Graduate Program Ranking
>Well, choosing a graduate school has all the same decision factors as choosing an undergraduate program did...
~weather & climate: do you like snow, rain, heat, wind, etc...
~family & friends: how long can you go without being near family? do you have the guts to go to a school where you don't know anybody?
~size of the school: do you want to get lost on campus or do you want everything within reaching distance?
~programs: will the school be able to teach you what you want to learn? are they good at it?
>However, the programs concern is even more important now!! Do you know what type of research the faculty are doing at your graduate school of choice? If so, is it what you want to do when you get there....or more importantly, will you have the opportunity to work in that research group if you get there!! This is a crucial aspect of graduate school. Contact the key faculty persons that you are interested in and see what they have to say to you about their research. It is even easier to ask current graduate students...they can tell you if a professor is cool or not!
Now, go ahead and take your pick!
Fellowships/Assistantships
>Again two types: Intramural and Extramural (or from the university and from sources outside the university). Fellowships usually refer to absolutely free money or an internship with a company that will fund your education. Assistantships will be for Teaching Assistants (TA's), Research Assistants (RA's), or Course Assistants (CA's). The common perception for engineering, is that graduate school should be free!!
>You need to look out for if the award covers full tuition or tuition up to a certain limit. Also, it is important to find out what limits there are on units/credits to take per semester/quarter. In addition, there is usually a period of time for coverage by the award (ex. 2-yrs. or 5-yrs). Keep in mind that you can usually apply for Intramural awards when filling out the graduate application, but the extramural awards have separate application processes!!!! (plan accordingly!)
Graduate Application Process
>Well, let me go over all the parts of the beast. You will have your application, test scores, personal statement, teacher recommendations, and deadlines. To get to this point, you had to go through college applications, so I will spare you the full lecture.
I still want ot point out the importance of the personal statement. This is still your opportunity to really stand out amongst the rest and let the admissions council know why you need to be at thier school. You need to let them know why you need them and also let them know why you are perfect for them.
Teacher recommendations are also important because a good one can hold a door open for you, while a bad one or even just an ok one may help the door close in your face.
Follow-up is key to make sure that the appropriate persons have received all your documents and that your application process is going along smoothly.
GRE/LSAT/GMAT/MCAT
>These are some of the required examinations to get into graduate programs. The rules of the GRE have been changing continuously, so you must keep on top of the latest rules.
Also, give yourself time to prepare and focus on one or just a few books to help you know what to expect during the test. Here are some links to help you get familiar.
MS vs. PhD
>It is a little tricky explaining why you should go for a masters or a PhD. Some will reason with their industry as a justification for which path to take. Another factor is the money you expect to make when you begin an occupation. Again, you should also consider the opportunities available to you when you have a masters as compared to the opportunities you have as a PhD. To become a professor....you pretty much need to get the PhD! Lastly, i think your decision relies partly on the time & environment of the job market when you are in graduate school. Whatever the reason may be, here is a site that can hopefully explain things a little better than I can.
Postdocs
>still trying to get more experience
in between school and working life?
not ready to throw in the towel to working class?
Maybe you are interested in continuing education and experience through postdoctoral studies. Use this link to learn more.
