Grad School: Options, Admission, Success
Prof. Carla Purdy, DEECS, 820 Rhodes, [email protected]
these slides: http://eecs.ceas.uc.edu/~cpurdy/gradschool_2016.ppt
Options:
• Why Should I Go to Grad School? (faculty / student views)
• M.S.? M.Eng.? Ph.D.? M.D.? Ph.D./M.D.? …….?
• Part-time?
Getting admitted to your chosen program(s):
•
•
•
•
How Do I Decide Where To Apply?
How Do I Make My Application Strong?
How Do I Get In? What is the Process?
How Do I Pay for It?
Succeeding in grad school:
• What Will Help Me Succeed in My Grad Program?
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Why Should I Go to Graduate School?
(Faculty View)
Pros:
--more interesting work
--more career flexibility
--higher pay (sometimes)
--university community:
diverse, young, new ideas
Cons:
--intense: work hours not limited
--working conditions
--lower pay (sometimes)
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Why Should I Go to Graduate School?
(Student View)
Pros?
Cons?
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Many different degree options:
M.S.? M.Eng.? Ph.D.? M.D.? Ph.D./M.D.? …….?
Where do you see yourself in 5 yrs? 10 yrs?
Balance: school / work / family /other interests
--difficult? Yes, at times ; but definitely worth it
Can you “decide later”?
Who are your role models?
What did you like/dislike about
research/shadowing /internship opportunities?
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What about part-time programs?
What about distance learning programs?
May not be the optimal choice—especially if
you want a research and/or academic career
Employer may help with tuition
If you choose a part-time or distance learning
program, make sure that it is of high quality
and provides support services (e.g.,
placement) for graduates
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Deciding Where To Apply
Collect Information!!!!
(This is easier than ever)
Useful Web Site (main site & special sections):
http://www.gradschools.com
http://www.gradschools.com/get-informed
http://www.gradschools.com/get-informed/applying-graduate-school
Information on:
* Applying
* Graduate Student Stories
* “Surviving” Grad School
* Life After Grad School
* ………..
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Deciding Where To Apply (continued)
Focus Your Interests
Assess Your Strengths / Weaknesses
Ask Questions:
--Mentor (s)
--Grad Students You Know
--Other Faculty
Research Likely Programs / Advisors
--web pages
--contact faculty; be specific (interview)
--visit if possible
Actual Applications
--Reasonable Range
--Customize each application
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Grad School: choices
(example-UC-EECE-MS, Meng, PhD)
Admissions: http://grad.uc.edu/admissions/policy.html
•
hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university regarded as standard by a
regional or general accrediting agency and
•
have at least a B average (3.0/4.0 system) in relevant undergraduate course work or
otherwise give evidence of promise that is judged satisfactory by the admitting
program and the Graduate School.
What you will do: take classes, work in your advisor’s lab (~40 choices)
A FEW examples:http://eecs.ceas.uc.edu/~beyette/ (Prof. Beyette)
http://eecs.ceas.uc.edu/~kcd/research.html (Prof. Davis)
http://eecs.ceas.uc.edu/devices/ (Prof. Heikenfeld)
http://www.ceas3.uc.edu/profiles/jhari (Prof. Jha)
http://eecs.ceas.uc.edu/~paw/ (Research Lab) (Prof. Wilsey)
http://eecs.ceas.uc.edu/~cpurdy (Prof. Purdy)(incl UC grads)
(+ ABOUT 40 additional great choices!!!!!!!)
Other schools or departments………..which??????
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Making an Application as Strong as It Can Be
GRADES
RECOMMENDATIONS
--academic/professional
--recommender should know you well and should be able
to comment on strengths relevant to your planned grad
program
ENRICHMENT
--internships
--summer research programs
--shadowing
ESSAYS
--what are your long-term goals?
--how can YOU contribute to the program you want to join?
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Understanding the Admissions Process
 Web Information--College / Dept.
 Don’t Procrastinate--DEADLINES!! UC-Oct. 1-June 1)
 Be proactive: make sure file is complete
”Usual Stuff”--Transcripts,GRE,GMAT,...
 Some Things Are Different:
--Personal Statement / Focused Goals
--Recommendations
--Interview / Campus Visit
--Local “Customs” for Each Program
 Special Requirements—Med School, Law School e.g.
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Your Personal Statement is Very Important
--be honest
--be literate--spelling, grammar
DO NOT depend on MS WORD alone
--be positive and specific about your
accomplishments
--include RELEVANT information
--get feedback--lab mates, mentor
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Recommendations
--NOT from your friends, family
--research mentor would be great
--professors who know you
--your boss? Maybe (if job experience is relevant
to skills needed in grad/med school)
--provide information (c.v., your statement, stamped
and addressed envelopes, etc.) to make writing the
recommendation easy
--learn the art of “gentle nagging”--make sure
recommendations are submitted on time
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Interview / Campus Visit
--this is a ”job” interview--be
professional
--be yourself; but be informed
--be prepared—know specific
information about each program
--talk to people who have been
through the process
--PRACTICE beforehand
--(RELAX!!--but not too much)
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Improve Your Chances
--don’t interview at your “top” school first
--if at first you don’t succeed…..
» get feedback—from the program
itself if possible
» work on improving your chances
for the next round of admissions
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Paying for Graduate Work
Tuition & Fees / Living Expenses (“Stipend”)
 Main Sources of Support:
--Teaching Assistantships
Usually part of
regular application
--Research Assistantships
--Fellowships:often separate application
--National Science Foundation
--AAUW, etc.
--Laboratory Jobs
--Grad Student Loans (?)
--(Your Employer)
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Some Tips for Succeeding in Your Graduate Program
Information from campus visit
Learn [written/UNWRITTEN] rules: ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!!
Identify mentors
Choose a “GOOD” advisor (you define what “good” is)
Ph.D.--learn how to do well on qualifying exam
Establish a “community of support”:
--adequate living / study conditions
--study partners
--mentors
--friends: old and new
--family
Line up some study partners
Books, web--e.g., The Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Ph.D.
in Engineering and Science (do not pay $65—get a used copy!)
Build your career in your global community
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