Some trends in the career paths followed by alumni of the MIT Mechanical Engineering Department

Abstract

Data was collected in order to determine the career paths followed by graduates of MIT's mechanical engineering department. The data was obtained with the help of the Alumni Association of MIT. Data was obtained on current occupations for the graduating classes of 1967 through 1997. These occupations were sorted in to more general categories and then the categories were plotted in terms of percentage of graduates per year. Anomalies were found over the initial study of every fifth class from 1972 through 1997. An expansion was made in the data analyzed to every other year from the class of 1967 through 1997 as well as every year from 1969 through 1974. Using this more comprehensive data set, it was concluded that most graduates, approximately two-thirds of each class, pursue careers in either engineering or management. Over the years following graduation, the percentage of engineers decreases while the percentage of managers increases.