Controls Quals Review Presentation -Sandipan, Carlos, Chun-Chih, Edgar, Kurt, Pannag

Overview When to take the Quals Administrative requirements –Courses, Committee Steps in preparation for Quals What to expect in the Quals

When to take Quals No rules about that Typically the end of 3 rd year or beginning of 4 th year –Should have completed the required number of classes –Your and your committee’s convenience

Administrative stuff 4 Courses in Control –No S/U courses allowed 2 Courses in each of the minors –Atleast one minor must be outside ME –Not sure about S/U. (Will ask Pat) Committee: –2 faculty members from Controls –1 from each of the minors Atleast one of the two outside ME

Overall steps in Quals Decide upon your committee –Decide upon the date of your Quals Discuss with the faculty what to study –Meet them regularly Study hard! Good idea to take practice Quals

Deciding your committee Start doing this atleast 3 months in advance. Earlier would not hurt Factors to consider: –Someone whom you have taken a class with is preferable –Someone you know well- common projects between Profs –Whether you would like to study the course material concerned with that Prof. When did you take that course ? Classes done recently should be easier to revise! –Professor’s reputation as a Quals committee member Nice/ harsh/ expects a lot ? –Ask senior students –Pat can tell you who all took her/him in their Quals –Whether he/she is out of station for the whole semester –…. Other members in the committee can add to this list!

Scheduling Meet the Profs –“I am planning to take my Quals somewhere around March. Would like to be on my Quals?” –Ask them for their schedules –Fix a date. Book a room! Choose the head of the committee –The Quals committee should be approved by him! –Submit the form signed by him

Over to the committee for more specific questions…..

What to expect in the Quals First a short presentation (20 mins talk time) on your research –Substantial research work not expected –Courses are the main emphasis Each Prof will ask questions in his area –Stress on basic concepts What to know about each concept/result: –what is it –why is it important –What assumptions/ when can you (not) use it –No gory proofs!!! –Can be one large question –Can be a series of short questions