1. Crafting a Competitive Application

2. Graduate school application components
Application/Questionnaire
Transcripts
Resume/CV
Letters of recommendation
Statement of Purpose
GRE 2

3. Application, Resume, Transcript
Follow instructions/guidelines
List your full name on top of every document
Submit before the deadline!
Ensure your application contains all required materials
Confirm submission
Resume
Ensure it looks professional
Transcript
Submit official transcripts for every school attended since high school

4. Secrets to a Successful Graduate Application
Preparation
Start connecting/build relationships
Familiarize with application guidelines/instructions
Deadlines
Required vs recommended

5. Resume What is a Resume/CV? What should be in your Resume/CV?
What shouldn’t be in your Resume/CV?
How long should your Resume/CV be?
Good web resource:
Explain differences briefly.

6. Recommendation letters
Types of Recommendation Letters
Do not submit letters from friends, coaches, family, etc...
If submitting letters from industry they should be at a high level preferably someone with a PhD
Long letters vs short letters
Generic letters vs glowering letters
Timing
Ask now if you haven’t already
Typically allow 2-5 weeks for letters to be written
Ensure Strong Faculty Recommendations
Undergraduate research
Visit their office
Do well in their courses!
Mentors
Provide them with your resume and an outline of the points you would like covered, if necessary
At least 2 recommendations from PhD holders. Review committee composed of fac with PhD’s. Faculty value the input of another PhD because they know they understand what it takes to get a PhD.
Each recommender should focus on a different area
academics
research aptitude
personal characteristics or performance as an employee

7. Statement of Purpose What is a statement of purpose? Tips Concise
Prompts to guide your responses
One or two page essay describing your career goals, how the program will help you reach those goals, and how your past experiences have prepared you
Include the area research for which you are interested in working and the names of any potential advisors doing that work
Tips
Concise
Identify and fill gaps
Write, rewrite, have others edit
Make is engaging
Mention this is an opportunity to differentiate themselves from all the other applicants. In some cases it will be a chance to make a first impression.
Include how their program will help you achieve your goals.
Reach out to fac of interest early to establish relationship
If fac interested in you this could differentiate you from other applicants.

8. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Take it!
Even if all the schools to which you are applying do not require it
Take practice tests
Be very familiar with the format and instructions prior
Strive for a high Quantitative score
Be cognizant of score submission deadlines

9. GRE http://www.gre.org Computer-based exams offered continuously
Submit GRE scores with admission packet
GRE scores may be required for some funding opportunities

10. Application Fee Waiver
In the fee waiver section of the application
Select “Graduate Engineering Open House”
We will provide the admissions office with your name so it will be approved when you apply

11. Additional Resources

12. Funding Options at OSU Fellowships
Office of Graduate Education
Funding Options at OSU
Fellowships
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA’s)
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA’s)
Graduate Administrative Assistantships (GAA’s)
Fellowships = full funding, no work requirement
GRA / GTA / GAA = full funding, 20 hrs work per week
yes to all

13. So, what’s full funding Stipend Tuition and fees
Office of Graduate Education
So, what’s full funding
Stipend
Tuition and fees
Health insurance subsidy
Total value for 2 year MS ~$91,000
Total value for a 5 year PhD ~$227,000
85% health insurance coverage
yes

14. Fellowships Types University and Early Offer* Fellowships
Office of Graduate Education
Fellowships
Types
University and Early Offer* Fellowships
College Fellowships*
Departmental Fellowships
External Fellowships
Benefits
Most prestigious and competitive funding opportunities
Students receiving fellowships are able to focus solely on academics and research leading to the completion of their degree
Stipend is higher
All fellowships provide full funding and do not have additional work requirements yes to both
Focus on academics
and their dissertation research

15. University Fellowships
Office of Graduate Education
University Fellowships
University wide competition for which students are nominated by the program to which they were admitted
Fellowships funded by our Graduate School
To be eligible for nomination students must submit a completed application to their graduate program of interest between November 30th and December 15th
Check deadlines at
Deadlines vary by program yes.
Departments are responsible for nominating students to the Graduate School by mid-December, which is why the deadline can range. Deadlines are set by program. Progs have until end of Jan to submit nominations. Deadline likely set so progs have time to review apps to make decisions on who to nominate. No need to tell student when programs need to nominate.
Check with your specific program representative and website. Yes.

16. Early Offer Fellowships*
Office of Graduate Education
Early Offer Fellowships*
Priority consideration given to GEOH attendees
Fellowships funded by our Graduate School
To be eligible for nomination students must submit a completed application to their graduate program of interest very soon. You will receive confirmation of the deadline next week.
Full funding guaranteed up to 5 years
Deadlines vary by program yes.
Departments are responsible for nominating students to the Graduate School by mid-December, which is why the deadline can range. Deadlines are set by program. Progs have until end of Jan to submit nominations. Deadline likely set so progs have time to review apps to make decisions on who to nominate. No need to tell student when programs need to nominate.
Check with your specific program representative and website. Yes.

