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Applying to Graduate SchoolsApplying to Graduate Schools

November 19, 2009November 19, 2009

Subodh BhandariSubodh BhandariAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Aerospace Engineering DepartmentAerospace Engineering Department

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OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Path to Graduate DegreesPath to Graduate DegreesGraduate AssistantshipsGraduate AssistantshipsGRE PreparationGRE PreparationChoosing a SchoolChoosing a SchoolChoosing an AdvisorChoosing an Advisor

CSU ChancellorCSU Chancellor s Doctoral Incentive Programs Doctoral Incentive ProgramUndergraduate Research at Cal Poly PomonaUndergraduate Research at Cal Poly Pomona

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Path to Graduate DegreesPath to Graduate DegreesEmployer sponsoredEmployer sponsored Get a jobGet a job Depending on the employer, you may get aDepending on the employer, you may get a

chance to do a Masterchance to do a Master s degrees degree Employer pays the tuitionEmployer pays the tuition PartPart --timetime

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Path to Graduate Degrees Contd.Path to Graduate Degrees Contd.

Pursuance of Studies for MasterPursuance of Studies for Master s and PhDs and PhDDegreesDegrees It may be right after you finish yourIt may be right after you finish your

undergraduate degree or any time thereafterundergraduate degree or any time thereafter Chances to get tuition waiver and monthlyChances to get tuition waiver and monthlystipendstipend

FullFull--time studytime study Graduate AssistantshipsGraduate Assistantships

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Graduate AssistantshipsGraduate AssistantshipsTuition waived/paidTuition waived/paidMonthly stipendMonthly stipend

Health insurance may be paidHealth insurance may be paid20 hours/week during academic year;20 hours/week during academic year;opportunities to work fullopportunities to work full --time during summertime during summerGraduate Research Assistantships (GRA)Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) Research Assistants work with a professor on project (s)Research Assistants work with a professor on project (s)

in the area of his/her expertisein the area of his/her expertise Monthly salary: $1000Monthly salary: $1000 --$2000 during academic year$2000 during academic year MasterMaster s and PhD degreess and PhD degrees

Usually the project work leads to MasterUsually the project work leads to Master s or Doctorals or Doctoralthesisthesis

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Graduate Assistantships Cond.Graduate Assistantships Cond.Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) Help faculty member in teachingHelp faculty member in teaching Grading, student evaluations, lab teachingGrading, student evaluations, lab teaching MasterMaster s and PhD degreess and PhD degrees Monthly stipend: $1000Monthly stipend: $1000 --$1500$1500Graduate Service Assistantships (GSA)Graduate Service Assistantships (GSA) Help faculty member in administrative dutiesHelp faculty member in administrative duties Academic program developmentAcademic program development Generally MasterGenerally Master s degreess degrees

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GRE PreparationGRE PreparationMost of the Graduate Programs (except yourMost of the Graduate Programs (except your

undergraduate institute) require GRE scoreundergraduate institute) require GRE scoreVerbal, Quantitative, and Analytical WritingVerbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writingsectionssections

Start preparing for GRE early on yourStart preparing for GRE early on yourundergraduate career; at least from Junior Yearundergraduate career; at least from Junior YearVerbal section: 50 Word Lists, 3500 wordsVerbal section: 50 Word Lists, 3500 wordsBarronBarron s GRE book is a good resources GRE book is a good resourcePlan to take the exam during summer before thePlan to take the exam during summer before theSenior YearSenior Year

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Choosing a SchoolChoosing a SchoolPetersonPeterson s Guide to Graduate Schoolss Guide to Graduate Schools Tuition and FeesTuition and Fees Application feeApplication fee GRE requirementsGRE requirements

Quantitative and Verbal (Q&V) combined scoreQuantitative and Verbal (Q&V) combined score1200, 1300, 1400, etc.1200, 1300, 1400, etc.

GPA requirementGPA requirement Other admission criteriaOther admission criteria

Selectivity of the Programs or the University: NonSelectivity of the Programs or the University: Non --selective, lessselective, less --selective, selective, moreselective, selective, more --selective,selective,highlyhighly --selective, etc.selective, etc.

