Information for New Admits

Getting Oriented

Plan to arrive on campus about a week before classes to participate in orientation events, which include the CEE mandatory orientation as well as optional events presented by the Graduate Student Council.

Department orientation
The CEE orientation will introduce you to the graduate program you've selected and your academic advisor.

Graduate Student Council Orientation
The Graduate Student Council has many orientation events. To learn more, visit this page.

Mandatory Writing Skills Exam

All incoming CEE graduate students are required to take the Writing Skills Exam. The exams tests use of punctuation, grammar, sentence structure and the ability to write a short technical document and abstract. Depending on exam results, students may be required to take a three-day technical writing workshop in January. International students whose first language is not English need to take the Writing Skills Exam in addition to the English Evaluation Test.

International Students

If English is not your first language, you are required to take an English Evaluation Test during orientation week. Bring an English dictionary, several sharpened pencils and a pen to the exam. If you have any questions, please contact the Foreign Language Office at 617.253.4771. Exemptions are granted only for students whose education has been in English from an early age. The English Evaluation Test is usually given in late August.

The International Students Office (ISO) hosts many events for international students and helps students navigate immigration procedures. Prior to MIT's Registration Day, you must attend an information session at the ISO to receive a clearance card. For more information, including a guide for incoming international students and information about your visa paperwork, visit the ISO website.

On the day your I-20 is complete, the ISO will send it to you via express shipping. You can check the status of your I-20 on the ISO web page.

Tuition

MIT tuition bills are available in electronic format only and can be viewed on your MITSIS account in July for payment by the middle of August. If you have a research assistantship or fellowship that will pay your tuition, it may not be posted to your account before your bill is due. Please pay only the portion that is not covered by your award.. If a late fee is applied to the portion covered by MIT, you will not be responsible for paying that late fee. Please direct questions about your departmental award to Patty Glidden and questions about paying your tuition bill to the Student Financial Services Office.

Financial Aid Paperwork

If you have been awarded employment through MIT as a Research or Teaching Assistant, you will need to complete the three forms below, which are available for download from MIT's Department of Human Resources. If you have been awarded a fellowship through MIT, you need to complete only the Direct Deposit Form.

  • W4 Tax Form — send to the Payroll Office, Room E19-429
  • Direct Deposit Form — send to the Payroll Office
  • I-9 Form — return to CEE headquarters, Room 1-290

MIT Athena Computing Account

If you have not already received information about your MIT ID number and your MIT computing account, please contact CEE graduate admissions coordinator Patty Glidden.

Master of Science in Transportation Subjects to Review

If you have been admitted to the M.S.T. program, please be sure you have all the prerequisites and have reviewed the required subjects.

WebSIS

You will use WebSIS throughout your MIT career to review and maintain your academic, financial and biographic records. It is your responsibility as a student to monitor your records and report any discrepancies.