Why Do Grad Students Choose MIT?

Getting into MIT is tough and, once on campus, the experience is intense, yet lots of people want that opportunity. A recent survey of 1,152 MIT graduate students conducted by the Office of the Provost’s Institutional Research office documents why they came to MIT. The survey offers some predictable responses and some surprises.

Here are a few data points:

MIT’s reputation is the most important reason master’s students are at MIT; doctoral students say the match between specialized MIT programs and their interests is the top motivation.

Most important reason that MIT’s grad students are in school now: Personal Intellectual Achievement

Top self-perceived characteristics where students rated themselves in the highest 10%

1. Drive to achieve
2. Cooperativeness
3. Emotional health

Number of years students thought their degrees would take to complete:

• Master’s: 63% thought two years
• Doctoral: 60% thought five years

Citizen status: 56% are U.S. citizens

Self-perceived comparisons to other MIT graduate students:

• Academic Ability: 45% of master’s candidates saw themselves as average; doctorial 47%
• Cooperativeness: 48% of master’s candidates saw themselves as above average; doctorial 46%
• Leadership Ability: 41% of master’s candidates saw themselves as above average; doctorial 38%
• Social Self Confidence: 44% of master’s candidates saw themselves as above average; doctorial 35%

For the full picture, you can download the 42-page report (PDF).