SUESSE Graduate School Workshop

1. SUESSEGraduate School Workshop April 8th, 2008

2. Why Graduate School? • Do you have desire for innovation, discovery, research and learning? • Are you interested in career advancement, expanded career options and flexibility? • Do you want to be a “creator” rather than a “doer”? Leader in your field?

3. Benefits of Graduate Education • A graduate degree is quickly becoming the entry-level requirement for many academic & professional positions. Master’s vs Ph.D. • Increases your opportunities for promotions & diverse career experiences. • Develops skills that are useful in many career paths. Expands your career options. • Can substantially increase your earning potential over a lifetime.

4. Questions to Ask Yourself • What are my immediate and long term goals? Personal and career? • Is graduate school necessary to accomplish those goals? • Will the time and money invested in a graduate education result in career mobility and the lifestyle that I desire?

5. Masters vs Doctorate What is needed for my career? Why are you pursuing a post-graduate degree? What do you hope to gain from it? (see “why graduate school”) What if you’re not sure? How do the educational program and the expectations compare between the two degrees? How does financial aid compare between the two degrees? Time to degree? Job opportunities / Salary?

6. What if you’re not sure? • Within a single department, are masters students able to apply to the PhD program? • Is it easier to get into the PhD program if you are already a master’s student in the program as opposed to applying from the outside? • Might you figure this out by working for a year or two between your bachelors degree and entering grad school?

7. The Masters Candidate • As a master's candidate, you'll spend about two years in graduate school. • courses-only masters degree • courses plus thesis masters degree • The purpose of this program, in the university's eyes, is to give you a solid education in a specialized field of scholarship. • You may study part-time at many universities (takes longer), while working to support yourself. • You'll receive less financial help than declared doctoral candidates do; in many cases, you may receive none at all. http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/decide/degrees.asp

8. The Masters Candidate Your First Year: You'll take courses much as you did in college, fulfilling the coursework requirements of your degree. The workload is heavier, the course topics are more specific, and much more is expected than is in college. You'll either be assigned or choose an advisor at the beginning of your program. With your advisor's help, you'll begin to develop an academic focus. A number of professors will supervise the work you do. Your Second Year: You may take further courses to complete your degree requirements. Deciding on your research focus, you'll direct more and more energy toward your concentration. Taking one semester or an entire year, depending on the program, you complete your master's thesis. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate mastery in your field. If you show promise, you may be encouraged to continue toward the doctorate. http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/decide/degrees.asp

9. The Doctoral Candidate • The doctoral candidate spends five or six years in graduate school. Time depends largely on YOU – can take 7 or 8 years… • The purpose of the program, in the university's eyes is, to give you an extensive knowledge of your field; train you to do original and meaningful research; and prepare you to function as a member of a teaching faculty or an independent researcher. • In the physical sciences, most students are supported on “50% appointments” as teaching or research assistants. • It’s an apprenticeship… in which you transition from being a student to becoming a colleague http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/decide/degrees.asp

10. The Doctoral Candidate • Your First Three Years: You'll take courses to satisfy your degree requirements and gain a broad knowledge of the field. • If you're fortunate, you'll gain valuable experience by snagging a research or teaching assistantship. • You'll gradually focus your research interests, working with an advisor usually appointed at the beginning of the program, and you'll develop your working relationships with professors prominent in your areas of interest. • At the end of your second or third year, you'll complete a thesis or take comprehensive exams, or both. The thesis or exams will help demonstrate your qualification to continue with doctoral work. http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/decide/degrees.asp

11. The Doctoral Candidate • The Last Three Years: Coursework becomes a much smaller part of your academic work, and may end altogether as you work at conceptualizing your doctoral dissertation. • Your dissertation must constitute a new and meaningful contribution to knowledge in your field. • If supported as a TA, you'll teach more and more classes, and may even teach a course of your own design. • You'll collaborate increasingly with faculty members, who may rely on you for research and who will inform you of their own work. • You will probably become closely associated with a single professor who will become your dissertation director. • You'll devote more and more energy to your own research. Your program culminates in the completion of your dissertation, which typically includes an oral defense of your work before a faculty committee. http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/decide/degrees.asp

