Thinking Thinking About About

Graduate Graduate School?School?

Is Graduate School Right Is Graduate School Right for Me?for Me?

• I enjoy exploring new ideas. • I enjoy solving problems.• I am intelligent. • I have initiative and self-discipline.• I want to learn more about my field

or change fields. • I need an advanced degree to

achieve my personal and professional goals.

Expanding my Career Expanding my Career OptionsOptions

• Master’s degrees: (30 -60 credits)Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, BS/MS – Thesis or non-thesis options– Careers in business, industry or K – 12 education

• Doctor of Philosophy degree (90 credits) - PhD

- Teaching- and research-oriented - Careers in academia and/or industry• Other “terminal” degrees: MD, JD, DDS,

Ed.D

Prerequisites for Prerequisites for Graduate SchoolGraduate School

• BA/BS degree• Strong grades and test scores• Well-crafted Statement of

Purpose• Adequate funds• Motivation!

How to Evaluate Graduate How to Evaluate Graduate Programs (1)Programs (1)

• Academic program • Faculty reputation• Facilities• Program requirements• Cost of attending; cost of living• Student life• Employment data on graduates

How to Evaluate Graduate How to Evaluate Graduate Programs (2)Programs (2)

• Confer with faculty – WPI and prospective institutions

• Talk with current graduate students - WPI and prospective institutions

• Visit campuses of interest• Attend Graduate Fairs• Review catalogs, websites, etc.

Applying to Graduate Applying to Graduate SchoolSchool

• The application form – personal information; on-line or printed versions

• Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement

• Letters of recommendation • Standardized tests• Official transcripts and grade

reports

Admission Tests for Admission Tests for Graduate SchoolGraduate School

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)• Graduate Management Aptitude Test

(GMAT)• Medical College Admission Test

(MCAT) • Law School Admission Test (LSAT)• Test of English as a Foreign

Language (TOEFL) or XXXXXXXX (IELTS)

Graduate Record Graduate Record ExaminationExamination

• Offered year-round at computer-base testing centers

• Cost $115 for General Test• Allow 3 – 4 hours for General Test

and Writing Assessment• Unofficial scores immediately.

Official score report in 10 – 15 days• For more information go to

www.gre.org

Graduate Record Graduate Record Examination:Examination:Subject TestSubject Test

• Offered three times a year – November, December and April - paper version only

• Cost $130 per subject test• Three hour exam• Unofficial scores immediately. Official

score report in 10 – 15 days???• Subject Tests offered in:• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular

Biology,Biology.Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology

Funding Your Graduate Funding Your Graduate StudyStudy

• Fellowships• Teaching and Research Assistantships• Deferred Payment Plans – contact

Financial Aid Office • Loans and corporate funding • Special opportunities for

underrepresented and disadvantaged students (GEMS, McNair Programs, etc.)

• Check out WPI Fellowships and Scholarships website: www.grad.wpi.edu/Financial

•

Calendar for Preparing for Calendar for Preparing for Graduate School (1)Graduate School (1)

•Summer before senior yearReview websites, catalogs, and other guides to graduate programs Draft Statement of Purpose

•Early fall of senior yearMeet with faculty, graduate students, CDC advisorsRequest for letters of recommendationRegister for standardized tests

Calendar for Preparing for Calendar for Preparing for Graduate School (2)Graduate School (2)

• OctoberTake standardized testsRequest application materialsComplete Statement of PurposeOrder transcripts

• NovemberComplete application formsProvide recommenders with necessary materials

Calendar for Preparing for Calendar for Preparing for Graduate School (3)Graduate School (3)

• December/early JanuarySubmit applicationsPlan campus visits

• JanuaryConfirm all application materials have been received

• April 15 Common Reply Date

Sample List of Graduate Sample List of Graduate Schools Attended by WPI Schools Attended by WPI

AlumniAlumni• See list ……. From

www.wpi.edu/Admin/CDC/Students/grad.html

Graduate Education at Graduate Education at WPIWPI

• Over 50 graduate science, engineering and management programs

• More than 300 full- and part-time faculty, many recognized worldwide

• Active and growing program of leading-edge research: 19 NSF Career Awards since 1995

• Close ties with industry• Almost $20M in externally-funded research• Applications-oriented approach to learning

WPI Graduate Student WPI Graduate Student ProfileProfile

• Approximately 1,000 graduate students representing:

•37 states•57 countries•275 area employers

• 54% part-time; 46% full-time• 80% enrolled in master’s degree

programs• 20% enrolled in doctoral programs

Graduate Education in Graduate Education in ECE at WPIECE at WPI

• BS/MS “double dip” 6 credits courses must be approved prior to enrollment – BS/MS Plan of Study

• MS in Electrical Engineering: 30 credits thesis or 33 credits non-thesis options• PhD in Electrical Engineering 90 credits – including 30 credits of research• 113 enrolled students (Spring ’06)

74 master’s and 39 PhD’s

Funding Opportunities for Funding Opportunities for WPI Graduate StudentsWPI Graduate Students

• Teaching Assistantships – 9 months; 18 credits

• Research Assistantships - varies• Fellowships

Goddard Fellowship– self-nominate, 12 months, 20 creditsOther Endowed Fellowships – nominations by faculty, awards vary between 9 – 12 months; 18 credits

• Annual appointments

How to Apply for How to Apply for AdmissionAdmission

• Application available online at www.grad.wpi.edu

• Application processing fee of $70 - waived for WPI students and alumni

• GRE – required for all U.S. fellowship applicants and all international applicants

• Statement of Purpose – required for PhD applicants only

• Recommendations – required for all applicants

• TOEFL – waived for applicant who have attended an English-speaking institution full time for minimum of one year

Resources at WPI’s Career Resources at WPI’s Career Development CenterDevelopment Center

• Graduate School Directories• Graduate School Brochures• Graduate Testing Information• Scholarship and Grant Information• Books on preparing Statements of Purpose• Books on interviewing skills• Critique and review of Statements of

Purpose• One-on-one counseling• Information on Career and Graduate School

Fairs

Other ResourcesOther Resources• US News & World Reports, Best Graduate

Schools• The Best College for You• The Insiders Book of Law School Lists• The Insiders Book of Medical School Lists• Web References

Peterson’s Guide: www.petersons.com/graduate/Graduate School Guide: XXX school guides.comGradSchools.com www.gradschools.com

Financial Aid ResourcesFinancial Aid Resources• Cash for Grad School: The Ultimate

Guide to Grad School Scholarships, Phillip C. McKee and Cynthia Ruiz McKee, Quill, 2003

• Directory of Financial Aid series, Gail A. Schlachter, Reference Service Press, 2003

• Free Money for Graduate School, 4th edition, Blum, Laurie,

• Getting Money for Graduate School, Peterson’s, 2003

The Value of Lifelong The Value of Lifelong LearningLearningIn this world, security does not come from a union card, from lifetime employment at a big company or from government work. It will only come from the skills you carry with you.

--Thomas FriedmanThe Lexus and the Olive

Tree

Information for this presentation was made available from the WPI Career Development Center and from the 2004 Council of Graduate Schools pamphlet, “Graduate School and You: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students.”