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Apply to graduate school
This document provides advice for applying to graduate school. It discusses understanding fit with a program, allowing time for self-reflection, evaluating departments and programs, common application requirements like transcripts and letters of recommendation, preparing for entrance exams, writing a strong personal statement, obtaining a detailed letter of recommendation, gaining relevant research experience, and ensuring all program-specific requirements are met. The overall message is to learn what graduate programs expect, make your application competitive, and put your best effort into each application.
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Apply to graduate school
- 1. Applying to GraduateSchool Eliminate the guessing game and put your best foot forward Loren Bass, Assistant Director Graduate Admissions 1
- 2. RPI Graduate Admissions2 Why this presentation is relevant to YOU! • Learn what graduate schools expect to see in a serious application • Understand how to make your application competitive
- 3. 3 Complete the linkfor an application fee waiver:
- 4. 4 Understanding Fit: Getting intoa funded PhD program is subjective, like getting a scholarship. • Tip 1: Reach out to faculty and graduate students before applying for feedback on the institution atmosphere and whether your faculty member of interest is taking on new students. • Tip 2: A personal statement is your narrative about who you and your purpose. It can fill in any gaps your test scores, GPA, and references may not have covered. Use it to your advantage. • Tip 3: Don’t put all of your eggs in 1 basket when applying to institutions, but put your best effort in every application you complete.
- 5. 5 Allow time forself-reflection! • What are your interests? • How solid is your foundation? Course grades Research experience Presentation skills Critical thinking skills Writing skills • Who can write a detailed letter of recommendation for you?
- 6. 6 Evaluate the department/program •Areas of specialization • Research compatibility • Student and advisor pairings • Interdisciplinary study/research Essentially, what do they have to offer you?
- 7. 7 Time to apply…. Whatare the graduate school expectations???
- 8. 8 • Grade PointAverage • Curriculum Transcripts from each institution attended • Standardized test scores • Personal Statements • Letters of recommendation • Research Experience ***It’s about the holistic package***
- 9. 9 Degree Levels M.Eng.: usuallyfor industry professionals M.S.: research-focused • Takes 1-2 years (on average) PhD: usually for a future in Research and Development and academia • Research Intensive Work closely with your advisor (a professor) and other graduate students • Takes 4+ years to complete • More specialization than a Masters
- 10. 10 Timeline Juniors • Research schoolofferings and requirements • Study for and take required entrance exam(s) • Gain research experience and/or tutoring experience • Visit schools of interest • Research external funding Seniors • DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES • Obtain letters of recommendation • Write and re-write your Statement/Essay – make it succinct • Retake entrance exams, if necessary • Complete the application and send in all required credentials • Apply for external funding
- 11. 11 GRE Scores Scores aregood for up to five years Key questions to ask each institution • What are the average scores for accepted students? • Will you accept new scores after a deadline? • Are there things you can do to offset a low test score?
- 12. 12 Preparing for theGRE Start early! The basics: • Verbal Reasoning score reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments • Quantitative Reasoning score reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments • Analytical Writing score reported on a 0–6 score scale, in half-point increment FREE practice tests • ETS, Princeton Review, Kaplan
- 13. 13 Personal Statement Questions toask yourself… • How did you come to be involved in your current area of research? • What is most interesting or exciting about this research? • What has been your biggest research achievement thus far? How did you achieve those results? • What is your career goal? • How has diversity impacted you?
- 14. 14 Good example ofa Personal Statement “My diversity status, as an Haitian-African-American engineering student attending a top tier institution and studying Chinese language, has given me a unique perspective and appreciation for diversity, inclusion, and service that fuels my commitment to designing and researching to improve the lives of those less fortunate. My Haitian background, and my Quaker schooling have instilled a strong desire to pursue graduate research that benefits people in various environments through design and creativity.” -PhD applicant in Architecture, Built Ecologies
- 15. 15 Poor examples ofPersonal Statements “I am interested in attending the University of Mississippi or the University of Albany for graduate school; however, I have not decided on where else I will look.” - PhD applicant in Chemistry (for RPI) Note: This particular letter was unclear, had the wrong institution listed, discussed classes taken in high school and ACT scores, and rambled from start to finish (very indirect and not intentional at all). The applicant even states, “Science was not my favorite subject; however it is the only subject other than math that has my full attention.”