12. Requirements on the road to a PhD Degree • A PhD program usually requires students to attend courses on a full-time basis for at least one year…. -in many cases 2 full years. • In some programs, students take a series of cumulative exams (“cumes”) during the first year and are required to pass a certain number. Often such exams are used to identify gaps in knowledge and to help students decide which additional courses are needed. • Other programs require that students pass a preliminary exam (“prelim”, usually a written exam followed by an oral exam) after the first 12 or 18 months. • Typically at the end of the second year, qualifying exams (“quals”, sometimes called “candidacy exams”) are given and may take several days to complete. • In addition, students are often required to teach undergraduate courses and/or assist with research and complete a language requirement prior to degree completion. • A thesis/dissertation proposal, paper and defense are also required to obtain a PhD.

13. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08305/

14. A great resource that goes into the expectations and realities of being a doctoral student http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/research/articles/decide/science.asp

15. SGUS Application Process Sequential Graduate/Undergraduate Studies SGUS in Atmospheric/Space Science AOSS department http://aoss.engin.umich.edu/pages/graduate/sgus

16. SGUS Application Process • Visit the website and become familiar with what each program entails • Both AOSS and Rackham • Each program requires 128 total credits for the BSE plus 31 credits for the MS degree. Nine credits may be double counted between the BSE and the MS. • Two main options • SGUS in Atmospheric/Space Science – MS degree • SGUS in Space Engineering – Meng degree

17. SGUS Application Process • Make appointment with respective advisor • SGUS in Atmospheric/Space Science: Jerry Keeler (jkeeler@umich.edu) • SGUS in Space Engineering: Thomas Zurbuchen (thomasz@umich.edu) • They recommend to “Please be sure to speak with an advisor as early as possible.” • Personal recommendation: first meeting, end of junior year

18. SGUS in Atmospheric/Space Science • Plan out the classes you will take senior year of undergrad • Usually about 3 classes – 9 credits can double count • Beginning of senior year • Make appointment with advisor early in the semester • Make sure the classes you plan to take to double count are acceptable

19. SGUS in Atmospheric/Space Science • Fill out 2 one-page applications found on the • AOSS website http://aoss.engin.umich.edu/pages/graduate/sgus • Rackham website http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/oard/forms/SGUS_Election_Form.pdf • These need to be signed by several advisors • Personal recommendation: complete these first semester senior year • Minimum of 9 credits required per term for full time grad student: • Suggested: 2 course + ~3-credit independent/direct study class = research (usually AOSS 499) • Check with advisor!!!

20. Application #1

21. Application #2 Application #2

22. SGUS in Atmospheric/Space Science • Check with advisor and Margaret Reid if SGUS application was approved • Once approved by AOSS, complete Rackham graduate application • https://apply.embark.com/Grad/UMich/Rackham/ProgramA/37/ • Deadline for AOSS is around February 1 (to begin fall of grad year) – check http://www.rackham.umich.edu/dig/ for exact, up-to-date deadline

23. Rackham Grad Application • https://apply.embark.com/Grad/UMich/Rackham/ProgramA/37/ • Test scores (GRE): NOT required by SGUS program • Letter of recommendation: NOT required • Statement of purpose: required • Personal statement: NOT required • Transcripts: required but usually Margaret Reid gets them (check with her) • Application fee (~$60): required

24. Outside Graduate School Programs • Program Selection • Overlapping Research Interests • Mentor Compatibility • Reputation of Department/Faculty • Location • Finances • Quality of Life

25. Outside Graduate School Programs • Where to Begin Looking • Talk to Graduating Seniors, Recent Graduates, or AOSS Alumni • Ask Faculty: • Meteorology/Forecasting: Frank Marsik • Atmospheric Chemistry: Mary Anne Carroll, Allison Steiner, John Barker • Climate/Modeling: Christiane Jablonowski, Richard Rood, Joyce Penner, Allison Steiner • Space Weather: Aaron Ridley, Mike Liemohn

