Graduate School and Funding Opportunities

1. Graduate School and Funding Opportunities Jessica Williams Biomedical Engineering Skeletal Engineering Group Brian Trease Mechanical Engineering Compliant Systems Design Lab University of Toledo Alumni University of Michigan Graduate Students National Science Foundation Fellows

2. Why are YOU here?

3. Considering Graduate School? • Enjoy doing research • Desire to continue learning • Job perspective • Industry: Head of research team, creating your own projects from your own ideas • Academic Career: Professor, Researcher

4. Deciding on a school: • Location. Take into consideration all of your hopes and dreams. • Decide on a professor, NOT a school. • Decide on a specific project • For industry jobs, make sure the prof uses cutting edge technology

5. Application Requirements • Application • Statement of Purpose • Transcripts • Letters of Recommendation • GRE general

6. Application • Application Deadline is Jan. 15 for Fall 2003 (UofM). Some are earlier. • The earlier you get it in, the better. • Statement of Purpose • 1-2 pages double spaced • Your goals for going to grad school • Research/Internship highlights • Identify faculty/labs where you might be interested • Explanations, e.g. a bad semester

7. Transcripts • Order early (in October) • You can have the school mail it directly to the school you’re applying to, or you can send it with any other material as long as it is in a sealed envelope. • If you are unsure of which schools you will be applying to, get multiple copies mailed to you in signed, sealed envelopes. • Letters of Recommendation • Most schools require 3 letters (at least 2 of the 3 should be from faculty). • Ask early • Provide a cover letter with information about the deadline, the address, and any information about yourself that might be helpful to them.

8. GRE • Most schools require the GRE general • Scores take about 4 weeks to reach schools, so plan on taking it with plenty of time before the application deadline. • The GRE changed its form on Oct. 1 to include an analytical writing section. • Study for the GRE. You can download some practice tests at www.gre.org

9. Financial Aid • 4 types of financial aid • Fellowships (departmental scholarships) • GSI (TA) positions (given by department) • Research Assistant Positions (given directly by faculty) • Outside Fellowships • Everyone is considered for departmental financial aid when they apply to the program • Financial Aid is Extremely Competitive

10. Outside Fellowships • National Science Foundation (NSF) • Hertz • National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship • Department of Defense • NASA • GEM Minority • Ford Foundation Minority • Bell Labs Fellowship • Gates Millennium Scholarship

11. National Science Foundation Fellowship • Offers three-year graduate research fellowships in science, mathematics, and engineering • Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 year period • Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 month tenure plus $10,500 tuition allowance

12. How to Apply: • Provide the following documents • Information Form • Application Form • Proposed Plan of Research • Previous Research Experience • 4 Letter of Recommendation (typically from professors and co-op supervisors) • Submission is done online • Deadline: Early NOVEMBER

13. Why you should apply? • Good Money!! • Good for resume (prestige) • Self-confidence • Academic Freedom • Good preparation for your academic career • Keeps your PhD advisor happy

14. Tips for a successful application • Get a good GPA and good letters of recommendation • Get involved in undergrad research • Get to know faculty members • Talk to professors and grad students about cutting edge research • Ask professors for feedback on your essays • Get a copy of a successful grant from a professor

15. Preparation of Critical Documents • Proposed Plan of Research • Needs to be specific about a particular project • Should address long-term goals as well as well-planned research activities • Can be based on (a) technical journals (b) seminar talks (c) your own undergrad/grad research and (d) a professors successful proposal

16. Preparation of Critical Documents • Previous Research Experience • Internships • Co-op experiences • Undergraduate Research

17. Planning your research • Your research proposal needs to describe: • Research background and technical problems • Solutions for these problems • Objectives • Impacts • Ask a professor for help

18. Summary Timeline • NOW!!! • Take the GRE • Get Research Experience • Obtain Application Materials • Research the faculty/areas of interest • Contact recommenders • Look at Fellowships

19. Timeline cont. • October • Work on Application • Ask for Recommendations • Do Fellowship Applications • November/December • Finish Application • Early March, decisions from us

20. Timeline cont. • Decisions usually come out in early March

21. University of Michigan • Fall 2005 Admission Applications http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/prospective/graduate/admissions/applying .html • Engineering Departmental Contacts http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/contacts/gradprogcontacts.pdf • Fall 2005 Recruitment Travel Schedule http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/events/index.html • Funding Resources http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/current/graduate/scholarships/otherfundi ngsources.html • Additional Recruiting Events http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/