Graduate School and Funding Opportunities University of Toledo Alumni University of Michigan Graduate Students National Science Foundation Fellows Brian Trease Mechanical Engineering Compliant Systems Design Lab Jessica Williams Biomedical Engineering Skeletal Engineering Group

Why are YOU here?

Considering Graduate School? Enjoy doing research Enjoy doing research Desire to continue learning Desire to continue learning Job perspective Job perspective –Industry: Head of research team, creating your own projects from your own ideas –Academic Career: Professor, Researcher

Deciding on a school: Location. Take into consideration all of your hopes and dreams. Location. Take into consideration all of your hopes and dreams. Decide on a professor, NOT a school. Decide on a professor, NOT a school. –Decide on a specific project –For industry jobs, make sure the prof uses cutting edge technology

Application Requirements Application Application Statement of Purpose Statement of Purpose Transcripts Transcripts Letters of Recommendation Letters of Recommendation GRE general GRE general

Application Application –Application Deadline is Jan. 15 for Fall 2003 (UofM). Some are earlier. –The earlier you get it in, the better. Statement of Purpose Statement of Purpose –1-2 pages double spaced –Your goals for going to grad school –Research/Internship highlights –Identify faculty/labs where you might be interested –Explanations, e.g. a bad semester

Transcripts Transcripts –Order early (in October) –You can have the school mail it directly to the school you’re applying to, or you can send it with any other material as long as it is in a sealed envelope. –If you are unsure of which schools you will be applying to, get multiple copies mailed to you in signed, sealed envelopes. Letters of Recommendation Letters of Recommendation –Most schools require 3 letters (at least 2 of the 3 should be from faculty). –Ask early –Provide a cover letter with information about the deadline, the address, and any information about yourself that might be helpful to them.

GRE GRE –Most schools require the GRE general –Scores take about 4 weeks to reach schools, so plan on taking it with plenty of time before the application deadline. –The GRE changed its form on Oct. 1 to include an analytical writing section. –Study for the GRE. You can download some practice tests at

Financial Aid 4 types of financial aid 4 types of financial aid –Fellowships (departmental scholarships) –GSI (TA) positions (given by department) –Research Assistant Positions (given directly by faculty) –Outside Fellowships Everyone is considered for departmental financial aid when they apply to the program Everyone is considered for departmental financial aid when they apply to the program Financial Aid is Extremely Competitive Financial Aid is Extremely Competitive

Outside Fellowships National Science Foundation (NSF) National Science Foundation (NSF) Hertz Hertz National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship Department of Defense Department of Defense NASA NASA GEM Minority GEM Minority Ford Foundation Minority Ford Foundation Minority Bell Labs Fellowship Bell Labs Fellowship Gates Millennium Scholarship Gates Millennium Scholarship

National Science Foundation Fellowship Offers three-year graduate research fellowships in science, mathematics, and engineering Offers three-year graduate research fellowships in science, mathematics, and engineering Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 year period Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 year period Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 month tenure plus $10,500 tuition allowance Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 month tenure plus $10,500 tuition allowance

How to Apply: Provide the following documents Provide the following documents –Information Form –Application Form –Proposed Plan of Research –Previous Research Experience –4 Letter of Recommendation (typically from professors and co-op supervisors) Submission is done online Submission is done online Deadline: Early NOVEMBER Deadline: Early NOVEMBER

Why you should apply? Good Money!! Good Money!! Good for resume (prestige) Good for resume (prestige) Self-confidence Self-confidence Academic Freedom Academic Freedom Good preparation for your academic career Good preparation for your academic career Keeps your PhD advisor happy Keeps your PhD advisor happy

Tips for a successful application Get a good GPA and good letters of recommendation Get a good GPA and good letters of recommendation Get involved in undergrad research Get involved in undergrad research Get to know faculty members Get to know faculty members Talk to professors and grad students about cutting edge research Talk to professors and grad students about cutting edge research Ask professors for feedback on your essays Ask professors for feedback on your essays Get a copy of a successful grant from a professor Get a copy of a successful grant from a professor

Preparation of Critical Documents Proposed Plan of Research Proposed Plan of Research –Needs to be specific about a particular project –Should address long-term goals as well as well-planned research activities –Can be based on (a) technical journals (b) seminar talks (c) your own undergrad/grad research and (d) a professors successful proposal

Preparation of Critical Documents Previous Research Experience Previous Research Experience –Internships –Co-op experiences –Undergraduate Research

Planning your research Your research proposal needs to describe: Your research proposal needs to describe: –Research background and technical problems –Solutions for these problems –Objectives –Impacts Ask a professor for help Ask a professor for help

Summary Timeline NOW!!! NOW!!! –Take the GRE –Get Research Experience –Obtain Application Materials –Research the faculty/areas of interest –Contact recommenders –Look at Fellowships

Timeline cont. October October –Work on Application –Ask for Recommendations –Do Fellowship Applications November/December November/December –Finish Application Early March, decisions from us Early March, decisions from us

Timeline cont. Decisions usually come out in early March Decisions usually come out in early March

University of Michigan Fall 2005 Admission Applications Fall 2005 Admission Applications plying plying.html Engineering Departmental Contacts Engineering Departmental Contacts Fall 2005 Recruitment Travel Schedule Fall 2005 Recruitment Travel Schedule Funding Resources Funding Resources undi undingsources.html Additional Recruiting Events Additional Recruiting Events