1. Graduate School 101 & FastTrack Grad Program Nancy M. Amato

2. Graduate School - Why? Not just to avoid getting a job! Opportunities –Want to learn a topic in greater depth, perhaps start out a rung or two up the ladder –Interest in research – these opportunities almost always require advanced degrees –Meet job goals/requirements Demand –There is an acute shortage of U.S. engineers with advanced degrees –Companies are highly motivated to help attract more engineers into advanced studies

3. Advantages of Graduate Education Greater job flexibility and responsibility Challenging job assignments Development of specialized skills Development of research skills Higher wages Confidence in solving complex problems Develop leadership and teamwork skills Develop oral and written presentation skills Become an independent learner Become a better life-long learner

4. Life-Long Learning Your career could be 40-50 years long No degree or training will keep you valid for this length of time Technology will outpace your current education in a few short years Regardless of your plans for formal education, you need to continually learn Once you leave school, most of your future education will take place in an informal setting

5. Grad School – Types of Programs Professional Programs –MBA –Law School –Medical School Masters –Coursework Only –Thesis (research oriented) PhD Industry Government Defense National Laboratories Academia

6. Questions you may ask… What % of students are on financial support? What is the salary of a graduate student? What is the cost of living / attending school? Paying for it all… Assistantships –TA, RA, etc. –Stipends, tuition/fees, health insurance, often Fellowships –External (e.g., NSF, DOE) – flexible, portable, employment obligation –Internal Outside Jobs Loans…especially for professional degrees Finances

7. Options for Graduate Education Grad School Options ProsCons Continue graduate school immediately after finishing bachelor’s degree Flexibility - Not tied to a particular career path Don’t have to disrupt career How will you fund? Some students are already burnt out after 4-5 years of school Work for a few years and then go back to school Can save up money to self- fund graduate school. Can put complete focus on school It is very difficult to give up full-time salary once you have become accustomed to receiving it Will you have to give up your job? Get a full-time job and go to school part-time Easy to self-fund graduate school Time constraints Time to graduation can be very long Reduced flexibility

8. Life in Grad School Coursework –Varies significantly –Occasionally leveling required –Usually 1-2 years –Deeper, more specialized courses Research (Thesis MS or PhD) –Start early and get involved –Identify a faculty advisor/research area –First assist others, then take your own direction

9. Searching for a program Talk to your professors Talk to current/previous graduate students, people that have the job you want Attend graduate school workshops or career fairs/conferences Rankings Deciding on a program Faculty working in my area of interest - VISIT!!! Research areas Degree programs (M. Eng., M.S., Ph.D.) Employability of graduates Rankings Available resources Where should I go?

10. Start Early GPA, GRE scores are important as filters –GRE General Test, GRE Subject test Letters from Faculty –Not bosses –Best, profs you did research with Statement of Purpose (Research Interest) Other supporting information –CV –Courses taken –Research projects/publications How to Apply –ApplyTexas at Texas A&M –Check dept websites for other institutions Grad School Applications Evaluation of Applicants GPA GRE Scores Rec. Letters Academic Preparation Personal Statement Research Experience What are Schools Looking For?

11. Deadlines – When Should I Apply? Check with university/department; varies by program/department Posted deadline may be in early spring (e.g., Feb. 1 or Mar. 1) Target Dates (in order to be considered for all possible funding opportunities): –Get application in by December 15 th –Get all other materials in by January 1 st

12. Application Advice - How Can I Make My Application Stand Out? Get experience (both research and industry) Internship and Co-Ops Undergraduate Research – class credit (291s, 485s, 491s), summer research programs (USRG, REU), etc. Show interest Establish contacts with faculty and staff Visit the campus and department Spring/Summer before your Senior year is critical Have a plan Programs/faculty Deadlines (admissions and fellowships) GRE (where to send scores) Have a back up plan - Work? Request recommendation letters EARLY Professors can be procrastinators too!

13. Undergraduate Summer Research Grant (USRG) Dwight Look College of Engineering Benefits:  $5,000 stipend  Housing (or allowance)  Professional development seminars and GRE Prep Workshops  Gain research/lab experience  Mentoring from faculty and graduate students  Develop research poster and paper Eligibility:  3.25 GPA or higher  Completed sophomore year in engineering  Graduate no sooner than December 2016 Contact:  USRG@tamu.eduUSRG@tamu.edu  http://tx.ag/usrghttp://tx.ag/usrg May 31 - August 5, 2016 Applications open: November 1, 2015

14. Summer NSF REU Programs @ TAMU Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Departments w/ programs: AERO, ETID, CSCE, ECEN…but typically not restricted to those majors! Programs collaborate with the USRG program

15. Searching for summer research programs outside TAMU NSF REU database –http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/ Pathways to Science: Institute for Broadening Participation database –http://www.pathwaystoscience.orghttp://www.pathwaystoscience.org Active list maintained by us –http://engineering.tamu.edu/graduate/undergradu ate-bridgeshttp://engineering.tamu.edu/graduate/undergradu ate-bridges

16. Texas A&M FastTrack Graduate Program https://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/fasttrack Allows students to take up to 3 graduate courses while an undergraduate that can count towards BOTH the undergraduate and graduate degree –Departments specify pairs courses: an undergraduate course (typically 400-level) and a graduate course on same topic –Students take the grad course and get “credit by exam” for the undergraduate course –The undergraduate course is applied to the BS and the grad course is “reserved” to be applied to a future graduate degree MS degrees with thesis typically require 8 courses, so with proper planning students can get a BS & MS in 5 years Most (but not all) departments in the college participate –Eligibility and application info on the web (url above)

17. Why Texas A&M? Highly ranked programs Faculty visibility Wide range of degree programs offered –M.Eng., M.C.S., M.S., Ph.D. –Fast track –Distance Education Employability of graduates Less “start up” time, especially if continue/extend undergraduate research

18. Curriculum/Degrees Offered Visit http://engineering.tamu.edu for detailed informationhttp://engineering.tamu.edu

19. Faculty Visibility Tenured/Tenure-track Faculty: 391 National Academy of Engineering members: 10 National Academy of Science: 1 Endowed Chairs and Professorships: 121 Distinguished Professors: 10 Regents Professors: 15 Young Investigator Awards (NSF CAREER, Airforce, PECASE, DARPA, Navy): 84 Several serve on State and Federal policy making committees Several editors of journals Many Fellows in professional societies

20. Resources Notre Dame University Graduate Fellowship Database http://graduateschool.nd.edu/professional_development/research/

21. Resources Advice for Undergraduated Considering Grad School –http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/grad-school.html CRA-W publication: The Graduate Student Information Guide –http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw/projects/mentoring/mentorWrkshp/grad-guide.pdf –Advantages of Obtaining an Advanced Degree –Choosing the Right Graduate School –The Graduate School Application Process –Financing Graduate Study (Sources of Financial Support) Choosing A Ph.D. Program –http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds6-1/choosing.htmlhttp://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds6-1/choosing.html How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students and Advisors (Parts I & II) –http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.htmlhttp://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html –http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-3/advice2.html

22. Questions? Nancy Amato Sr. Director for Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Computer Science and Engineering amato@tamu.edu Matthew Pariyothorn ‘06, M.S. Graduate Program Specialist Ph.D. Student, Human Resource Development mattp@tamu.edu