The What, When, Where, Why and How of Graduate School A Panel Discussion

1. The What, When, Where, Why and How of Graduate SchoolA Panel Discussion Department of Chemistry Western Washington University

2. 3 Keys to Success: • Be informed. • Don’t self select. • Find something that interests you… have FUN!!!

3. Why go to graduate school? Consider your professional goals: • Industry, academics, government • Where do you want to be on the food chain? • Do you want a job or a career? Consider your life goals: • Family / personal issues Consider your talents and abilities: • Do you like lab work and research?

4. Bachelor’s Degree Generally little decision-making Industrial / government positions • Technician, chemist, sales, customer service • Natl. avg. starting salary: ~ $45K • Natl. avg. salary (all experience levels): ~ $65K Academic positions • Elementary / high school teacher w/certificate • Natl. avg. salary: ~ $46K Source: Chemical & Engineering News, March, 2008

5. Master’s Degree Generally little decision-making; some supervisory duties possible in smaller companies Industrial / government positions • Technician, chemist, sales, service • Natl. avg. starting salary ~ $55K • Natl. avg. salary (all experience levels) ~ $77K Academic positions • Elementary / high school teacher w/certificate • Community college • Natl. avg. salary (all experience levels) ~ $56K Source: Chemical & Engineering News, March, 2008

6. Ph.D. Degree Team leaders / managers / directors Industrial / government positions • Scientist • Salaries vary substantially by region • Natl. avg. starting salary ~ $70K • Natl. avg. salary (all experience levels) ~ $109-113K Academic positions (9 month) Ph.D. grantingPUI • Natl. avg. assistant prof. ~ $69K ~ $52K • Natl. avg. full professor ~ $120K ~ $76K Source: Chemical & Engineering News, March, 2008

8. What is graduate school like? Financial support—yea! • Teaching assistantships • Research assistantships • Fellowships After you get there… Year 1: Qualifying exams; courses; pick an advisor and start research Year 2: Research, remaining coursework; Preliminary oral exam Year 3 – n: Research, Research, Research, Research… Year n: Write thesis (3—6 months) Average time to Ph.D. is ~ 5 years, but varies by specialty

9. What is important for admission? • Grades (3.0 minimum) • Research experience • Letters of recommendation • Statement of purpose • GRE General Test (www.ets.org) • verbal, quantitative, analytical writing sections • Computer based; make appointment (1st come, 1st served)

10. GRE Subject Tests: 170 minutes Chemistry: 130-140 questions Biochemistry: 180 questions $140 (financial aid is available from ETS) Given 3 times per year: Test date:Registration due: 10/09/10 9/3/10 (Friday before Labor Day) 11/13/10 10/8/10 (Friday of 3rd week of classes) 4/09/11 3/4/11 (Too late for Fall ’10 admission) Practice Subject GRE (Chem or Biochem) ? All info taken from GRE website: www.ets.org (contact: braymond@chem.wwu.edu)

11. Chemistry Test Breakdown: 30% Organic 30% P. Chem 25% Inorganic/Gen. Chem. 15% Analytical No calculators allowed! 1 point given per correct answer ¼ point subtracted per wrong answer 0 points given for blank answers Scaled scores range from 200-990 Sample scoring 2003-2006 data: 920 = 99th %, 460 = 1st %, 680 =50th %

12. Biochemistry Test Breakdown: 36% Biochemistry 28% Cell Biology 36% Molecular Biology and Genetics Sub-scores for each section are reported. No calculators allowed! 1 point given per correct answer ¼ point subtracted per wrong answer 0 points given for blank answers Scaled scores range from 200-990 Raw Scores Scaled Score Form A Form B Form C 700 132-134 129-131 122-124 600 102-104 97-99 92-94 Sample scoring 500 71-73 66-68 62-64 400 41-43 34-37 32-34 Number of Questions Used to Compute Raw Score 178 177 176 2003-2006 data: 760 = 99th %, 300 = 1st %, 520 =50th %

13. Whereshould I apply? Important considerations: • M.S. or Ph.D? • Quality of program in your chosen area • http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/ • Chronicle of Higher Education survey • Your professors / advisors / mentors • Check out websites of departments • Geography and personal issues

14. Whereshould I apply? What factors are important to me? http://www.phds.org/rankings/

15. Whereshould I apply? Go to the best school you can! What makes a department / program “good” ? • Faculty • Facilities • Other students! Am I good enough? • Aim high, but be realistic • Get advice from faculty and advisors

16. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in ALL areas of chemistry Cal Tech MIT Stanford UC-Berkeley Harvard Scripps Illinois Wisconsin Cornell Columbia UCLA U Chicago Northwestern UT-Austin Yale Penn State Princeton Michigan UNC-Chapel Hill UC-San Diego Penn Purdue Texas A&M UC-Irvine Minnesota Georgia Tech UC-Santa Barbara US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

17. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Analytical UNC-Chapel Hill Purdue Illinois Indiana UT-Austin Wisconsin Arizona Penn State Michigan Florida WashingtonIowa State Michigan St.Minnesota Utah Florida State Texas A&MUC-Berkeley Northwestern Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

18. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Inorganic MIT Cal Tech Northwestern Berkeley Texas A&M Illinois Wisconsin Stanford Cornell UNC-Chapel Hill Harvard Minnesota UCLA UC-San DiegoU Chicago Michigan Yale Iowa State Washington Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

19. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Organic Harvard UC-Berkeley Stanford MIT Cal Tech Scripps Illinois Wisconsin Columbia UC-Irvine Penn Princeton Michigan Yale Cornell UT-Austin UCLA Boston College UNC-Chapel Hill Colorado State Utah Pittsburgh Italics = school not in overall Top 20; US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

20. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Physical UC-Berkeley Cal Tech MIT Stanford Harvard Illinois U Chicago Northwestern Wisconsin Colorado Columbia Cornell Georgia TechUT-Austin Princeton Yale UCLA UC-San Diego Penn Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

21. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Polymer U Mass-Amherst Akron Cal Tech MIT Virginia Tech Case Western So. Mississippi MinnesotaPenn State UNC-Chapel Hill Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

22. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Theoretical UC-Berkeley Cal Tech MIT Northwestern Harvard U Chicago Columbia Illinois Wisconsin Minnesota Stanford UC-San Diego Yale Cornell Princeton UT-Austin Georgia Penn Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

23. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Biochemistry UC-Berkeley MIT Harvard Stanford UCSF Scripps Wisconsin Cal Tech UC-San Diego Yale Johns Hopkins UCLA Michigan Washington Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

24. Whereshould I apply? Some schools are good in specialties: Biophysics and Structural Biology Harvard MIT Stanford Cal Tech UCSF Yale UC-Berkeley Johns HopkinsRockefeller Duke UC-San Diego UT SW Med Washington U. (St. Louis) Italics = school not in overall Top 20 US News & World Report rankings; 2007 data

25. Interested in a different science? • Check out US News and World Report for yourself… http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools

26. How do I apply? • Most applications are now online • If paper application, type it! • Statement of purpose—get advice and feedback from faculty • Solicit at least 3 letters of recommendation Application deadlines Top schools as early as December 15 for the following fall term!

27. How do I make a final decision? • Visit the schools • Ask your professors / advisor • Visit the schools • Look more specifically at which faculty you really want to work with—leave yourself choices • Visit the schools • Talk with current graduate students when you VISIT THE SCHOOLS !

28. Types of education masters degrees • M.I.T. (Master In Teaching) • For people with a bachelors degree in another discipline • Certification is fulfilled as part of degree program • M.Ed. (Master in Education) • For practicing teachers • Many programs designed for the working teacher • Research oriented • M.A., M.S. • Research oriented • Given within a discipline (eg. educational psychology) • Not always designed for working teachers • 3rd option: post-baccalaureate program • Like MIT program but does not come with masters degree • Enables you to get into teaching earlier and to receive an M.Ed. later on.

29. Types of education doctoral degrees • Ph.D. • For those interested in conducting research in education • Two choices: • Ph.D. with a science education specialization, within a college of education • Ph.D. in a chemistry department, with a specialization in chemistry education (only at select universities) • Master’s not always required (especially for #2) • Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) • More practitioner oriented (eg. for people wanting to become school or university administrators) • Many programs require experience as a school administrator • Harvard only offers this degree.

30. Examples of sub-disciplines in education graduate programs (UW) • Curriculum & Instruction • Designing and implementing educational experiences • Educational Leadership & Policy Studies • Creating and implementing policy • Educational Psychology • Learning about how students learn • Special Education • Teaching students with special needs • Teacher Education • Teaching future teachers

31. Questions to consider • Do I want to teach? At what level? • K-12: MIT or MEd • Community college: MS or PhD in discipline • University: PhD in discipline or in education • Note that many universities don’t have positions for faculty with an emphasis in education research. • Do I want to investigate how to effectively teach students? • PhD in education or in chemistry with emphasis in education • Do I want to be more on the organization end of a school or university? • EdD

32. What does it mean to do research in education? Types of data • Interviews with students and/or teachers • Student work • Pre- / post-assessments • Surveys • Video • Observations Types of research practices • Create and assess treatment and control groups (quantitative) • Create a “thick description” of an educational environment of interest (qualitative) • Follow a group of students before, during and after an educational experience (mixed)

33. Some recommended programs WWU (MIT, MEd) UW (MIT, MEd, PhD, EdD) Miami of OH (MS, PhD in chemical education) UNC (MS, PhD in chemical education) Purdue (MS, PhD in chemical education) Good PhD in education programs: Michigan State, Northwestern, Montana State, Texas, Colorado (CU), Georgia Tech.