17. Departmental Fellowships
Office of Graduate Education
Departmental Fellowships
Awarded by the department to which you have been admitted
Selection for these fellowships takes place at various times after a student has been admitted and is dependent of availability of funds
Are there different types? Yes. No need to specify
Are these offered by the College or the Departments? Both. Only need to tell student that when they apply be sure to select all the funding options they want to be considered for. Programs will nominate them based on their applications and eligibility for each. In addition to the dept fellowships let them know that our office awards fellowships designed to support diversity within our graduate student body. Again programs will nominate students for them.
Do we have examples? Yes, but no need to specify.
Is Discovery Scholars a part of this? Yes this is one of our college fellowships. No need to go into detail here. I would like us to send out an to make our diverse students aware of this one because it requires they apply to GEM.

18. College Fellowships Priority consideration given to GEOH attendees
Office of Graduate Education
College Fellowships
Priority consideration given to GEOH attendees
You must be nominated by your program
Awardees will be guaranteed full funding
Up to 2 years for a MS
Up to 5 years for a PhD
Are there different types? Yes. No need to specify
Are these offered by the College or the Departments? Both. Only need to tell student that when they apply be sure to select all the funding options they want to be considered for. Programs will nominate them based on their applications and eligibility for each. In addition to the dept fellowships let them know that our office awards fellowships designed to support diversity within our graduate student body. Again programs will nominate students for them.
Do we have examples? Yes, but no need to specify.
Is Discovery Scholars a part of this? Yes this is one of our college fellowships. No need to go into detail here. I would like us to send out an to make our diverse students aware of this one because it requires they apply to GEM.

19. Office of Graduate Education
External Fellowships
Funded by governmental agencies, companies, or foundations
Competitive
Provide a high stipend
Some provide travel support, funding for equipment, etc.
Our office provides support to help 1st and 2nd yr grads to apply for external fellowship awards
Can help compliment a first year fellowship from the Graduate School or a GAA/GRA position for the first two years.
Do we have any information of the top external fellowships awarded to our own students?

20. List of External Funding Opportunities
Office of Graduate Education
List of External Funding Opportunities
CoE Funding resources website for Graduate Students
All of the deadlines on the page linked here are from
Do we have a more updated resource? Even a link to an external website?

21. Graduate Research Associateship
Office of Graduate Education
Graduate Research Associateship
GRA appointments are awarded by individual faculty members (typically your advisor) with funding from their grants
GRA’s are responsible for performing research for their advisor in exchange for full funding
20 hr / week of research
What are the tips we give students about how students should seek out faculty members with funding? How to pick an advisor that will have funding in the future?
If their advisor doesn’t have funding, how can they work to get additional research funds?

22. Graduate Teaching Assistantship
Office of Graduate Education
Graduate Teaching Assistantship
GTA appointments are provided by the unit for which you will teach
GTA’s are responsible for teaching related duties in exchange for full support
This can include:
Teaching classes, recitations, and labs,
Advising and counseling students,
Grading,
Writing reports, or
Assisting faculty and administrators
20 hrs / week
How do students find GTA’s?
What is EED’s role in this?
Are these all decided within an individual department?
Who decides which students become TA’s?

23. Graduate Administrative Associateships
Office of Graduate Education
Graduate Administrative Associateships
GAA’s provide administrative support for the units or offices for which they are employed in exchange for full funding
Sometimes GAA positions may have a professional development component
20 hrs / week
How do students find GAA openings? They would inquire within their department or contact me once admitted. I would not go into detail about this. Only a small percentage of our grads hold a GAA position. Most are GRA or GTA’s or Fellows
What are some examples of GAA positions that include professional development? The one in our office or some of the Graduate School positions. What does that mean? For them to learn and or develop soft skills, learning different software, how to communicate with any audience, meeting and/or working with leadership, networking, etc….

24. Cost of Living in Columbus
One of the lowest nationally Ranked in the top 10 "Best Place to Live" by Money Magazine
Do we have any additional stats on this?
15th largest city in the US (right behind San Francisco) – more than 800,000 people
Larger than Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington DC, Seattle, Boston, Denver, Miami
6th youngest city in the US: Average age is 32.5
Second highest per capita number of college students (second to Boston) – more than 120,000 students among 12 institutions of higher learning
One of the 7 most intelligent cities in the world (ranked by the Intelligent Communities Forum)
Forbes ranked Cbus #9 as most affordable places to live
BusinessWeek ranked Cbus #20 in its list of 50 best cities in America
1,600 restaurants in Cbus
2 pro sport teams: Crew and Blue Jackets
Olentangy Trail – 14 miles long

25. Office of Graduate Education
Questions ?