Graduate School Selection Graduate School Selection and and

the Application Processthe Application ProcessAutumn SutherlinAutumn Sutherlin

October 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