course related preparation, writing and defense)?

Was there any time from the year you entered your doctoral program and the award of your doctorate that you were not working on your degree (that is, not taking courses or working on your dissertation)?
 Yes, number of years:
No

Did you earn college credit from a community or two-year college?
 Yes     No

Are you earning, or have you earned, an MD or a DDS?
  Have earned? Are earning?
MD Yes     No Yes     No
DDS Yes     No Yes     No

Are you intending to pursue a career in academia?
 No      Yes      Don't know

Have you participated in an internship since you have been in your current program at MIT?
 Yes    No

Since you have been at MIT have you participated in any service or public service activities?
Yes     No     Don't know

Since you have been at MIT have you participated in any leadership activities?
Yes     No     Don't know


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Advising and Mentoring

Did you have one or more faculty members whom you considered to be mentors (i.e., individuals who gave you advice about your education, career development, or other matters of concern to you as a graduate student)? Check more than one if appropriate.
My dissertation/thesis advisor was a mentor
Another faculty member in my department was a mentor
Faculty member in another department was a mentor
I did not have a mentor in my department

Dissertation advisors engage in a variety of mentoring activities. For each of the following statements, indicate the extent that it DESCRIBES THE BEHAVIOR of your dissertation advisor or chair.

My dissertation advisor: Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Ambivalent Somewhat agree Strongly agree Not applicable
was knowledgable about formal degree requirements
was available to me for consultation
served as my advocate when necessary
helped me secure financial support for my graduate work
considered me a source of labor to advance his/her research
gave me constructive feedback on my work
returned my work promptly
promoted my professional development
provided information about multiple career paths
would support me in any career path I might choose
assisted me in my search for employment
overall, performed the role well

How helpful was/were your advisor(s) for each of the following activities? Not at all helpful Not very helpful Somewhat helpful Very helpful
Preparing for written qualifying exams
Preparing for the oral qualifying exam
Finding a dissertation topic
Writing a dissertation prospectus or proposal
Doing research for the dissertation
Writing the dissertation
Selection of academic career options
Selection of nonacademic career options


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Your Postgraduation Plans

In what country or state do you intend to LIVE after graduation (within the next year)?
 In U.S. - State:
OR Not in U.S. - Country:

Do you intend to take a "postdoc" position?
(A "postdoc" is a temporary position primarily for gaining additional education and training in research, usually awarded in academe, industry, government, or a nonprofit organization.)
Yes     No

What is the status of your postgraduate plans (in the next year)?
 Returning to, or continuing in, predoctoral employment
Have signed contract or made definite commitment for a "postdoc" or other work
Negotiating with one or more specific organizations
Seeking position but have no specific prospects
Other fulltime degree program (e.g., MD, DDS, JD, MBA, etc.)
Do not plan to work or study (e.g., family commitments, etc.)
Other Specify

Which of the following best describes your postgraduate PLANS (within the next year)?
Please select one.
"POSTDOC" OR FURTHER TRAINING Postdoc fellowship
Postdoc research associateship
Traineeship
Internship, clinical residency
Other Training - Specify
EMPLOYMENT
(other than "postdoc" or further training)		 Architect or Planner (City, Environmental)
Analyst
Consulting (Management, Financial)
Entrepreneur or Self-Employed
Engineer, Manufacturing
Faculty position
Finance, Accounting
Manager or administrator
Military service
Researcher, academic setting
Researcher, nonacademic setting (e.g., national lab/industry/medical center)
Other Employment - Specify
Not sure

If your plans are to take a "postdoc" or further training:
What will be the main source of financial support for your "postdoc" or further training within the next year?
 U.S. government
Industry/business
College or university
Private foundation
Non-profit, other than private foundation or college
Foreign government
Other - Specify
Unknown
Not applicable

Will any of the financial support for your postgraduate plans come from the Federal stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009)?
 Yes      No      Don't know

Which of the following best describes the TYPE of ORGANIZATION you will be (or plan to be)
working for or training with after graduating from your program at MIT? Please select one.
EDUCATION U.S. 4-year college or university other than medical school
U.S. medical school (including university-affiliated hospital or medical center)
U.S. university-affiliated research institute
U.S. community or two-year college
U.S. preschool, elementary, middle, secondary school or school system
Foreign educational institution
GOVERNMENT
(other than education institution)		 Foreign government
U.S. federal government
U.S. state government
U.S. local government
PRIVATE SECTOR
(other than education institution)		 Not for profit organization
Industry or business (for profit)
OTHER Self-employed
Other - Specify
Not sure

Since entering this graduate program, have you changed your mind about the TYPE OF POSITION you expect to have after you graduate?
 Yes     No     Not applicable
If Yes, please describe.

