Introduction to Engineering Research. Wendy C. Crone
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to graduate school was that the jobs that I was most interested in obtaining in the future required a Ph.D. This was a strong motivation to go back to graduate school. It turned out later on that I found teaching and research to be my passions, so I never did go back for that industry dream job that I had my eye on. Sometimes my path has not been a linear one, but all the experiences I gained along the way have been valuable.
ASSIGNMENT 2-5:GROUP ACTIVITY – GRADUATE SCHOOL FIT
In small groups, brainstorm about what qualities are important for being successful at graduate-level research. Share these with the class.
In small groups, discuss why you might pursue graduate studies immediately after completing the B.S. degree or wait 2–5 years; advantages and disadvantages of both. Share these with the class.
ASSIGNMENT 2-6:INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT – GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION EXPERIENCE
Identify a current graduate student in the field of study you are interested in pursuing. Talk to that person about their experience in applying to graduate schools.
2.4.2 THE GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION PACKET
Understanding the main components of the graduate school application packet, well in advance of when you plan to apply, will help you to build the strongest application possible. The main pieces of most application packets will be information from your undergraduate institution, such as your grade point average (GPA) and transcript, your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (if required), and letters of recommendation. You will also need to write one or two essays for the application where you will commonly be asked to describe experiences that make you well suited for this graduate program and your long-term goals related to the pursuit of this advanced degree.
Nearly all graduate school application will require letters of recommendation (usually three, sometimes four). These are important because they are often the best predictor of whether or not an applicant will be successful in a particular graduate program. Some of these letters will be written by faculty members—ideally ones who have interacted with you on a research project, a student organization/team, or as an instructor (ideally in more than one class). It is also relevant to ask a supervisor or manager from a current or prior work experience even if it is not specifically engineering related (they can speak to issues such as reliability and initiative). You may also have some more extensive involvement in a volunteer activity. A letter from someone in authority in that organization might also prove useful.
Help your recommenders write you the best letter possible. Give them plenty of advance notice and a reminder when the deadline is a few weeks away. Provide them with materials to refer to such as your resume and/or your application essay(s). Remind them explicitly how you have interacted previously (e.g., “As you may recall, I took Advanced Mechanics of Materials from you last Fall semester and my team completed a design project on…”). Provide them with a list of items you would like them to address in your letter (e.g., “I am hoping you can speak to the work I did in the lab over the last several years, especially the project where I refurbished the testing equipment and developed new protocols for operation. In addition to working in the lab 15 hours a week, I was also a member of the Marching Band and maintained a 3.5 GPA.”).
ASSIGNMENT 2-7:INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT – GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Identify a graduate program that you would like to apply to and determine the deadline for application and the application materials you will be required to submit.
Look for requirements such as minimum GPA and GRE test scores (usually just general, but some programs require a specialty exam). Determine what documents (e.g., transcripts), essay(s), and letters of recommendation will be needed. Read the instructions to determine if there are any specific expectations for what should be addressed in the essay(s), and if your resume should also be included in your application materials.
2.4.3 THE APPLICATION TIMELINE
A common timeline for the graduate school application process.
Summer/Early Fall
• Identify some graduate programs that you are interested in applying to and identify the application requirements and deadlines. Determine whether or not the GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test are required (although the General Test is usually expected, the Subject Test is not common for most engineering graduate programs).
• In preparing for the GRE General Test, I do not generally recommend spending money on a preparation course. Your score will be close to its maximum if you take a few practice exams to familiarize yourself with the test format and the way in which questions are posed. Educational Testing Service (ETS) offers free practice tests and software which you can use to emulate the actual test environment (see http://www.ets.org/gre).
• By the end of October you should have taken the GRE (although it is available year-round).
Mid Fall
• Identify and contact people who will provide you with letters of recommendation (see above for ideas about who you should consider asking for a letter).
• Finalize the list of programs you will apply to. Identify faculty members in each of these programs whose research you find interesting and initiate contact with them by email or phone.
• Begin preparing your applications. Look for graduate school application workshops and/or a faculty member who will read over your application materials for you and provide you with feedback.
Late Fall/Early Winter
• Complete your applications and submit them BEFORE the published deadline. Often, the review of applications begins prior to the cutoff deadline and you would like your application to receive the fullest consideration.
• Thank your recommenders for taking the time to write letters of recommendation for your applications. Send a brief note of appreciation—ideally in an “old fashioned” thank-you card, or at the very least via email.
Winter
• Follow up with faculty members in the programs that you have applied to. Contact only those who you are keenly interested in working with, but be persistent in attempting to get through to them. If your email message does not get a response, then make a phone call. Also, consider asking your letter writers if they know any of the individuals you have identified and ask if they would be wiling to write an email of introduction for you.
• Many departments offer a visit weekend for prospective graduate students. Ask the department student services coordinator or faculty you have been in contact with if there would be an opportunity for you to visit the campus and meet with faculty and students. Often, some or all of the travel costs are paid for, but, even if they are not, you should make your best effort to attend.
Late Winter
• Attend prospective graduate student visit weekends that you have been invited to. Meet with faculty and graduate students and gather as much information as possible. It is a two-way interview: you are trying to present yourself in the best possible light and you are trying to determine if this graduate program is a good fit for you. See the list of “Questions to Ask Yourself and Others” below.
Spring
• Consider the offers that you have received. Note that some programs make separate offers for admission and funding, so be certain that you understand the implications of each offer.
• YOU CAN ONLY SAY YES to one.