BMES & GURU Present: Preparing for Graduate School Will Goth Daniela Santiesteban

Overview Is grad school the right choice? General pre-requisites How to find a program that fits The application process Attributes of successful applicants

Timeline May Begin researching potential schools Start GRE Prep June Register for GRE test (August-September test date) July Request information from schools Begin forming connections with potential advisors August Take GRE test Sign up for second GRE if dissatisfied with scores Begin preparing NSF application materials (WILL BE SIMILAR TO GRADUATE APPLICATION) September Register for November GRE Subject tests (if necessary) Begin narrowing down specific schools & advisors Contact potential references (3-5) October Request official transcripts Send supplemental materials to references (resume, Finalize and submit NSF submissions November Take GRE subject tests (if necessary) Modify & prepare graduate school applications Have external reviews of essays by current advisors/grad students December Complete and submit all applications Confirm references have been submitted January-March Make recruitment trips (sponsored or otherwise) Try and pick a specific advisor (if possible) Review and compare various incoming acceptance & funding offers April All offer will be made Choose your next step! (By April 15 th ) Junior Year Senior Year Summer

What a graduate degree offers Career opportunities –Requirement for Academia –New doors/fast tracks in Industry Freedom of research –Every single graduate experience is unique Personal & Professional Development Opportunity to become an expert Compensation –Engineering grad school is a paid job –Greater future earning power All of Human Knowledge

Graduate degree difficulties HUGE time investment –Average Engineering PhD: 4-7 years Requires ability to: –Self-supervise –Manage long-term projects –Handle stress –Adapt your thinking –Start from scratch Can both increase and decrease potential jobs

Bad reasons to pursue an advanced degree Not sure what you want to do You want to be called “Doctor” $$$

Finding your interests Undergraduate research –Understand what graduate school is like –Obtain experience for application Internships –Understand where a PhD can get you –Round out perspective Graduate level courses –Interact more directly with professors & students –See if you’re comfortable with the work load START THESE NOW

Pre-requisites Undergraduate Degree Research Experience –Publications! GPA (>3.0) Test Scores (GRE) Other Experience –Internships, Co-ops, etc. Extra-curricular groups –Clubs, societies, etc. –Leadership positions Balanced!

Things to consider The research Potential advisors Funding Location Academic strength

Informational Interview What is a typical day like? What are your functions and responsibilities? What percentage of your time is spent doing what? What do you personally find most satisfying about being a scientist, scholar, or graduate student? What challenges do you face? How did you become interested in your field of study? What sorts of changes are occurring in the field? Where is the research heading and where are the new opportunities for research? How did you get to your position? What is a typical career path in this field? What are the skills that are most important for a position in this field? What advice can you offer a student who is considering this field of study? What courses should I take? What kinds of experiences should I seek?

General Application GPA/Transcripts (Online & Hardcopy) GRE/Test Scores (Online & Hardcopy) 3 letters of recommendation Resume Statement of Purpose –Sometimes broken up into several smaller essays Application Fee –Financial need waiver –App waivers at conferences

4-8 Total Applications

Statement of Purpose What do you want to study? Why? –Include the big picture What background & experience do you bring? What do you plan to do with your degree? Like a resume, tailor your statement of purpose to each school you apply to

Timeline May Begin researching potential schools Start GRE Prep June Register for GRE test (August-September test date) July Request information from schools Begin forming connections with potential advisors August September Register for November GRE Subject tests (if necessary) Begin narrowing down specific schools & advisors Contact potential references (3-5) October November Take GRE subject tests (if necessary) Modify & prepare graduate school applications Have external reviews of essays by current advisors/grad students December Complete and submit all applications Confirm references have been submitted January-March Make recruitment trips (sponsored or otherwise) Try and pick a specific advisor (if possible) Review and compare various incoming acceptance & funding offers April All offer will be made Choose your next step! (By April 15 th ) Junior Year Senior Year Summer

I’m Accepted! …now what?

Funding PhD programs are fully funded! –Tuition –Health Insurance –Stipend Fellowships –College –Department –Government –External Graduate Assistant Teaching Assistant Note: Masters programs may not be funded

Successful Graduate Students Display Enthusiasm for learning Self-motivation Ability to self-supervise (successfully) Time management over different scales

Resources PhDs.org GradSchools.com GradPortal.org source/diversity/gradschoolguide.pdfhttps:// source/diversity/gradschoolguide.pdf NSFGRFP.org Look around you!