Graduate School Application Process

1
Graduate School Application Process

• Summer Take the GRE Get research
  experience
• September List of schools Obtain
  application materials Research areas of
  interest Contact recommenders
  International fellowships
• October Grad school applications
  Fellowship applications Ask for
  recommendations
• November/December Finish applications
• Winter term Visit schools Final decision
  date 4/15

2
Summer

• Get research experienceNSF Research Experiences
  for Undergraduates www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm
  /reu/start.htm
• Take the GRE (www.gre.org)Computer based, can
  take once a month
• Verbal (not as important for engineers)
• 30-min (30 qns - ability to analyze and evaluate
  written material and synthesize information
  obtained from it, to analyze relationships among
  component parts of sentences, to recognize
  relationships between words and concepts, and to
  reason with words in solving problems. )
• Quantitative (easier than SAT)
• 45-min (28 qns - High school arithmetic, algebra,
  geometry, and data analysis)
• Analytical writing
• 45-min present your perspective on an issue
  include relevant reasons and examples to support
  your views
• 30-min Analyze an argument critique and
  argument by discussing how well reasoned they
  find it, based on logical soundness of the
  argument

3
September

• List of schools Web search, faculty Location US
  News and World Report
• www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/
• rankings/eng/engindex_brief.php
• Obtain application materials Graduate
  schools Fellowships
• Research areas of interest Web search, faculty
• Search NSF web page for grants
• Contact recommenders
• International fellowships
  www.lsa.umich.edu/honors/current/index.htm
• www.umich.edu/iinet/

4
October

• Grad school applications Statement of
  purpose Narrow down list of schools
• Ask for recommendations Start a checklist -
  note deadlines
• Fellowship applications Rackham (grad school)
  Fellowship Finder www.rackham.umich.edu/Fel
  lowships/
• NSF (Early November)
• www.ehr.nsf.gov/dge/programs/g
  rf/ Hertz (early November)
  www.hertzfndn.org
• Natl Defense Sci Eng (early Jan)
  www.asee.org/ndseg/ GEM Minority (Dec. 1)
  
• was.nd.edu/gem/gemwebapp/
• Ford Foundation Minority (Early Nov.)
  www7.nationalacademies.org/fellowships/

5
Statement of purpose

• Why youre special -)
• Your goal in going to grad school
• Research experience highlights, be specific
• Internship highlights, be specific
• Identify interests, faculty youd like to work
  with, if known
• Explain items, e.g. reasons for one bad semester
• No long biographies, no general statements
• Enthusiastic, easy to read
• Show youre well rounded, volunteering, groups,
  etc. (work it in, dont dwell on it -)
• Maximum one page, single spaced

6
Recommendations

• At least 2 from faculty
• Not from family/friends/GSIs
• Set up appointment to talk
• Ask for a GOOD letter
• Bring All forms (Not CPP form) Fill in
  blanks, SIGN them Resume Unofficial
  transcript Statement of purpose, draft
  OK Addressed envelopes
• One sheet summarizing
• List of schools Deadlines! Return to you
  vs. send to school

7
November/December

• Finish applications Takes longer than you think
• Do all online applications at the same time
  If considering PhD, apply for PhD, not for
  masters Get organized Checklist to compare
  schools Key research areas Key
  professors Strengths,weaknesses
  Town school is in Funding possibilities
  Health insurance provided? Deadlines

8
Winter term

• Visit schools They pay! Spring break Visiting
  week-ends Talk to students Let definite nos
  know
• Final decision date April 15th
• Let recommenders know where you decided to go
  -)