Thinking About Graduate School?

1. Thinking About Graduate School?

2. Is Graduate School Right for Me? • I enjoy exploring new ideas. • I enjoy solving problems. • I am intelligent. • I have initiative and self-discipline. • I want to learn more about my field or change fields. • I need an advanced degree to achieve my personal and professional goals.

3. Expanding my Career Options • Master’s degrees: (30 -60 credits) Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, BS/MS • Thesis or non-thesis options • Careers in business, industry or K – 12 education • Doctor of Philosophy degree (90 credits) - PhD - Teaching- and research-oriented - Careers in academia and/or industry • Other “terminal” degrees: MD, JD, DDS, Ed.D

4. Prerequisites for Graduate School • BA/BS degree • Strong grades and test scores • Well-crafted Statement of Purpose • Adequate funds • Motivation!

5. How to Evaluate Graduate Programs (1) • Academic program • Faculty reputation • Facilities • Program requirements • Cost of attending; cost of living • Student life • Employment data on graduates

6. How to Evaluate Graduate Programs (2) • Confer with faculty – WPI and prospective institutions • Talk with current graduate students - WPI and prospective institutions • Visit campuses of interest • Attend Graduate Fairs • Review catalogs, websites, etc.

7. Applying to Graduate School • The application form – personal information; on-line or printed versions • Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement • Letters of recommendation • Standardized tests • Official transcripts and grade reports

8. Admission Tests for Graduate School • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) • Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) • Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) • Law School Admission Test (LSAT) • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or XXXXXXXX (IELTS)

9. Graduate Record Examination • Offered year-round at computer-base testing centers • Cost $115 for General Test • Allow 3 – 4 hours for General Test and Writing Assessment • Unofficial scores immediately. Official score report in 10 – 15 days • For more information go to www.gre.org

10. Graduate Record Examination:Subject Test • Offered three times a year – November, December and April - paper version only • Cost $130 per subject test • Three hour exam • Unofficial scores immediately. Official score report in 10 – 15 days??? • Subject Tests offered in: • Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology,Biology. Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology

11. Funding Your Graduate Study • Fellowships • Teaching and Research Assistantships • Deferred Payment Plans – contact Financial Aid Office • Loans and corporate funding • Special opportunities for underrepresented and disadvantaged students (GEMS, McNair Programs, etc.) • Check out WPI Fellowships and Scholarships website: www.grad.wpi.edu/Financial

12. Calendar for Preparing for Graduate School (1) • Summer before senior year Review websites, catalogs, and other guides to graduate programs Draft Statement of Purpose • Early fall of senior year Meet with faculty, graduate students, CDC advisors Request for letters of recommendation Register for standardized tests

13. Calendar for Preparing for Graduate School (2) • October Take standardized tests Request application materials Complete Statement of Purpose Order transcripts • November Complete application forms Provide recommenders with necessary materials

14. Calendar for Preparing for Graduate School (3) • December/early January Submit applications Plan campus visits • January Confirm all application materials have been received • April 15 Common Reply Date

15. Sample List of Graduate Schools Attended by WPI Alumni • See list ……. From www.wpi.edu/Admin/CDC/Students/grad.html

16. Graduate Education at WPI • Over 50 graduate science, engineering and management programs • More than 300 full- and part-time faculty, many recognized worldwide • Active and growing program of leading-edge research: 19 NSF Career Awards since 1995 • Close ties with industry • Almost $20M in externally-funded research • Applications-oriented approach to learning

17. WPI Graduate Student Profile • Approximately 1,000 graduate students representing: • 37 states • 57 countries • 275 area employers • 54% part-time; 46% full-time • 80% enrolled in master’s degree programs • 20% enrolled in doctoral programs

18. Graduate Education in ECE at WPI • BS/MS “double dip” 6 credits courses must be approved prior to enrollment – BS/MS Plan of Study • MS in Electrical Engineering: 30 credits thesis or 33 credits non-thesis options • PhD in Electrical Engineering 90 credits – including 30 credits of research • 113 enrolled students (Spring ’06) 74 master’s and 39 PhD’s

19. Funding Opportunities for WPI Graduate Students • Teaching Assistantships – 9 months; 18 credits • Research Assistantships - varies • Fellowships Goddard Fellowship– self-nominate, 12 months, 20 credits Other Endowed Fellowships – nominations by faculty, awards vary between 9 – 12 months; 18 credits • Annual appointments

20. How to Apply for Admission • Application available online at www.grad.wpi.edu • Application processing fee of $70 - waived for WPI students and alumni • GRE – required for all U.S. fellowship applicants and all international applicants • Statement of Purpose – required for PhD applicants only • Recommendations – required for all applicants • TOEFL – waived for applicant who have attended an English-speaking institution full time for minimum of one year

21. Resources at WPI’s Career Development Center • Graduate School Directories • Graduate School Brochures • Graduate Testing Information • Scholarship and Grant Information • Books on preparing Statements of Purpose • Books on interviewing skills • Critique and review of Statements of Purpose • One-on-one counseling • Information on Career and Graduate School Fairs

22. Other Resources • US News & World Reports,Best Graduate Schools • The Best College for You • The Insiders Book of Law School Lists • The Insiders Book of Medical School Lists • Web References Peterson’s Guide: www.petersons.com/graduate/ Graduate School Guide: XXX school guides.com GradSchools.com www.gradschools.com

23. Financial Aid Resources • Cash for Grad School: The Ultimate Guide to Grad School Scholarships, Phillip C. McKee and Cynthia Ruiz McKee, Quill, 2003 • Directory of Financial Aid series, Gail A. Schlachter, Reference Service Press, 2003 • Free Money for Graduate School, 4th edition, Blum, Laurie, • Getting Money for Graduate School, Peterson’s, 2003

24. The Value of Lifelong Learning In this world, security does not come from a union card, from lifetime employment at a big company or from government work. It will only come from the skills you carry with you. -- Thomas Friedman The Lexus and the Olive Tree

25. Information for this presentation was made available from the WPI Career Development Center and from the 2004 Council of Graduate Schools pamphlet, “Graduate School and You: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students.”