Post on 28-Dec-2015
Graduate School and Graduate School and Funding Funding OpportunitiesOpportunities
University of Toledo AlumniUniversity of Toledo AlumniUniversity of Michigan Graduate University of Michigan Graduate
StudentsStudentsNational Science Foundation FellowsNational Science Foundation Fellows
Brian TreaseBrian TreaseMechanical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringCompliant Systems Design LabCompliant Systems Design Lab
Jessica WilliamsJessica WilliamsBiomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering
Skeletal Engineering GroupSkeletal Engineering Group
Why are YOU here?Why are YOU here?
Considering Graduate Considering Graduate School?School? Enjoy doing researchEnjoy doing research Desire to continue learningDesire to continue learning Job perspectiveJob perspective
– Industry: Head of research team, Industry: Head of research team, creating your own projects from creating your own projects from your own ideasyour own ideas
– Academic Career: Professor, Academic Career: Professor, ResearcherResearcher
Deciding on a school:Deciding on a school:
Location. Take into consideration Location. Take into consideration all of your hopes and dreams. all of your hopes and dreams.
Decide on a professor, NOT a Decide on a professor, NOT a school.school.– Decide on a specific projectDecide on a specific project– For industry jobs, make sure the prof For industry jobs, make sure the prof
uses cutting edge technologyuses cutting edge technology
Application Application RequirementsRequirements ApplicationApplication Statement of PurposeStatement of Purpose TranscriptsTranscripts Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation GRE generalGRE general
ApplicationApplication– Application Deadline is Jan. 15 for Fall Application Deadline is Jan. 15 for Fall
2003 (UofM). Some are earlier.2003 (UofM). Some are earlier.– The earlier you get it in, the better.The earlier you get it in, the better.
Statement of PurposeStatement of Purpose– 1-2 pages double spaced1-2 pages double spaced– Your goals for going to grad schoolYour goals for going to grad school– Research/Internship highlightsResearch/Internship highlights– Identify faculty/labs where you might be Identify faculty/labs where you might be
interestedinterested– Explanations, e.g. a bad semesterExplanations, e.g. a bad semester
TranscriptsTranscripts– Order early (in October)Order early (in October)– You can have the school mail it directly to the You can have the school mail it directly to the
school you’re applying to, or you can send it with school you’re applying to, or you can send it with any other material as long as it is in a sealed any other material as long as it is in a sealed envelope.envelope.
– If you are unsure of which schools you will be If you are unsure of which schools you will be applying to, get multiple copies mailed to you in applying to, get multiple copies mailed to you in signed, sealed envelopes.signed, sealed envelopes.
Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation– Most schools require 3 letters (at least 2 of the 3 Most schools require 3 letters (at least 2 of the 3
should be from faculty).should be from faculty).– Ask earlyAsk early– Provide a cover letter with information about the Provide a cover letter with information about the
deadline, the address, and any information about deadline, the address, and any information about yourself that might be helpful to them.yourself that might be helpful to them.
GREGRE– Most schools require the GRE generalMost schools require the GRE general– Scores take about 4 weeks to reach Scores take about 4 weeks to reach
schools, so plan on taking it with plenty schools, so plan on taking it with plenty of time before the application deadline.of time before the application deadline.
– The GRE changed its form on Oct. 1 to The GRE changed its form on Oct. 1 to include an analytical writing section.include an analytical writing section.
