This is Martin Kurnadi's (BSc from UC Berkeley and MSc from Georgia Tech) presentation in the Indonesia Mengglobal Bandung Outreach Event held in ITB and Unpad on September 28, 2013.

1. Towards a U.S. Higher Education
Applying to Engineering Graduate School
in USA
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Martin Kurnadi

2. Agenda
•
Personal Information
•
Process to pursue graduate schools
•
Research and preparation
•
Master vs Doctorate
•
Research assistant vs teaching assistant vs other type financial aid
•
Research life at graduate school
•
Conclusion
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 2

3. Personal Information
EDUCATION
1994-1997
High school SMA St. Aloysius, Bandung
1997-1999
Iowa State University
1999-2001
University of California at Berkeley
Bsc in ME with CS minor
2002-2005
Georgia Institute of Technology
Msc in ME
CAREER
1999
Internship at Amana Appliances
Amana, Iowa
2005 - 2006
Automation Engineer at Millenium Mat
Suwanee, Georgia
2006-2008
Quality & Reliability Engineer at Applied Materials
Sunnyvale, California
2009-now
Director at Jaya Murni Lestari Knitting Factory
2012- now
Start a new business : Automation and IoT start-up
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 3

4. Process to pursue Graduate School
Process after you decided to pursue graduate school in the US. (Never too early to
prepare for graduate school)
1.Research on which schools and department to apply. School and dept may have
specific requirements. Please check for application deadline.
2.Build your resume. Ex : Undergraduate research, community, internship.
3.Strategize school applications (aspiration school, backup)
4.Prepare requirements for application (see below)
Typical requirements to apply to graduate school in the US:
•Application form
•Undergraduate transcript / GPA
•Statement of Purpose / Personal Essay
•Recommendation Letters
•Standardized tests (TOEFL, GRE)
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 4

5. Research on schools
1. School Ranks (US News). Overall vs Major specific ranks. Public schools vs
Private Schools.
2. Specialized Programs-Curriculum / Classes
• Career focus
• Specific topic
• Research centers
• Classes
• Professors
• Brand name
3. Tuition fee, Room and Living expense
4. Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant program.
5. Peers
• Alumni
6. Location
• Professional (internship) opportunities
• Networking
• Quality of life
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 5

6. Undergraduate Transcript and Diploma
• Credibility of undergraduate institution
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Major / Discipline
• Translated and certified.
• May need high school transcript and diploma.
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 6

7. Statement of Purpose / Personal Essay
What should I write in the essay?
“Most importantly, make sure you answer the question in the essay prompt then
incorporate (smoothly) anything you’d like the admission committee to know
about yourself – your experience, your achievement, your personality, you
name it”
•An important element of application – an opportunity to explain about yourself
• Can be generic, but tailor to the institution you are applying to. You can insert about your achievements,
undergraduate research assistant, community activities here.
• Seek suggestions/ opinions from others
• Never lie, exaggeration is ok
• Ensure no obvious grammatically error and typo
• Think of how your essay will stand out of the pool of applicants
•Spare enough time (months, not days!) to prepare
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 7

8. School Application: Recommendation Letter
What is recommendation letter?
“A letter from people who know you very well, generally at a higher level, that can
reflect your quality”
TIPS:
Request from someone who knows about yourself (professor, work supervisor)
 Make sure that the letters are written in favor of you
 Higher credibility from famous people
Help the person you are asking recommendation letter from:
 Tell them your strengths, areas of interest, and aspirations
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 8

9. School application: Standardized test
TOEFL (IBT – Internet Based
Test)
GRE
Types of questions: multiple
choice (reading and
listening), and essay (writing)
•Graduate Record Exam is
designed as a measuring tool
and is required by most
graduate schools in admission
process.
# Sections:
 Reading
 Listening
 Speaking
 Writing
# Sections:
 Verbal Reasoning
 Analytical Writing
 Quantitative
Reasoning
Highest score: 120. Typical
score for top schools:
Minimum 100 – 110.
Typical score for top schools:
600 for Verbal,700 and above
for Quant Reasoning, 3.5 and
above for Writing.
Score range: 200 – 800.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 9

10. School options for college graduates: Degrees (USA)
MASTER Degree
DOCTORATE Degree
Taking more advanced and specific
classes in a specialized field
Research may be required
Thesis and Publication may be required
Typically 1 to 2 years
Industry-oriented track
Internships strongly encouraged
Taking more advanced and specific
classes in a specialized field
Qualifiying Exam (Written + Oral ) select
3 from 6 Engineering subjects.
Research is required and is the bulk of
the experience
Thesis and publication are nonnegotiable
Typically 4 to 6 years.
Academic track (teaching component)
Close working relationship with adviser
and professor(s)
After Master degree, it is possible to continue to Doctorate Degree program (not
typical). However it may take longer time to graduate compare to direct Doctorate
degree. Delay may be caused by different research subject.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 10

11. Research Assistant vs Teaching Assistant vs other type financial aid
Teaching Assistant
Research Assistant
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Teaching Assistant openings are
more limited
Not guaranteed every semester
Need to go through interview
process.
Work involves grading, provide
twice – three times a week class to
undergraduate students.
Reviewing what was discussed
duing lecture. Answer questions to
undergraduate students.
Compete with other new students.
Office hour.
Other type financial aid
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Each professor has their own
budget. Based on funding from
sponsor (government + private)
Need to go through interview
process.
May need to contact professor via
email. Once you get accepted
into the program. Subject of
research varies.
Some school may post availability
online.
Compete with other students.
Typically professor separates
Master and Doctorate fundings.
Out of state tuition waiver
Other organization, such as Fulbright, AID program.
Work on campus, work off campus.
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 11

12. Research Assistant at Georgia Tech
•
Tuition fee fully paid
•
Monthly stipends from school
•
Commitment
•
Independent research
•
Weekly progress report and discussion with professor
•
End of semester progress report
•
Need to issue journal
•
Need to attend and do presentation at conferences
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 12

13. Conclusion
•
It is POSSIBLE for Indonesian graduates to get accepted in the best universities
in the world. Every element of application CAN be prepared.
(Know several ITB alumni while at UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech)
•
Allocate significant time and resources for school application; it could be the
MOST IMPORTANT action in your life.
•
Focus on getting accepted into good school first, NOT on getting scholarship.
•
Prepare ALL aspects of school application, NOT LIMITED TO standardized tests.
•
Research school options EXTENSIVELY.
•
Apply to SEVERAL schools strategically.
•
Build your resume, for students who still have plenty of time to graduate,
ex : undergraduate research, community, diversity.
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 13

14. More resources and Q&A
www.indonesiamengglobal.com
@mkurnadi
http://www.facebook.com/mkurnadi
Martin Kurnadi
Email: mkurnadi@yahoo.com
Enjoy your ride !
Indonesia Mengglobal
| 14