Transcript GradSchool5.ppt

Getting into
Graduate School
Judith A. Sugar, Ph.D.
School of Public School
TODAY’S
ASSIGNMENT:
Choose a graduate program
that you think you would like
to apply to.
Choosing a Graduate Program
• How did you go about choosing a
program?
• What did you come up with?
Sources for Programs
Start with the universe of possibles:
1. internet sources:
www.petersons.com
www.gradschools.com
2. your professors
3. professionals already in the field
4. authors in published literature
Choosing Where to Apply
• Funnel: start with all
possibilities, then do
research to select
final 12.
• Of the 12, make some
of them “reach”
schools, some “likely”
schools, and a few
“very likely.”
Do your homework!
2 very important aspects:
• the faculty and the program
• personal preferences, e.g.,
geographical location, big city vs
small town
Questions to Ask & Research
• Faculty & their interests?
• Apprenticeship program?
• Length of program?
• What is the curriculum?
• Standards for admission?
• Costs of program?
• Financial support?
Who are the faculty?
How do their interests match yours?
Note that graduate programs are more
specialized than undergraduate programs.
Type of Program:
“Apprenticeship” or Not?
Who decides on applicant’s admission?
If “apprenticeship,”:
• faculty member must see a “match” with you
• does faculty member plan to take a new
student?
• interested faculty member should not be going
on sabbatical, retiring, etc.
• check that faculty member has maintained your
common interests
What is “the time to graduation”?
What does the curriculum require?
What they say versus reality:
• check with past or current students
What are the standards for
admission to the program?
• minimum GPA
• minimum GRE
• completion of specific courses
• field or internship experience
• other?
What are the costs
for the program?
• tuition
• fees
• health insurance
• etc.
What kinds of financial
support are available?
• GAs, TAs, RAs
• stipend, and what else? (tuition & fee
waivers, health insurance, etc.)
• high stipend ($16,000) may be offset by
high tuition & fees ($9,000)
• how many years of support?
Aspects of the Application
• grades (transcripts)
•
test scores (e.g., GREs)
•
cover letter/statement of intent
•
statement of interest
•
actual application form(s)
•
letters of reference
What is the application process?
1. What are you required to submit?
2. To whom do you send your application?
a. university’s Graduate School
b. individual graduate program you’re
interested in
3. What are the deadlines?
What is the application process?
4. Cover letter, statement of interest, &
CV: each packet should be tailored to
the program that you’re applying to.
5. Getting your letters of reference.
Make a timeline for yourself.
Letters of Reference
1. request the minimum number of
letters (they are averaged)
2. decide on your referees
3. provide referees with specific
information about each program
& the deadlines.
Letters of Reference
Due
School
Program
Address
1. 1/15
UNLV
Dentistry
2.
…
Dr. Sugar,
Dental School
UNLV, Las
Vegas, NV …
…
12.
1/21
Comment
Letters of Reference
4. provide a copy of your application
materials to referees.
5. give referees address labels,
possibly stamps & envelopes too.
Summary
 Do your homework.
 Give yourself enough time.
 Seek (good) advice at all
points of the process.