Researching a U.S. University And Graduate Program

1. Researching a U.S. University And Graduate Program Presented by Marisa Rivero March-April 2011

2. Researching graduate programs Why? • Strengthen your application (Statement of Purpose and Statement of Study Research Objectives) by effectively describing your research project and why you need to study in the U.S. • Access to specific coursework, resources, faculty, research facilities, practical experience, etc. not available in Ukraine • Remember, do not specify a particular university in your application but come up with good examples to demonstrate your knowledge of the resources and opportunities available to you at a U.S. university. • Get a better idea of what kinds of universities are a good match for your research to achieve the best Fulbright experience

3. Key Considerations for graduate programs • Program course offerings • Program requirements and flexibility • Program faculty specialization and research • Relevant research and resource facilities • Admissions requirements • Program (not university) competitiveness and reputation. Even if the general reputation of a school is very good, your graduate studies will take place predominantly in a single program department.

4. Other Considerations for graduate programs • Program size – student/faculty ratio • Professional and career development • Student associations and activities • Opinions of current/past students • Alumni network • Location and campus life

5. Research your Field Professional associations Help you identify universities and faculty in your field Provide professional development and networking opportunities during your Fulbright program and beyond American Mathematical Society http://www.ams.org/home/page American Political Science Association http://www.apsanet.org/ National Council of Teachers of English http://www.ncte.org/ American Bar Association http://www.americanbar.org Some examples: • American Chemical Society • http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content • IEEE Computer Society • http://www.computer.org • American Economic Association • http://www.aeaweb.org • American Society for Engineering Education • http://www.asee.org/ • American Association for the Advancement of Science • http://www.aaas.org/

6. Professional Association example

7. Professional Association example

8. Graduate program searches and rankings

9. Graduate program Websites Review the following: • Admissions • Admission process and requirements (can also imply competitiveness) • Department size • Number of faculty and students • Degree requirements – courses, research, internship, thesis, etc. • Course offerings • Information on faculty: • Courses • Research • Resume • Publications and conferences • http://scholar.google.com • Information on current graduate students • Research • Internships • Student associations • Department activities for students • Career and professional development services • Department contact information

10. Graduate school search example

11. University website example

12. Graduate school search example

13. University website example

14. Other rankings Rankings for specific fields are available. Some examples include: Law National Law Journal http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202483173162&LAW_SCHOOLS_REPORT&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1 Top Law Schools http://www.top-law-schools.com/ Leiter’s Law School Rankings http://www.leiterrankings.com/index.shtml Psychology Social Psychology Network http://www.socialpsychology.org/ranking.htm Philosophy Philosophical Gourmet http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/ Reminder! You can find lots of ranking in the fields of business and medicine but remember that Fulbright does not support business study (accounting, auditing, marketing, business management) or clinical medicine.

15. A word about Rankings Rankings may not account for your own interests or preferences. Rankings should be utilized mainly as a way of viewing condensed data and information about schools or programs; NOT as a single source for determining the quality of a school or program.

16. Additional resources • Education USA Advising Centers http://www.educationusa.info/Ukraine • Collections of handbooks and informational guides to U.S. universities; • CDs on educational institutions in the United States; • Various resource materials • Computers for professional development; • Fulbright Ukraine Office Inna Barysh, Program Officer Fulbright Graduate Student Program student@fulbright.com.ua • Contact information of past or current Fulbrighters who have attended a university you are interested in. • U.S. university websites • Contact information of the graduate program coordinator at a university you are interested in.

17. Helpful articles • Fulbright Graduate Student Tips http://www.fulbright.org.ua/page.php?pid=35 • Application advice from past Fulbright students • Graduate School Tips http://www.princetonreview.com/opinionAdvice.aspx?type=grad • Advice on a variety of graduate school topics  • Graduate School Acronyms and Jargon http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/graduate-school-glossary.aspx • Brief glossary of common terms • Life at an American Graduate School http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/life-american-graduate-school.aspx • Tips about campus life outside of your studies

18. Good Luck with the application process and thank you for your attention! Any questions?