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Choosing a School Contd.Choosing a School Contd.Online ResearchOnline Research

Search for the programs that are doing research inSearch for the programs that are doing research inthe area of your interestthe area of your interestClick at the link forClick at the link for Current ResearchCurrent Research (Most(MostDepartments have this link)Departments have this link)Department website may have information onDepartment website may have information on

available assistantship positions (GRA/GTA/GSA)available assistantship positions (GRA/GTA/GSA)The department website may have programThe department website may have programspecific admission criteria as wellspecific admission criteria as well

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ExampleExamplehttp://aero.tamu.eduhttp://aero.tamu.edu

http://aehttp://ae --www.usc.eduwww.usc.edu / /

http://aero.tamu.edu/http://aero.tamu.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://ae-www.usc.edu/http://aero.tamu.edu/

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Choosing an AdvisorChoosing an AdvisorDepending on departments and funding available,Depending on departments and funding available,

you may get either of GRA, GTA, or GSA positionsyou may get either of GRA, GTA, or GSA positionsIf you are interested in research, click at the linkIf you are interested in research, click at the linkforfor ResearchResearch

You may see number of research areas andYou may see number of research areas andprofessors working in each of the areasprofessors working in each of the areasSelect the area of your interestSelect the area of your interestWrite to the professors working in the area of yourWrite to the professors working in the area of yourinterest; he or she may already have funding (frominterest; he or she may already have funding (frominternal/external research grants) available forinternal/external research grants) available foryour education and thesisyour education and thesis

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FellowshipsFellowshipsNASANASA

Department of Defense (Department of Defense ( DoDDoD))National Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundation (NSF)

Department of EnergyDepartment of Energyhttp://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipSchttp://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htmholarship%20Programs.htmhttp://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/sciencehttp://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science --andand --engineeringengineering --fellowshipsfellowships --andand --scholarships/ scholarships/

http://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htmhttp://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htmhttp://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htmhttp://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htmhttp://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://blogs.asee.org/fellowships/science-and-engineering-fellowships-and-scholarships/http://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htmhttp://aero.tamu.edu/people/hurtado/FellowshipScholarship%20Programs.htm

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CSU ChancellorCSU Chancellor s Doctoral Incentives Doctoral Incentive

Program (CDIP)Program (CDIP)Participants in the program can borrow up toParticipants in the program can borrow up to

$10,000 per year to a total amount of $30,000$10,000 per year to a total amount of $30,000The loan may beThe loan may be repayedrepayed over 15over 15 --year period (5%year period (5%API)API)

If hired at one of CSU campuses as fullIf hired at one of CSU campuses as full --timetimeinstructional faculty, the loan (including interest)instructional faculty, the loan (including interest)will be forgiven at the rate of 20% for each year ofwill be forgiven at the rate of 20% for each year of

fullfull--time teaching at CSUtime teaching at CSUThe loan can be borrowed even if the participantsThe loan can be borrowed even if the participantshave other sources of fundinghave other sources of funding

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CSU ChancellorCSU Chancellor s Doctoral Incentives Doctoral Incentive

Program (CDIP) Contd.Program (CDIP) Contd.http://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shttp://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtmlhtml

http://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtmlhttp://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtmlhttp://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtmlhttp://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtmlhttp://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtmlhttp://www.calstate.edu/hr/cdip/apply/index.shtml

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First Semester at Graduate SchoolFirst Semester at Graduate SchoolYou may not get assistantship right awayYou may not get assistantship right away

Very high chances of getting one (GTA/GRA/GSA)Very high chances of getting one (GTA/GRA/GSA)during first semester of your graduate studiesduring first semester of your graduate studiesSome students wait for little longer; and some maySome students wait for little longer; and some may

not getnot getKeep in touch with professors; often timesKeep in touch with professors; often timesprofessors and department chair come to youprofessors and department chair come to youIf youIf youre admitted for PhD program, funding isre admitted for PhD program, funding isgenerally assuredgenerally assured

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Undergraduate Research at CPPUndergraduate Research at CPP

Many professors have ongoing researchMany professors have ongoing research

If any of the research areas interest you, talk toIf any of the research areas interest you, talk tothe professor involvedthe professor involvedProfessors may have research grants and mayProfessors may have research grants and mayhire research assistantshire research assistantsCCRAA Undergraduate Research ApprenticeshipCCRAA Undergraduate Research Apprenticeshipopportunitiesopportunities Student finds an advisorStudent finds an advisor Student writes a research proposal together with theStudent writes a research proposal together with the

advisoradvisor Selection is based on merit and commitment to PhDSelection is based on merit and commitment to PhD

degreesdegrees

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Good NewsGood News

Universities are in dire need of graduateUniversities are in dire need of graduatestudents particularly in STEM fieldsstudents particularly in STEM fieldsBaby Boomers going to retire soon, thoseBaby Boomers going to retire soon, those

with advanced degrees and training willwith advanced degrees and training willhave better chances of getting a jobhave better chances of getting a job

By doing this, you will also contribute to theBy doing this, you will also contribute to thecountrycountry s needss needs

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Questions ????Questions ????

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