Initial Priorities for New Graduate Students
Our graduate program involves a combination of research, course work, and, in most cases, teaching. A number of requirements must eventually be satisfied. Experience has shown that the first-year student will do well to focus on the following primary goals:
- Finding a masters thesis supervisor
- Ensuring fluency in the necessary undergraduate background for Area I
- Successfully completing at least two Area I core graduate courses with mastery
Completion of the technical qualifying exam (TQE) will follow from success in the latter two areas. Experience has also shown that the first-year student should not focus too much on the following secondary goals:
- Racking up credits (no one has ever failed to obtain an MIT degree for lack of credits)
- Sampling a tempting smorgasbord of interesting courses
- Beginning your minor requirement
- Satisfying your TA requirement (unless you are supported by a TAship)