- 16. 16 Requirements for yourPersonal Statement • No more than 1-1.5 pages single spaced • Be interesting • Be intentional • Spell/Grammar check • Use a personal story to highlight your strengths • Follow directions
- 17. 17 Imagine this… This isa conversation where you are telling the department why they should select you, not a plea to be selected. Don’t be general, this is an intentional message to address what you bring to the table and why your skills can aid the department as well as what your expectations are of the institution.
- 18. 18 Letter of Recommendation •It is wise to obtain a letter from someone who holds the degree type you seek • The letter should be specific and mention your critical thinking/analytical reasoning/writing skills • The letter should come from someone you have built a relationship with who can speak on your character. • No family members should write your letter of recommendation
- 19. 19 Poor Recommendation Examples “Shecompleted her finance degree at the University. I was her professor for two of her upper division finance courses. She earned a B in the Investments course and an A in the Corporate Finance course. Her overall course grades in the full Finance curriculum were not outstanding, but she did participate in class and always appeared interested in learning the material. She has also made an effort in terms of internships and work opportunities to learn more about business and finance. I believe a MS in Quantitative Finance and Risk Analytics would greatly deepen her understanding of financial markets and practical skills to manage financial aspects of a corporation.” -Professor of Finance
- 20. 20 Strong Recommendation Letters •Jennifer Lopez is one of the brightest and most motivated students I have had a chance to work with in my 25 years as a research. I would not hesitate to sign her immediately to my group. • Steph Curry has great talent and skills on biomedical engineering. He is bright, focused, competitive, and honest. He is able to work independently as well as in a group. • Beyonce’s observation on various computer science topics can often reach a depth rarely met in an undergraduate student. When she speaks, there is always something meaningful and important to say. Her work has been without error.
- 21. 21 Research Experience • Ifyou want to go to graduate school, you should start getting involved in research as an undergraduate. • Research experience allows institutions to know that you understand the environment of working in a lab and are comfortable with that setting. • It is not significant to explain your research results. There is no need to attempt a project that's too big. • It is expected that you fail, but this enhances your learning experiences.
- 22. 22 Program Requirements It isimperative that you not only review the institutional guidelines for general applications but also review and understand the department’s additional program requirements. Examples: • Writing samples, if required by department. • Portfolio, if required by department. • IT Background Evaluation form • Supplemental Questions for Business applicants
- 23.
- 24. RPI Graduate Admissions24 Contact Me bassl@rpi.edu 518-276-6140 Complete the link for an application fee waiver:
Editor's Notes
- #5 "Fit“- how well the prospective student might mesh with the institution once on campus. Students need to consider their own personalities as they make their decisions about where to apply. Let’s talk about your favorite jeans and how you selected them. You can have a 4.0 college GPA, graduate with honors and a 90th percentile and still not get into a program if the faculty do not see your interests as a proper fit for the program.
- #6 These are just a few questions to ask yourself when you are applying to grad programs. WHY do you want to go to grad school?
- #7 Ultimately, why this school? Why this program? How will they get you to the next step of your life/career? What resources and opportunities make this program stay out for you?
- #13 What are the 3 test sections and how are they scored? Use online and written study guides to help you prepare.
- #17 What does it mean to be interesting? Show your personality through words, expose us to your interests and you tell your story, allow me to feel like I know you or want to get to know you after I have ready your statement letter
- #18 You are talking to your parents about why you need this brand new car or phone…. You’re giving them they safety facts, the value of the item, how it can impact your livelihood, how you’ve word hard for THIS particular car or phone.
- #21 Each statement tells a strong characteristic about the applicant…”one of the brightest and most motivated student in 25 years!” “He is bright, focused, competitive, and honesty; he is able to work independently as well as in a group.” “A depth rarely met in an undergraduate student.” These are attributed that make for a great student.
- #22 Graduate school is quite different from undergraduate school. It takes longer, it requires more focused and sustained work, it involves more intensive relationships with faculty and other students, and it makes considerably greater demands on your personal identity. In graduate school, your personal identity will almost certainly undergo great change. In particular, you will acquire a particular sort of professional identity: you will become known as the person who wrote such-and-such a paper, who did such-and-such research, who refuted such-and-such theory, or who initiated such-and-such line of inquiry. This process can be tremendously satisfying. But it's not for everyone.