Graduate School 101 & FastTrack Grad Program

1. Graduate School 101 & FastTrack Grad Program Kristi J. Shryock

2. Poll Time • URL : slido.com • Hashtag : #grad • What do you plan to do after college? • According to you, what are the advantages of a graduate degree? • What will keep you from applying to grad school?

3. Graduate School - Why? • Not just to avoid getting a job! • Opportunities • Demand • Salary trajectory • Life-long learning

4. Grad School – Types of Programs • Industry • Professional Programs • MBA • Law School • Medical School • Masters • Coursework Only • Thesis (research oriented) • PhD • Government • Academia • Defense • National Laboratories

5. Finances Paying for it all… • Assistantships • TA, RA, etc. • Stipends, tuition/fees, health insurance, often • Fellowships • External (e.g., NSF, DOE) – flexible, portable, employment obligation • Internal • Outside jobs • Loans…especially for professional degrees Questions you may ask… What % of students are on financial support? What is the salary of a graduate student? What is the cost of living / attending school?

6. Options for Graduate Education

7. Life in Grad School • Coursework • Varies significantly • Occasionally leveling required • Usually 1-2 years • Deeper, more specialized courses • Research (Thesis MS or PhD) • Start early and get involved • Identify a faculty advisor/research area • First assist others, then take your own direction

8. Grad School Applications • Start early • GPA, GRE scores are important as filters • GRE General Test, GRE Subject test • Letters from faculty • Not bosses • Best, profs you did research with • Statement of purpose (Research interest) • Other supporting information • CV • Courses taken • Research projects/publications • How to apply • ApplyTexas at Texas A&M • Check dept websites for other institutions

9. Application Advice - How Can I Make My Application Stand Out? • Get experience (both research and industry) • Internship and Co-Ops • Undergraduate Research – class credit (291s, 485s, 491s), summer research programs (USRG, REU), etc. • Show interest • Establish contacts with faculty and staff • Visit the campus and department • Spring/summer before senior year is critical • Have a plan • Programs/faculty • Deadlines (admissions and fellowships) • GRE (where to send scores) • Have a back up plan - Work? • Request recommendation letters EARLY • Professors can be procrastinators, too!

10. Texas A&M FastTrackGraduate Programhttps://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/fasttrack • Most (but not all) departments participate • Eligibility and application info on the web (url above) • Ask your EH Departmental Track Co-Ordinator

11. Questions? Kristi J. Shryock Director for Engineering Honors Programs kshryock@tamu.edu

12. Additional Materials

13. Where should I go? Deciding on a program • Faculty working in my area of interest - VISIT!!! • Research areas • Degree programs(M. Eng., M.S., Ph.D.) • Employability of graduates • Rankings • Available resources Searching for a program Talk to your professors Talk to current/previous graduate students, people that have the job you want Attend graduate school workshops or career fairs/conferences Rankings

14. Advantages of Graduate Education • Greater job flexibility and responsibility • Challenging job assignments • Development of specialized skills • Development of research skills • Higher wages • Confidence in solving complex problems • Develop leadership and teamwork skills • Develop oral and written presentation skills • Become an independent learner • Become a better life-long learner

15. Texas A&M FastTrackGraduate Programhttps://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/fasttrack • Allows students to take up to 3 graduate courses while an undergraduate that can count towards BOTH the undergraduate and graduate degree • Departments specify pairs courses: an undergraduate course (typically 400-level) and a graduate course on same topic • Students take the grad course and get “credit by exam” for the undergraduate course • The undergraduate course is applied to the BS and the grad course is “reserved” to be applied to a future graduate degree • MS degrees with thesis typically require 8 courses, so with proper planning students can get a BS & MS in 5 years • Most (but not all) departments in the college participate • Eligibility and application info on the web (url above)

16. Deadlines – When Should I Apply? • Check with university/department; varies by program/department • Posted deadline may be in early spring (e.g., Feb. 1 or Mar. 1) • Target Dates (in order to be considered for all possible funding opportunities): • Get application in by December 15th • Get all other materials in by January 1st

17. Why Texas A&M? • Highly ranked programs • 7th among public schools • 8 total top 10 programs among public schools • Faculty visibility • 400+ tenure track faculty • Wide range of degree programs offered • M.Eng., M.C.S., M.S., Ph.D. • Fast track • Distance Education • Employability of graduates • Less “start up” time, especially if continue/extend undergraduate research

18. Resources • Notre Dame University Graduate Fellowship Database http://graduateschool.nd.edu/professional_development/research/

19. Quiz Time • URL : quizizz.com