Impact

FIRST works closely with research and academic organizations to provide tangible evidence of our impact on students’ education and career choices.

Brandeis University Study

FIRST Robotics Competition

Recently, Brandeis University’s Center for Youth and Communities conducted an independent, retrospective survey of FIRST Robotics Competition participants and compared results to a group of non-FIRST students with similar backgrounds and academic experiences, including math and science. Highlights of the study’s findings include:

When compared with the comparison group, FIRST students are:

• More than 3 times as likely to major specifically in engineering.
• Roughly 10 times as likely to have had an apprenticeship, internship, or co-op job in their freshman year.
• Significantly more likely to expect to achieve a post graduate degree.
• More than twice as likely to expect to pursue a career in science and technology.
• Nearly 4 times as likely to expect to pursue a career specifically in engineering.
• More than twice as likely to volunteer in their communities.

Complete information on the Brandeis University Retrospective Study on FIRST Robotics Competition students is available at:

• Executive Summary (148 KB)
• Final Report (537 KB)
• Open Ended Responses (198 KB)
• Evaluation FRC Underserved Initiative 2005 - Brandeis University (280 KB)

FIRST Robotics Competition

•  Evaluation of FRC Underserved Initiative (439 KB)

FIRST Tech Challenge (formerly known as FTC) 

• FTC Evaluation Headlines 2006 (110 KB)
• FTC Evaluation Final Report 2006 (141 KB)

FIRST LEGO League

• FLL Evaluation 2003-2004 – Brandeis Study (477 KB) 
• FLL Underserved Initiative Study - 2004-05 Executive Summary (137 KB)
• FLL Underserved Initiative Study - 2004-05 Full Report (444 KB)
• Junior FIRST LEGO League – Pilot Evaluation (894 KB)