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Graduate School Selection and the Application Process. Autumn Sutherlin October 6, 2003. Outline. General Information School Selection Application. Reasons for going to grad school. “Bad” Reasons I don’t know what else to do Better than getting a job I was told too - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Graduate School Selection Graduate School Selection and and
the Application Processthe Application ProcessAutumn SutherlinAutumn SutherlinOctober 6, 2003October 6, 2003
OutlineOutline
General InformationGeneral Information
School SelectionSchool Selection
ApplicationApplication
Reasons for going to grad Reasons for going to grad schoolschool ““Bad” ReasonsBad” Reasons
I don’t know what else to doI don’t know what else to do Better than getting a jobBetter than getting a job I was told tooI was told too Everyone else is goingEveryone else is going
““Good” ReasonsGood” Reasons I want to further my educationI want to further my education I need a higher degree to achieve I need a higher degree to achieve
my career goalsmy career goals I want the challenge of designing I want the challenge of designing
my own projectsmy own projects
Myths About Graduate SchoolMyths About Graduate School A continuation of undergraduate A continuation of undergraduate
workwork You can’t get a job with a bachelor’s You can’t get a job with a bachelor’s
degreedegree You need to know exactly what you You need to know exactly what you
want to study when you startwant to study when you start You need to go directly from You need to go directly from
undergraduate schoolundergraduate school Students from “big” schools are Students from “big” schools are
better qualifiedbetter qualified There are no politics in grad schoolThere are no politics in grad school
General Facts About General Facts About Graduate SchoolGraduate School In the sciences you just do a straight In the sciences you just do a straight
Ph.D. programPh.D. program
Consolation Master’sConsolation Master’s
StipendStipend
It’s all about commitment and It’s all about commitment and stubbornnessstubbornness
Educational considerationsEducational considerations
What do you want to do?What do you want to do?
School reputation/ rankingsSchool reputation/ rankings
Research interests of facultyResearch interests of faculty
Number of openings in labsNumber of openings in labs
Interdisciplinary Program vs. Interdisciplinary Program vs. DepartmentDepartment
Personal ConsiderationsPersonal Considerations LocationLocation
ChurchChurch
Stipend versus cost of livingStipend versus cost of living
Paid tuitionPaid tuition
Cost of ApplicationCost of Application
SpouseSpouse
How to get information on How to get information on schoolsschools InterviewsInterviews Web sitesWeb sites Send in for informationSend in for information Cards from fliersCards from fliers ProfessorsProfessors Students who have already Students who have already
graduatedgraduated BooksBooks
Gourman’s Guide, Peterson’s Guide, Gourman’s Guide, Peterson’s Guide, US News and World ReportUS News and World Report
But you do have to narrow it But you do have to narrow it downdown PrayPray Choose a wide rangeChoose a wide range
Apply to at least:Apply to at least: 2 dream schools2 dream schools 2 average schools2 average schools 2 safety net schools2 safety net schools
Talk to professors with expertise Talk to professors with expertise in your chosen fieldin your chosen field
ApplicationApplication
Apply onlineApply online Paper applicationsPaper applications Most are due in December or Most are due in December or
JanuaryJanuary ComponentsComponents
TranscriptTranscript GRE’sGRE’s RecommendationsRecommendations Statement of purposeStatement of purpose
What are they looking forWhat are they looking for
AbilityAbility
FoundationFoundation
MaturityMaturity
TranscriptTranscript
Schools vary in how they want Schools vary in how they want these sentthese sent
ACU’s policyACU’s policy http://www.acu.edu/http://www.acu.edu/
campusoffices/registrar/campusoffices/registrar/transcript.htmltranscript.html
What schools look at on a What schools look at on a transcripttranscript GPA – 3.2 or higherGPA – 3.2 or higher Grades in major subjects vs. Grades in major subjects vs.
non-major subjectsnon-major subjects Did you avoid unpleasant Did you avoid unpleasant
subjects? (P-chem, calculus)subjects? (P-chem, calculus) Hard sciencesHard sciences Did your grades improve in a Did your grades improve in a
two semester course?two semester course? C to an A or B is goodC to an A or B is good
GRE’sGRE’s
If you haven’t taken it, hurry up!If you haven’t taken it, hurry up!
PreparePrepare Math is high school levelMath is high school level VocabularyVocabulary
Subject examSubject exam
GRE’sGRE’s
Not as important as they used to beNot as important as they used to be Are the scores consistent with your Are the scores consistent with your
grades?grades? High expectations in mathematical High expectations in mathematical
and analytical reasoningand analytical reasoning A low GRE will be taken into A low GRE will be taken into
consideration if grades and consideration if grades and recommendations are goodrecommendations are good
Really study if you retake itReally study if you retake it
RecommendationsRecommendations Make or BreakMake or Break Who should you ask?Who should you ask?
Research AdvisorsResearch Advisors Other professors who know your Other professors who know your
capabilitiescapabilities Who should you not ask?Who should you not ask?
People who do not know your People who do not know your science capabilitiesscience capabilities
A professor you do not know well A professor you do not know well and goofed off in their classand goofed off in their class
Statement of purposeStatement of purpose
ReasonsReasons
EnthusiasmEnthusiasm
ExperienceExperience
Explanation of problems in Explanation of problems in applicationapplication
Things they are looking forThings they are looking for
CommitmentCommitment
Informed decisionInformed decision
Negative reasonsNegative reasons Didn’t make it into med schoolDidn’t make it into med school Didn’t want to face the real worldDidn’t want to face the real world Undergrad was easy so surely Undergrad was easy so surely
graduate school will begraduate school will be
Other Things ConsideredOther Things Considered
ExperienceExperience
SchoolSchool
Outside considerationsOutside considerations Were you working?Were you working? Did you have a high GPA and did Did you have a high GPA and did
nothing else?nothing else?
What do you need to do right What do you need to do right now?now? GRE!!!!!GRE!!!!!
Get in a research programGet in a research program
Research schoolsResearch schools
Start working on your statement Start working on your statement of purposeof purpose
For more helpFor more help
Autumn SutherlinAutumn Sutherlin 6511 6511 Sci 277cSci 277c
Brian CavittBrian Cavitt
Other professorsOther professors
Future eventsFuture events
InterviewingInterviewing
Final selectionFinal selection