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

Highlights

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QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2025-26

News & Articles

Ranking at the top for the 14th year in a row, the Institute also places first in 11 subject areas.

MIT News, posted on June 18, 2025

MIT has again been named the world’s top university by the QS World …

By Francis Borrego

Johnson & Johnson’s Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

News & Articles

Designed for current college students with disabilities who are pursuing a Health Care or STEM degree at a four-year university or college in the U.S. 2025 Applications will open on August 1st.

This scholarship is delivered in collaboration with our …

By Kendel Jester

Building a Network: Digital and In-Person Strategies for Students, Recent Graduates, and Postdocs

News & Articles

The following article is from Trevor Cambron’s post for the MIT Communications Lab

Networking. For some it is a loaded word that induces a visceral sense of dread, while for others it is a natural part of the workday. In …

By Tara Thakurta

Hire a MIT micro-internShare This: Share Hire a MIT micro-intern on FacebookShare Hire a MIT micro-intern on LinkedInShare Hire a MIT micro-intern on X
Process
More information and frequently asked questions

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Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it*Share This: Share Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it* on FacebookShare Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it* on LinkedInShare Handshake 101: What it is & how to use it* on X
CAPD is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for everyone we serve. If you need any disability-related accommodations to …

                        Visit Handshake
                        
Offer an industry job shadowShare This: Share Offer an industry job shadow on FacebookShare Offer an industry job shadow on LinkedInShare Offer an industry job shadow on X
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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AccessLexShare This: Share AccessLex on FacebookShare AccessLex on LinkedInShare AccessLex on X
AccessLex Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to helping talented, purpose-driven students find their path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled …

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Helping your student in their first yearShare This: Share Helping your student in their first year on FacebookShare Helping your student in their first year on LinkedInShare Helping your student in their first year on X
Access this presentation for family & supporters to understand how CAPD helps your first-year student at MIT.

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Parentaly Resources: Free tools for expecting parentsShare This: Share Parentaly Resources: Free tools for expecting parents on FacebookShare Parentaly Resources: Free tools for expecting parents on LinkedInShare Parentaly Resources: Free tools for expecting parents on X
Parentaly provides free resources and tools for expecting employees, working parents and HR leaders to help navigate the parental leave …

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Welcome to the family/supporters page!

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

Parents and supporters are integral navigators.

Supporting your student during the first year at MIT

Supporting your student beyond the first year

Continuing to support your graduate student’s career pursuits

Highlights

QS ranks MIT the world’s No. 1 university for 2025-26

Johnson & Johnson’s Access-Ability Lime Scholarship

Building a Network: Digital and In-Person Strategies for Students, Recent Graduates, and Postdocs

Featured Resources

Hire a MIT micro-intern

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

Offer an industry job shadow

AccessLex

Helping your student in their first year

Parentaly Resources: Free tools for expecting parents

Organizations

MIT Asian Club