CAPD releases graduating student survey results
94% of bachelor’s respondents participated in a UROP
MIT Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) released the results of its annual Graduating Student Survey (GSS), covering introductory, employment, and graduate school statistics.
The survey seeks to “determine the plans of graduating students and data that will assist the staff” to “provide the best related and graduate school-related service to MIT students,” the GSS website writes. Approximately 61% of graduating bachelor’s students and 51% of graduating master’s students responded to the survey.
94% of bachelor’s respondents participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, 87% in an internship, 82% in at least one leadership activity, and 57% in at least one service or public service activity. 59% of master’s student respondents participated in an internship, 63% in at least one leadership activity, and 27% in at least one service or public service activity.
31% of bachelor’s graduate respondents and 24% of masters’ graduate respondents reported working in “Information/Computer Technology”; 20% and 21% reported “Professional, Scientific and Technical Services,” including “Consulting”; and 14% and 15% reported “Finance and Insurance,” respectively.
“Computer and Mathematical Occupations” bachelor’s graduates earn the highest salary with a median of $118,000 and “Consultants” earn the second-highest at $90,000. “Consultant” master’s graduates have the highest median salary at $160,000, while “Management Occupations” earn $130,000 and “Computer and Mathematical Occupations” earn $129,500.
Both undergraduate and graduate respondents weighed “Job content,” “Creative & challenging work,” and “Opportunity for career advancement” as the most important factors in accepting a job. The largest difference between the responses of bachelor’s and master’s graduate respondents lay in “Employer was willing to sponsor non-US citizen,” where 23% of master’s recipients and seven percent of bachelor’s recipients deemed it essential. Bachelor’s respondents used “Networking (e.g. alumni)” and “Career fair” resources the most, whereas master’s respondents used “Networking (e.g. alumni)” and “Career Advising & Professional Development” resources the most.
39% of bachelor’s respondents heading to graduate school are planning to pursue a Masters of Engineering. 38% and 80% of bachelor’s and master’s respondents heading to graduate school, respectively, will pursue a PhD or ScD. The majority of bachelor’s and master’s graduates heading to graduate school reported receiving advising support for graduate or professional school applications from their department or faculty advisor.