Welcome! You have been selected as an ongoing participant in the BEST study on post-Baccalaureate Experiences, Success, and Transition funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

What is BEST?
BEST is a national study that aims to gain insights into the post-college pathways of successful graduates from a wide range of academic disciplines. We invite you to fill out a brief contact form below so that you can receive $5 Amazon.com gift card as a token of thanks for your previous and future involvement in this significant project. Once you submit your form, we will process your information and send your gift card to you.

How have you been involved?
As a BEST participant, you have already completed several surveys administered through the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. The timeline below shows the different stages of surveying:

• 2004 Freshman Survey: Focused on your early educational and career plans, beliefs, and attitudes
• 2005 Your First College Year (YFCY) Survey: Focused on the academic and social activities of your first year in college
• 2007-2008 College Senior Survey (CSS): Focused on the impact college had on you after four years, including your academic training and social activities during college
• 2010-2011 Post-Baccalaureate Survey (PBS): Intends to focus on your career and/or graduate/professional school plans, activities, and progress after your graduation from college

Whether you have taken part in all or just a select number of these surveying opportunities, all of the BEST participants will again be contacted in 2010-2011 for the survey on post-baccalaureate experiences.

What are the benefits of continued participation in BEST?

• Reflect on your own unique experiences during college
• Share your individual success stories about your post-college career and/or advanced educational goals
• Provide information to help educators improve the overall college experience for future generations of undergraduates
• Contribute to a comprehensive research effort to identify academic and social activities that best prepare graduates for life after college
• Represent the alumni of your undergraduate institution in a national study

Your continued participation in BEST is simple and only requires your willingness to complete the final Post-Baccalaureate Survey (PBS) when our research team contacts you in 2010-2011.

How do I register for my $5 Amazon.com gift card?
Please use the unique ID code sent to you via e-mail by our research team to access the secure registration page. (https://www.gseis.ucla.edu/~herisurv/best/best.htm)