Many Years of Hard Work, Less Pay, but Invaluable Experience - Graduate Research Assistant MIT Employee Review

4.0
Feb 10, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Prestige, Working with some of the best and brightest minds in the World, Intellectual rigor, Tons of opportunities for payed-for international travel and educational experiences, good benefits, good scholarship/fellowship opportunities, and (most valuably) an incredible network during and post-graduation. You cannot go wrong with an MIT degree(s).

Cons

Fast-paced and Intense Environment that could lead to insecurity/mental health issues. Some professors can be very cruel, and there is gender-based discrimination, especially with some older engineering faculty. Can feel at (many) times, overworked. Pay is not that great as a grad student, but one of the best for being a graduate student. Master's students can work for pay. You really feel like you are "drinking from a firehose." Had to take 3 months of "semi"-downtime after graduation (both undergrad and grad school) to get over the stress.

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Jun 25, 2026
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Pros

Great research opportunities in EECS

Cons

Can be difficult to manage claszes

4.0
Jun 26, 2026
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Pros

High quality core facilities and well resourced labs. Countless brilliant colleagues who can serve as mentors and collaborators

Cons

Students and Postdocs are expensive due to high overhead, so unreasonably high productivity is often expected compared to other institutions. PIs are typically stretched very thin. Most departments/labs are very space limited which makes it harder to do safe and productive research.

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