Applying to Graduate School An Insider’s View

1. Applying to Graduate SchoolAn Insider’s View David M. Collard Associate Dean College of Sciences Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta, GA 30332 david.collard@cos.gatech.edu

2. WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL? • You have a great personal desire to learn and contribute to mankind’s understanding of the universe $$

3. WHO ARE GRADUATE PROGRAMS AIMING TO RECRUIT? • Intelligent, • persistent, • multi-tasking, • problem solvers

4. SOUL SEARCHING • First: Decide which field you want to study Material science physics chemistry psychology mathematics genetics biochemistry computer science oceanography ecology geoscience physiology robotics Then: Collect information about graduate programs There are a variety of sources: - Your faculty advisor and other professors - Seminar speakers on your campus - national/local organizations - campus visits - www - (College Guides)

5. WHERE? • You have a great number of choices!

6. INFORMATION MINING • Take a broad view • - speak with advisors, professors, visiting seminar speakers…. • Select schools to which you will apply (in no particular order) • - University/Department/Divisional/Faculty reputation • - Interesting research • - Interesting location (regional, big city/small town, the beach!) • - Spouse/partner employment/preferences • - Financial assistance • Make Contact with Graduate Coordinators • - email, phone, in-person • - Do not be afraid to ask questions at this stage • - Show interest

7. APPLY! • Application Form – on-line • Personal Statement (1-2 pages) • Have a faculty member proof read it! If on paper - do not handwrite it! • What is your motivation in pursuing an advanced degree? • Why is the specific university of interest to you? • - particular research strengths • - faculty members • What experience do you have? • Classes you enjoyed, research (be specific, include brief description), teaching experience, employment in technical field, conference presentations, publications (include a copy), involvement in your department/institution or discipline specific organization.

8. Letters of Recommendation (three) • At least two from faculty in your area of study or intended area of study • Letters should NOT be from: high school teachers, English/history professors, non-technical employers, family • Transcripts from ALL colleges attended • - Unofficial (photocopy) is probably okay initially, but the university will need original copies prior to formal admission. • General GRE Scores • Verbal Reasoning — Measures reading comprehension skills and verbal and reasoning skills • Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving ability; basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis • Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically the test taker's ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively • Request that ETS send a copy to the department. You might want to send an unofficial copy initially • Subject GRE Scores??? • Application fee

9. HOW DO YOU GET THE APPLICATION FEE WAIVED? ASK!!

10. WHAT IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR APPLICATION? UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH! • At your undergraduate institution • - during academic year • - during the summer • Industrial Internships • At a Research University • - NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program • Summer (10 weeks) after junior (or sophomore) year • - NSF SURF Program • - Howard Hughes Program (biology)

11. WHILE YOU WAIT: HOW ARE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEES REVIEWING YOUR APPLICATION? • GT CHEM ave. GT middle 80% • GPA/transcript 3.60 3.30-3.85 • GRE • General (V/Q/A) V+Q: 312 305-320, A: 4.0-5.5 • Subject - • Personal Statement    • Research/Work Experience    • Letters of Recommendation 

12. ROAD TRIP! • If accepted: Go on visit to the university • - The university should pay the entire cost of the visit. They might ask you to coordinate your trip with a nearby institution to which you are applying (and split the cost) • If invited for an interview: Go on trip to the university • - The university should pay the entire cost of the visit • - If you do not hear anything back within a month: contact the department (not the Admissions Office) • - If you still do not get a response, contact them one more time. • - Then wait….. • The university should not rush you for a decision – there is a general agreement not to require acceptance of an offer before April 15. You do not need to provide a decision before April 15.

13. During the Visit • - Ask questions about research, financial support, teaching responsibilities, scholarship opportunities • - Meet faculty and current graduate students • - Ask more questions: housing, academic requirements, etc • - Show interest! • Follow-up • - Contact faculty members in whose research you were interested. Request copies of their publications, ask if they are taking new students into their group …show interest! • …ask even more questions!

14. BACK TO SOUL SEARCHING • Decide Where to Go: Some Things to Consider • - Reputation (university, department, division, faculty) • - Research opportunities • - Possibility of research assistantships (usually not in first year) • - Size of department: Large, medium or small? • - Size of research groups • - Track record • - Location • - Spouse/Partner employment/preferences • - Financial assistance/Scholarships • This is either the easiest, • or hardest, part of the whole process

15. $$ • You should expect to be paid (ca. $24-30k) and receive a waiver of tuition, as a Graduate Assistant while you are pursuing graduate studies in the sciences. • - Teaching Assistantships • - Research Assistantships • Late in the application process (after visiting the university)…. • Ask about additional fellowship support from the department • Apply for financial support from other agencies (NSF, Merck-UNCF, DoD, Hertz Foundation, GEM Foundation). Do this in conjunction with the department.

16. INFORM SCHOOLS (GRADUATE COORDINATORS) OF YOUR DECISIONS • “I am delighted to accept your offer of a position in your Graduate Program…” • “I regret that I am unable to accept your offer of a position in your Graduate Program…”

17. WHEN? • Junior year • - Collect information about graduate programs • - Talk to lots of people about their graduate experiences • - Visit research universities • - Collect deadlines for scholarship applications (NSF, DoD, Ford, GEM, etc) • (deadlines are all in the fall of the senior year) • Early/mid fall senior year • - Take general GRE exam • - Apply for fellowships (NSF, DoD, Ford, GEM, …) •  - Request letters of recommendation • - Your letter writers will appreciate a couple of week to get these letters out!

18. Late fall/very early spring of senior year • - Submit applications (even if you do not have GRE scores yet) • - Send in as complete an application as possible • - Some universities only accept complete applications, this will be difficult unless you have taken the GREs early. • Early spring of senior year • - Receive offers or invitations to interview • - Visit departments (request travel expenses!!) • - This is a VERY busy time. Each trip take 1-2 days, while you are still taking classes! • APRIL 15 • - Normal deadline for you to accept an offer and decline any others…. you have finished the process!

19. SOME USEFUL STARTING POINTS • Educational Testing Service (ETS) – information on GREs • www.ets.org • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program • www.nsfgrfp.org • National GEM Fellowship Program • www.gemfellowship.org • National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program • ndseg.asee.org • Other Graduate Fellowship Opportunities: • www.finaid.org • www.fastweb.com

20. Applying to Graduate SchoolAn Insider’s View David M. Collard Associate Dean College of Sciences Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta, GA 30332 david.collard@cos.gatech.edu