– Study for the GRE. You can download Study for the GRE. You can download some practice tests at www.gre.orgsome practice tests at www.gre.org
Financial AidFinancial Aid
4 types of financial aid4 types of financial aid– Fellowships (departmental scholarships)Fellowships (departmental scholarships)– GSI (TA) positions (given by department)GSI (TA) positions (given by department)– Research Assistant Positions (given directly by Research Assistant Positions (given directly by
faculty)faculty)– Outside FellowshipsOutside Fellowships
Everyone is considered for departmental Everyone is considered for departmental financial aid when they apply to the financial aid when they apply to the programprogram
Financial Aid is Extremely CompetitiveFinancial Aid is Extremely Competitive
Outside FellowshipsOutside Fellowships
National Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundation (NSF) HertzHertz National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense NASANASA GEM MinorityGEM Minority Ford Foundation MinorityFord Foundation Minority Bell Labs FellowshipBell Labs Fellowship Gates Millennium ScholarshipGates Millennium Scholarship
National Science National Science Foundation FellowshipFoundation Fellowship Offers three-year graduate Offers three-year graduate
research fellowships in science, research fellowships in science, mathematics, and engineeringmathematics, and engineering
Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 year periodyear period
Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 month tenure plus $10,500 tuition month tenure plus $10,500 tuition allowanceallowance
How to Apply:How to Apply:
Provide the following documentsProvide the following documents– Information FormInformation Form– Application FormApplication Form– Proposed Plan of ResearchProposed Plan of Research– Previous Research ExperiencePrevious Research Experience– 4 Letter of Recommendation (typically 4 Letter of Recommendation (typically
from professors and co-op supervisors)from professors and co-op supervisors) Submission is done onlineSubmission is done online Deadline: Early NOVEMBERDeadline: Early NOVEMBER
Why you should apply?Why you should apply?
Good Money!!Good Money!! Good for resume (prestige)Good for resume (prestige) Self-confidenceSelf-confidence Academic FreedomAcademic Freedom Good preparation for your Good preparation for your
academic careeracademic career Keeps your PhD advisor happy Keeps your PhD advisor happy
Tips for a successful Tips for a successful applicationapplication Get a good GPA and good letters of Get a good GPA and good letters of
recommendationrecommendation Get involved in undergrad researchGet involved in undergrad research Get to know faculty membersGet to know faculty members Talk to professors and grad students Talk to professors and grad students
about cutting edge researchabout cutting edge research Ask professors for feedback on your Ask professors for feedback on your
essaysessays Get a copy of a successful grant from a Get a copy of a successful grant from a
professorprofessor
Preparation of Critical Preparation of Critical DocumentsDocuments Proposed Plan of ResearchProposed Plan of Research
– Needs to be specific about a Needs to be specific about a particular projectparticular project
– Should address long-term goals as Should address long-term goals as well as well-planned research well as well-planned research activitiesactivities
– Can be based on (a) technical Can be based on (a) technical journals (b) seminar talks (c) your journals (b) seminar talks (c) your own undergrad/grad research and own undergrad/grad research and (d) a professors successful proposal(d) a professors successful proposal
Preparation of Critical Preparation of Critical DocumentsDocuments Previous Research ExperiencePrevious Research Experience
– InternshipsInternships– Co-op experiencesCo-op experiences– Undergraduate ResearchUndergraduate Research
Planning your researchPlanning your research
Your research proposal needs to Your research proposal needs to describe:describe:– Research background and technical Research background and technical
problemsproblems– Solutions for these problemsSolutions for these problems– ObjectivesObjectives– ImpactsImpacts
Ask a professor for helpAsk a professor for help
Summary TimelineSummary Timeline
NOW!!!NOW!!!– Take the GRETake the GRE– Get Research ExperienceGet Research Experience– Obtain Application MaterialsObtain Application Materials– Research the faculty/areas of Research the faculty/areas of
interestinterest– Contact recommendersContact recommenders– Look at FellowshipsLook at Fellowships
Timeline cont.Timeline cont.
OctoberOctober– Work on ApplicationWork on Application– Ask for RecommendationsAsk for Recommendations– Do Fellowship ApplicationsDo Fellowship Applications
November/DecemberNovember/December– Finish ApplicationFinish Application
Early March, decisions from usEarly March, decisions from us
Timeline cont.Timeline cont.
Decisions usually come out in Decisions usually come out in early Marchearly March
University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
Fall 2005 Admission ApplicationsFall 2005 Admission Applicationshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/students/prospective/graduate/http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/prospective/graduate/
admissions/applyingadmissions/applying.html.html Engineering Departmental ContactsEngineering Departmental Contactshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/contacts/http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/contacts/
gradprogcontacts.pdfgradprogcontacts.pdf Fall 2005 Recruitment Travel ScheduleFall 2005 Recruitment Travel Schedulehttp://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/events/http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/events/
index.htmlindex.html Funding ResourcesFunding Resourceshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/students/current/graduate/http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/current/graduate/
scholarships/otherfundischolarships/otherfundingsources.htmlngsources.html Additional Recruiting EventsAdditional Recruiting Eventshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/ http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/