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Family/Supporters

Welcome to the family/supporters page!

Exploration, preparation, and a team that understands how it all works.

MIT Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD) empowers students to think big picture about their career interests and goals, then supports them through every part of the journey, from research, resumes, and career fairs to interviews, job offers, and salaries. Watch the CAPD Orientation to learn how our office can help your student explore careers and prepare for internships, jobs, and graduate school. We also invite you to learn more about our programs and services and meet CAPD staff.

Parents and supporters are integral navigators.

Parents and supporters have a special role in navigating students to resources during their time at MIT that will help as they discover their career interests and gain experience to verify that those are career paths they wish to pursue in the future. Review this video series to hear additional ways that parents and supporters can assist students in career exploration.

Freshman Orientation group of students having fun

Supporting your student during the first year at MIT

At MIT, supporters, families, and parents can help first-year students explore and prepare for their future careers by connecting them to Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD). During the first year, we help with connecting major to career, selecting courses for those interested in prehealth, exploring career fields, and much more. First-year students can also come to CAPD’s first-year signature events, where content is tailored to their unique stage of their college career, or to any of the general events and programs.

Advice for supporters of for first-year students

Supporting your student beyond the first year

MIT co-curricular and experiential learning provides vast opportunities to explore and discover career paths. We encourage students to start by exploring careers through our Career Exploration Series, perusing our Career Interests page, attending an Infinite Careers event featuring MIT alums, and exploring a career path through micro-internships or career prototyping. CAPD also provides shadowing, and or short- and long-term experiences in workplace settings in various fields, which students have access to through MIT’s Handshake system. Additional MIT experiential learning opportunities are available in MIT’s ELx.

Information for exploring careers

Continuing to support your graduate student’s career pursuits

As a parent or supporter of a graduate student at MIT, your role continues to be important. An advanced degree often requires determination, as students are focused on their professional endeavors. CAPD offers career advising for Master’s and PhD students. Also, Graduate Student Professional Development provides a comprehensive collection of professional development opportunities designed to help graduate students develop skills and knowledge within and beyond academe.

Discover graduate student professional development at MIT

Four from MIT named 2026 Rhodes Scholars

News & Articles

Julia Mongo | Office of Distinguished Fellowships
Published by MIT News on November 15, 2025

Vivian Chinoda ’25, Alice Hall, Sofia Lara, and Sophia Wang ’24 have been selected as 2026 Rhodes Scholars and will begin fully funded postgraduate studies at the …

By Julia Mongo
Julia Mongo Staff Writer and Advisor
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MIT’s AI+D major becomes one of the Institute’s most popular undergraduate programs

News & Articles

Launched in 2022, MIT’s Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making (AI+D) undergraduate major is now the second-largest major at the Institute. The program was recently highlighted by The New York Times for its focus on preparing students to design AI systems …

By Janine Sazinsky
Janine Sazinsky Employer Relations Coordinator
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MIT ranked No. 1 worldwide for interdisciplinary science by Times Higher Education

News & Articles

Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 highlight MIT’s strength in cross-disciplinary research and innovation.

MIT has been ranked No. 1 worldwide in interdisciplinary science in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026, reflecting the Institute’s long-standing commitment …

By Janine Sazinsky
Janine Sazinsky Employer Relations Coordinator
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Featured Resources

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Hire a MIT micro-intern

Hire a MIT micro-intern

Process More information and frequently asked questions

Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it*

Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it*

CAPD is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for everyone we serve. If you need any disability-related accommodations to …

Federal loan changes coming in Fall 2026: Considerations for graduate, medical, and professional school

In July, the U.S. government passed legislation that has changed the loan landscape by adding limits to the amount of …

Offer an industry job shadow

Offer an industry job shadow

Industry job shadows help MIT students explore their career options

Industry job shadows are in-person opportunities for MIT first years …

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