Graduate School 101 & FastTrack Grad Program

1. Graduate School 101 & FastTrackGrad 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 • Industry • Professional Programs • MBA • Law School • Medical School • Masters • Coursework Only • Thesis (research oriented) • PhD • Government • Academia • Defense • National Laboratories

6. Finances 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 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?

7. Options for Graduate Education

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. Where should I go? 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 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

10. Grad School Applications What are Schools Looking For? • 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

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 15th • Get all other materials in by January 1st

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 May 31 - August 5, 2016 Applications open: November 1, 2015 Benefits: • $5,000 stipend • Housing (or allowance) • Professional development seminarsand 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.edu • http://tx.ag/usrg

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/ • Pathways to Science: Institute for Broadening Participation database • http://www.pathwaystoscience.org • Active list maintained by us • http://engineering.tamu.edu/graduate/undergraduate-bridges

16. Texas A&M FastTrackGraduate Programhttps://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 information

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. 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