26. Application Process • Requirements • Bachelor’s Degree • Standardized Test Scores (ex. GRE) • Letters of Recommendation (usually 3) • Academic Transcripts • Graduate Program Application • Personal Statement(s) • Optional/Occasionally: • Resume/CV • Writing Sample

27. Application Process • Junior Year • Research schools, talk with faculty mentors • Summer btw Junior and Senior • Take GRE prep course or study for GRE, take GRE • Senior Year (Fall) • Take GRE if you haven’t • Ask recommenders for letters of reference • Request Transcripts • Write personal statements • Fill out and send applications (earlier the better) • Senior Year (Winter) • Email faculty interested in • Visit schools

28. Application Process • Things to know: • Application fees vary from $35-$80 • Transcripts much be official, and can take up to 3 weeks to get there • GRE costs over $100 to take, costs $15 per school you send it to • GRE scores are not available for 3 weeks, and then take another week to get there • Due dates for applications vary from Dec 1st to Jan 15th

29. GRE • www.gre.org • Verbal Reasoning (38 questions) • Quantitative Reasoning (30 questions) • Analytical Reasoning (two essays) • Computer Adaptive Exam - Takes almost 4hrs • No skipping questions, have to answer all questions • Can take it almost every day of week

30. Recommendation Letters • Need 2-4 (usually 3) • 1-2 faculty in major, know you academically • 1 faculty know you through research or internship • 1 faculty minor • Contact at least 6 weeks before deadline!

31. For letters, choose… • Someone you have extended history with • At least 2 semesters • Someone who can testify to your academic strengths and best personal attributes • Someone who will write favorably for you • NOTE: good to build and maintain relationships with faculty!!

32. Do not choose… • Someone you have to persuade • Someone who you’ve performed badly in front of • Someone you just met • Past/Current employer if work is not relevant • Relatives

33. Provide Info and Materials • Table with deadlines for each school, accompanied by department name . • Copies of applicable forms (signed) . • Precise mailing instructions • Back to you? Signed across the seal? Straight to destination? Internet? • Provide stamped envelope for straight to destination . • Copy of resume or personal statement

34. Personal Statement • Requirements vary by program • General personal statements • Responses to directed questions • Several short essays vs. one long essay • Make sure you read essay requirements for all programs before you begin them • This way you can see what can overlap

35. Personal Statement • Avoid 3 Biggest Errors: • Cookie-cutter openings • Beginning with “Ever since I was a young child” or “For as along as I can remember”… “I’ve always want to be a…” • Failing to answer any and all questions • Not having a thesis • Develop a cohesive theme stated early on

36. Personal Statement • Start early - you’ll have many drafts! • Use formal rules of writing • Mention specific faculty or research projects that you are interested in • “Tailor” essay to program • Take word limits seriously! • Have someone proofread

37. Funding Your Graduate Education • Types of funding • Fellowships and awards • External and internal • Grants • Training, Travel • Assistanships • Teaching, Research • Employment

38. External Fellowships • Are the best, and also hardest to get • Give you A LOT of freedom! • Not tied down to teaching or research project • Can use them at any institution • Don’t need to be funded by institution • Application process similar to graduate school application • Where can you find them? • See handout!

39. Assistantships • Typically included in your admissions offer • Research • Pays full tuition plus stipend • Requirements: • Practically none for first year • Work on professor’s research project (but tailored to your interests) during summer and second year • Teaching • Pays full tuition plus stipend • Requirements • Assistant instructor for undergraduate/graduate course

40. Graduate School Funding • Most STEM fields get full funding for PhD students • Funding for Masters students varies • If not told in admissions letter anything about funding, ASK!

41. Graduate School Selection • If you get many offers, it can be very difficult to choose! • Prioritize factors: • Department (Reputation and Environment) • Location • Mentor • Research Compatibility

42. What to Expect in Graduate School • Difficult coursework first year • Not the smartest anymore! • More independent • Your progress depends on you, not advisor! • Good luck!!

43. Please keep in mind these are mere suggestions based on a few student’s experiences. You should consult with an advisor before beginning any of the application processes. **Margaret Reid is a good resource for SGUS inquiries.**