The Graduate Student Council has conducted a survey of Caltech graduate alumni about their experiences in the laboratory and with their advisors (P.I.s).

Please note, these survey results reflect data collected since 2001 when the survey first began. If you don't see data from your group, please encourage recent alumni to fill out the survey at: http://alumni.caltech.edu/survey/.

Results are grouped into PDF files according to areas of studies, and P.I.s are listed alphabetically within each file.

New results will only be posted in averaged groups of two surveys for any given P.I. to maintain anonymity of respondents.

There are no HSS result yet because no HSS P.I. has had at least 2 students respond to the survey.

Questions on the Survey:
1. How long were you this P.I.'s advisee (in years)?
2. How available was your advisor when you wanted to meet with him/her (1=little, 5=very)?
3. Was your advisor hands off (1) or hands on (5)?
4. Was your advisor more inclined to support experimental work (1), theory and modeling (5)?
5. How much freedom did students have to choose their own research project (1=little, 5=much)?
6. Did you have a thesis committee? (Result shows number of respondants with a committee)
7. How much freedom did your supervisor give students to select faculty members for you to get your thesis done (1=little, 5=much)?
8. How effective was your advisor at laying out a plan of what needed to be done for you to get your thesis done (1=not very, 5=very)?
9. How much did you value the advice of your advisor, e.g. has great ideas, is a great troubleshooter? (1=little, 5=very much)?
10. How much mentorship did senior students and postdocs provide in the lab (1=little, 5=much)?
11. How willing was your advisor to support you, advocate for you and push for your advancement (1=not very, 5=very)?
12. How encouraging was your advisor about sending his/her students to conferences (1=not very, 5=very)?
13. How hard (1) or easy (5) was it for you to get the financial support for purchases you needed to pursue your thesis work?
14. How effective and fair was your advisor at resolving conflicts (1=not very, 5=very)?
15. How highly do you regard the personal ethic of your advisor (1=little, 5=very)?
16. How warm was the advisor/advisee relationship in the lab (1=not very, 5=very)?
17. How collaborative was the atmosphere of the lab (1=not very, 5=very)?
18. Did you graduate with a degree from the lab? (Result shows number of respondants who graduated)
19. How many years did it take to graduate?

Last updated: October 5, 2009.