Politics Survey: What Do Students Think?

For one thing, MIT students think that the economy is the top political issue facing the country. We know that because The Tech surveyed undergraduate and graduate students with questions paralleling many asked by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

With responses from 20 percent of MIT students, The Tech offers a snapshot of student political thinking compared to the Pew results for Americans in general and for 18-29-year-old young adults plus they compared views by MIT course and living group. Here are a few highlights:

How MIT Students Compare to—All Americans

• Conservatives: 12 percent report being conservative vs. 30 percent of Americans overall; however the percentage of moderates was virtually the same.
• Evolution: 75 percent believe living things evolved due to natural processes vs. 52 percent of surveyed Americans.

• Optimism: 34 percent say America is heading in the right direction vs. 18 percent of young adults.
• Voters: 66 percent are registered to vote vs. 77 percent of young adults.
• Liberals: 52 percent describe themselves as left of moderate vs. 37 percent of young adults.

• Living Group Politics: Senior House was the most liberal dorm compared to McCormick, the most conservative.
• Course Politics: Course 24-Linguistics and Philosophy was the most liberal compared to Course 16-Aeronautics and Astronautics, the most conservative.