Do you expect the position you take to be directly related to your graduate training?
Yes     No     Not sure     Not applicable

Since entering this graduate program, have you changed your mind about the TYPE OF EMPLOYER for whom you expect to work?
 Yes     No     Not applicable
If Yes, please describe.


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PROGRAMMING NOTE: IF PDOCSTAT > 1 (not firmly employed, which is PDOCSTAT=0 or 1), skip to p9.html

EMPLOYMENT: YOUR JOB SEARCH & OFFER

We're interested in knowing more about your job search.
How many job applications did you submit?
How many interviews have you had?
How many offers did you receive, including the offer you accepted:

How did you find your job? (check all that apply)
On-campus recruiting
(Monstertrak, Interviewtrak)
Networking
Internship led to job offer
Career fair		 Professional Conference
Contacts acquired through MIT Careers Office (business cards, panels, presentations)
Through Department (faculty, academic administrator)
Personal Contacts(friends, family)		 Directly applied to employer
Previously employed by employer(internship, company-sponsored education)
Advertised job listing (on-line, print)
Other - Specify

Please tell us about your employer.
Employer / Organization Name
Is this a college or university? Yes     No
Select the industry that best describes your employer
City
State or territory (if U.S.)
Country (if not U.S.)
Full job title

Please tell us about your job offer.
What will be your basic annual salary for this principal job (in the next year)? If you are not salaried, please estimate your earned income. Do not include bonuses, moving expenses, tuition assistance, or additional compensation for summertime teaching or research.
Salary in US Dollars (Example: 50000)
How many months does this salary cover?
If you received a sign on bonus or package (including sign on bonus, moving expenses, etc.), please enter the value of your bonus. Bonus in US Dollars (Example: 10000)
Did you negotiate your salary? Yes     No     Don't know
If yes, additional salary gained from negotiating:
Did you negotiate your sign on or bonus package? Yes    No     Don't know
If yes, additional bonus gained from negotiating:

What will be your primary and secondary work activities? Mark one in each column. Primary Secondary
Research and development
Teaching
Management or administration
Professional services to individuals
Other - Specify
Check if no secondary work activities


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Background Information / Demographics

What is your marital status?
 Married
Living in a marriage-like relationship
Widowed
Separated
Divorced
Never married

Not including yourself or your spouse/partner, how many dependents (children or adults) do you have that is, how many others receive at least one half of their financial support from you?
5 years of age or younger
6 to 18 years
19 years or older
Check if none:

What is the highest educational attainment of your mother and father? Mark one for each parent. Mother Father
Less than high/secondary school graduate
High/secondary school graduate
Some college
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree (e.g., MA, MS, MBA, MSW, etc.)
Professional degree (e.g., MD, DDS, JD, D.Min, Psy.D., etc.)
Research doctoral degree
Not applicable/Unknown

What is your place of birth?
State or territory (if U.S.)
OR Country (if not U.S.)

What is your date of birth?

What is your citizenship status?
 U.S. CITIZEN Since birth
U.S. CITIZEN Naturalized
NON-U.S. CITIZEN With a Permanent U.S. Resident Visa ("Green Card")
NON-U.S. CITIZEN With a Temporary U.S. Visa

If you are a non-U.S. citizen, of which country are you a citizen?
Specify country of present citizenship

In what state or country was the high school/secondary school that you last attended?
State or territory (if U.S.)
OR Country (if not U.S.)

Do you have the following disabilities?
Mark Yes or No for each.		 Yes No
Blind/Visually Impaired
Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Physical/Orthopedic Disability
Learning/Cognitive Disability
Vocal/Speech Disability
Other - Specify

Are you Hispanic or Latino?
No, I am not Hispanic or Latino
Yes, I am Mexican or Chicano
Yes, I am Puerto Rican
Yes, I am Cuban
Yes, I am Other Hispanic or Latino (please specify)

What is your racial background? (Please mark one or more.)





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Contact Information

In case we need to clarify some of the information you have provided, please list your current address, an email address and telephone number where you can be reached.

Your Current Street Address
City
State
Country
Zip or Postal Code
Email address
Daytime or Cell Phone
(including area or country code)

Please provide the name and address of a person who is likely to know where you can be reached in case your address changes in the near future.

Name of Person who will
know where you can be reached
Street Address
City
State
Country
Zip or Postal Code
Email address
Daytime or Cell Phone
(including area or country code)

Final Thoughts

Do you have any further thoughts or comments you wish to share?


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Thank you for responding to the Doctoral Exit Survey.

[INSERT FIRSTNAME LASTNAME FROM CERTIFICATE] in [MITDEPARTMENT] submitted all pages of the MIT Doctoral Student Exit Student on [insert date].

Please print this page as proof of survey completion for your department administrator.

 

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Generate email with with name from cert & department & sum of survey response by page to phdexit@mit.edu.