Skip to content

Student Advice & Resources

Professional Study

What do you plan to do after graduation? Commencement arrives before you know it. It’s wise to decide whether you plan to continue your education beyond your Bachelor’s degree early in your undergraduate career. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. 

There is no right or wrong answer – it’s simply a matter of career goals and preferences.

Graduate School

Here are some things to consider and links to resources that can help you learn more.

Many MIT students choose to pursue graduate degrees here at MIT or at other universities. If you are interested in a graduate school, use your time wisely as an undergraduate. You need to keep up your academic performance while doing research on graduate schools, faculty, and programs; networking; gaining relevant work and research experience; and preparing successful graduate school applications.

  • Talk with your advisor. Your first resource when considering graduate school is your advisor, who is well versed in the degree requirements for careers in your field. As one who has gone through the graduate school application process, your advisor can be a tremendous source of practical information based on personal experiences. 
  • Discuss your plans with others. These individuals should include: your department’s academic administrator or officer, instructors, and CAPD career counselors, to get solid input and direction. Is it be possible to continue toward a graduate degree here at MIT or should you look into other graduate school programs? No matter what the answer, these are the folks that can help you sort through your options.
  • Connect with the Office of Graduate Education. The OGE site offers comprehensive information and advice on preparing for and applying to graduate school, the MIT graduate community as well as the graduate student experience. 
  • Learn about what it takes to apply successfully for grad school and what it’s like to be a grad student by talking with UROP mentors, TAs, GRAs, faculty and advisors about their grad school experiences.
  • Gain research experience through experiential learning activities and internships so that you have the hands-on experience needed to succeed as a graduate student.
  • Explore Distinguished Fellowships. If you have a strong GPA and are looking for funding for graduate school or independent research, consider applying for a distinguished fellowship

Professional School

Here are some tips and links to get you started.

If you plan to go on to medical, dental or law school after graduation, you’ll need to take appropriate classes, prepare applications, and network with professionals in the field.

  • Explore all of the opportunities available to you. The Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) site has a comprehensive career interests section that provides on-line resources to help you plan. 
  • Attend CAPD Workshops. Career advisors hold workshops and informational sessions throughout the academic year. Explore offerings to learn more about the fields that interest you, what to expect, and more.
  • Network! Meet with career advisors for advice and assistance throughout the planning process. Connect with recent alums who have charted a similar path for information on what it’s really like to be in law, dental or med school

Teaching Careers

Have you ever wanted to share what you have learned with others? Did you know that there are a shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers in many of America’s school systems? Ever picture a career in K-12 teaching?

Here are some tips and links that can help you make the decision:

Teaching at the pre-college level can be one of the most rewarding experiences that you’ll encounter and is a great way to share your knowledge experience with the next generation. Now you simply need to determine whether or not a teaching career is right for you.

  • Explore MIT’s Scheller Teacher Education Program. The program offers classes and an option for teacher licensure for MIT undergraduates.
  • Connect with current teachers by participating in TEP activities or networking with MIT alums who have entered the teaching field.