Thinking About Graduate School?Thinking About Graduate School?

K. T. A.K. T. A.February 22, 2007February 22, 2007

2007 Kutztown University 2

You know you’re a redneck if . .You know you’re a redneck if . .

Fewer than half of your cars run. Fewer than half of your cars run. You think that beef jerky and Moon Pies You think that beef jerky and Moon Pies

are two of the major food groups. are two of the major food groups. You've ever used a weedeater indoors. You've ever used a weedeater indoors. You mow your lawn and find a car. You mow your lawn and find a car. http://www.thatwasfunny.com/you-know-yhttp://www.thatwasfunny.com/you-know-y

oure-a-redneck-if/532oure-a-redneck-if/532

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OverviewOverview

Should you go?Should you go? Where to goWhere to go How to get readyHow to get ready How to get thereHow to get there

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Should You Go?Should You Go? If you can do it, DO ITIf you can do it, DO IT

Career advancementCareer advancement Job satisfactionJob satisfaction $$$$

Especially if you like . .Especially if you like . . ChallengesChallenges New opportunitiesNew opportunities Interesting workInteresting work

and don’t like . .and don’t like . . Same ol’ same ol’Same ol’ same ol’ to be boredto be bored

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If you do go . .If you do go . .

What level?What level? CS or . . ?CS or . . ?

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What level?What level?

PhD if you canPhD if you can 1 trip instead of 21 trip instead of 2 Best time is NOWBest time is NOW

5 Year Masters is a good option5 Year Masters is a good option Short time frameShort time frame Low startup costLow startup cost Good qualityGood quality

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CS or . . ?CS or . . ? Many areas of studyMany areas of study

ITIT ISIS InformaticsInformatics MISMIS HCIHCI DesignDesign

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CS or . . ?CS or . . ? Many specializations within CSMany specializations within CS

RoboticsRobotics Computer visionComputer vision BioinformaticsBioinformatics Many othersMany others

Which best fits yourWhich best fits your AbilitiesAbilities InterestsInterests

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Where to goWhere to go Types of rankingsTypes of rankings

U.S. News and World ReportU.S. News and World Report NAGPSNAGPS

http://www.cs.ucf.edu/newsletter/vol1/issue_one/ranking.htmlhttp://www.cs.ucf.edu/newsletter/vol1/issue_one/ranking.html

Many good schoolsMany good schools Central principle – best for youCentral principle – best for you

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How to ChooseHow to Choose ConsiderationsConsiderations

FacultyFaculty ProgramProgram Areas of specialty/centers of studyAreas of specialty/centers of study Graduation rateGraduation rate LocationLocation

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Getting to Know the SchoolGetting to Know the School QualityQuality

of offeringsof offerings of facultyof faculty

» publication historypublication history» collaboration history (esp. with advisees)collaboration history (esp. with advisees)» 90% is relationship with thesis advisor90% is relationship with thesis advisor

Relationships with industryRelationships with industry Areas of expertiseAreas of expertise Treatment of studentsTreatment of students

graduation rate (CMU vs. Duke)graduation rate (CMU vs. Duke) hoops vs. research (UVA)hoops vs. research (UVA)

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How to ChooseHow to Choose Cast a wide netCast a wide net

Check out web sitesCheck out web sites Look for specificsLook for specifics Establish your own criteriaEstablish your own criteria

» DesiderataDesiderata

» Sine qua nonSine qua non

Create a “short list”Create a “short list”

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Choosing an Area of StudyChoosing an Area of Study Starting pointsStarting points

topictopic personperson schoolschool conferenceconference journaljournal

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Choosing an Area of StudyChoosing an Area of Study Fanning outFanning out

BibliographyBibliography Node hopping with tabbed browsingNode hopping with tabbed browsing

» School to personSchool to person

» to paperto paper

» to conferenceto conference

» to lectureto lecture

» to person to person

» to schoolto school

Etc.Etc.

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Choosing an Area of StudyChoosing an Area of Study

Download papersDownload papers directly accessibledirectly accessible

» MITMIT

» CMUCMU

» othersothers

ACM – KU has subscription via libraryACM – KU has subscription via library IEEE – good luck!IEEE – good luck!

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Getting ReadyGetting Ready

World has changedWorld has changed WWC = worldwide competitionWWC = worldwide competition 1 > 0 1 > 0

So take 1 stepSo take 1 step

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How to Get ReadyHow to Get Ready

Academic preparationAcademic preparation Application preparationApplication preparation

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Academic Preparation – Course WorkAcademic Preparation – Course Work Depends on area of study (see CS or . .)Depends on area of study (see CS or . .) MathMath Core CS areas (depends somewhat on Core CS areas (depends somewhat on

school)school) Algorithms & complexity Algorithms & complexity Automata theory Automata theory Operating systemsOperating systems Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence Software engineeringSoftware engineering NetworkingNetworking

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Academic Preparation – ResearchAcademic Preparation – Research Seek research opportunitiesSeek research opportunities

REUsREUs KU - URCKU - URC Collaborate with facultyCollaborate with faculty

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Academic Preparation - ResearchAcademic Preparation - Research Your cup of tea?Your cup of tea? Undergrad research opportunities (see Undergrad research opportunities (see

above)above) Undergrad presentations & publicationsUndergrad presentations & publications

– PACISEPACISE– MoravianMoravian– St. Joe’sSt. Joe’s– U.R. journalsU.R. journals

Finding research areas (see above)Finding research areas (see above)

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How to Get ThereHow to Get There Preparing to applyPreparing to apply

Know Deadlines Know Deadlines – some – some veryvery early early Fall or Spring?Fall or Spring? Line up referencesLine up references Keep up with schoolworkKeep up with schoolwork

Schedule your workSchedule your work Keep up with courseworkKeep up with coursework Plan for interference (e.g., Dec. 15)Plan for interference (e.g., Dec. 15)

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How to Get There - GREsHow to Get There - GREs Schedule themSchedule them Which test?Which test?

Morning onlyMorning only Subject GRE? (depends on school)Subject GRE? (depends on school) Math GREMath GRE

To study or not?To study or not? KUKU LehighLehigh

Changes comingChanges coming Retake? Retake? 

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ApplicationApplication Prepare ahead of timePrepare ahead of time Will needWill need

transcripttranscript references (gentle, diplomatic reminders)references (gentle, diplomatic reminders) resumeresume personal statementpersonal statement other (depends on school)other (depends on school)

Variety of formatsVariety of formats internetinternet paperpaper hybridhybrid

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Application – Allow Plenty of TimeApplication – Allow Plenty of Time References need timeReferences need time Schedule for each applicationSchedule for each application

Can be up to a day perCan be up to a day per Each one is differentEach one is different

» Time to sort it outTime to sort it out

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And Above All . .And Above All . .

Don’t Give Up !Don’t Give Up !