grad school information night sponsored by hkn
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Grad School Information Night sponsored by HKN. Part I: Why Grad School? Some Pros and Cons. David Salvia EE Undergraduate Program Coordinator. Good reasons for going to grad school. Want more in-depth knowledge - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Grad School Information NightGrad School Information Nightsponsored by HKNsponsored by HKN
David Salvia
EE Undergraduate Program Coordinator
Part I: Why Grad School?Part I: Why Grad School?Some Pros and ConsSome Pros and Cons
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Good reasons for going to grad schoolGood reasons for going to grad school
• Want more in-depth knowledge– You want to learn more about a particular sub-
discipline of electrical engineering
• Advanced degree required for desired job– Academia– Research & Development
• Personal motivation
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Bad reasons for going to grad schoolBad reasons for going to grad school
• Money
– Salaries are higher with advanced degree ($10k-$15k per degree) but this shouldn’t be your primary motivation
• Can’t get a job
Grad school is a major commitment, so your motivation has to be for the right reasons.
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How does grad school differ How does grad school differ from an undergraduate from an undergraduate
program?program?• Course load is lighter
– Typically 6-12 credits/semester– MS is approximately 30 credits beyond BS– PhD is approximately 50 credits beyond BS
• Much more course flexibility– Very few required classes (if any)– You and your adviser select courses to fit your
interests and research needs
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How does grad school differ How does grad school differ from an undergraduate from an undergraduate
program? program? (cont.)(cont.)
• More independent work– Research/thesis is a major part of your degree– More projects and fewer exams– Many exams are take home
• All courses will be technical
• Much higher international population– Great chance to make friends from all over the
world
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Now or Later? Now or Later?
• Advantages of going straight to graduate school:– You’re used to being “poor”– You’re in a learning mode already and will more likely
remember your undergraduate material– You don’t have to juggle work/school– Less likely to have spouse/kids now
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Now or later?Now or later?
• Advantages of waiting a few years to go to graduate school:– Company may pay for schooling or you can save
enough money to pay for it yourself– May have a better idea of research area– Can avoid school “burnout”
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How do I pay my bills? How do I pay my bills? (Listed in decreasing order of desirability)(Listed in decreasing order of desirability)
• Fellowship– Tuition waiver + monthly stipend– Free money. No research/teaching obligation.– Some schools offer $2k-$5k “top-up” fellowships to
supplement RA/TA appointments
• Research/Teaching Assistantship– Tuition waiver + monthly stipend ($1500/mo.)
• Wage payroll jobs– Grad salary is $9/hour at PSU
• External jobs “Would you like fries with that?”
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RA vs. TARA vs. TA
• Advantages of RA– Can double dip research duties and thesis work– Graduate quicker (on average)– More “prestigious”
• Advantages of TA– More freedom in choosing research area– Good experience if you’re looking to eventually get a job
in academia– Easier to obtain “sight unseen”
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How do I select a grad school?How do I select a grad school?• Find out about the top schools in your desired major and sub-
discipline– Ask faculty in your desired area– Various surveys and on-line reports
• US News and World Report http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/rankindex_brief.php
• Peterson’s Guidewww.petersons.com
– PSU’s Career Service Center (MBNA Building) www.sa.psu.edu/career/grad.shtml
– Look at where journal papers and textbooks come from
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How do I select a grad school?How do I select a grad school? (cont.)(cont.)
• Focus your interest based on GPA
– > 3.5 top 5
– > 3.2 top 25
– > 2.8 be flexible
• Get information about schools
– Web
– Faculty/student contact
– Call/e-mail/FAX
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How do I select a grad school?How do I select a grad school? (cont.)(cont.)
• Most important part . . .
VISIT!!!!!!!!– Meet with prospective advisers– Meet with current graduate students
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How do I select an adviser?How do I select an adviser?
• Selecting a thesis adviser is often more important than selecting the school (although they’re related, obviously)– Select someone who is professionally active– If getting a PhD, be wary of untenured faculty, but
don’t discount completely– Talk to the adviser’s current students– Availability of support may affect your decision
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What is the What is the idealideal timeline? timeline?• Spring of Junior year
– Make decision to attend grad school– Choose Senior electives appropriately
• Summer before Senior year– Narrow your search and visit prospective schools– Summer Research
• Fall of Senior year– GRE – Apply
• Spring of Senior year– Find out about applications status– Negotiate– Decide on a school, research area, and perhaps adviser
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GRE InformationGRE Information• General Test vs. Subject Test
– Most schools just require general test
• General Test format– all computer based now – no paper test– offered year-round in select PA locations
• Allentown, Clark Summit, Erie, Harrisburg, Indiana, Lancaster, North Wales, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, York,
but NO STATE COLLEGE – 3 sections: Verbal , Quantitative, Analytical writing essay (new)
• Cost is currently $115
• To apply: 1-800-GRE-CALL
• More info (FAQ, sample questions, etc.): www.gre.org
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If I’m a Junior, what can I do If I’m a Junior, what can I do nownow to prepare? to prepare?
• Undergraduate summer research– EE Job listserv is filled with lots of opportunities in Feb-
March for current Jrs.
• Teaching Intern program– Senior year – apply as Juniors
• Select appropriate classes– Wide variety is better than single area– Don’t shy away from hard classes
(STAT 418, EE 459, etc.)
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Part II: Grad School at PSUPart II: Grad School at PSU
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Research AreasResearch Areas• Communications
• Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
• Networking
• Signal and Image Processing
• Control Systems
• Power Systems
• Electro-optics and non-linear optics
• Microwaves, Antennas, and Propagation
• Remote Sensing and Space Systems
• Circuits and Networks
• Electronic Materials and Devices
• VLSI
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FundingFunding• Teaching Assistantships
– Approx. 30/year– Tuition Waiver (including summer)– Monthly stipend of approx. $1500 (10 months)– 20 hours/week typically
• Research Assistantships– Approx. 120/year– Arranged through professors– Tuition Waiver and stipend– Hours vary
• Applied Research Lab (citizens only)
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Funding Funding (cont.)(cont.)
• Internal Fellowships– Numbers vary each year
– Stipend from $3000 - $20,000 / year
– Some awards are “top-up” supplements to existing assistantships; others are stand-alone fellowships with tuition waivers
• External Fellowships or company-reimbursed tuition
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Applying to PSUApplying to PSU
• To be considered for all forms of funding, applications should be in by the end of the Fall Semester of the year prior to admission.
• Application must include:– Transcript– Application forms (General + Department) with personal statement– Three Letters of Recommendation– GRE scores (General Test ONLY)– TOEFL scores if you are an international student
• International students who did undergrad in the US don’t need the TOEFL
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Applying to PSU Applying to PSU (cont.)(cont.)
• Decision for acceptance/funding based on:– Grades -- 3.0 GPA is minimum (typically)– Other experience -- put in personal statement– Technical interests -- some areas have large student
demand, whereas others are desperate for students right now. Switching to a less popular (by student standards, not job standards) area can often increase your chances for funding.
– GRE scores
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M.S. RequirementsM.S. Requirements
• Thesis Option– 24 course credits (15 at 500 level)– 2 colloquium credits– 6 thesis credits– Formal defense of thesis
• Paper Option– 30 course credits (21 at 500 level)– 2 colloquium credits– 2 paper credits– Presentation of paper
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Ph. D. RequirementsPh. D. Requirements
• 48 course credits beyond B.S.
(at least 30 at 500 level)
• 2 colloquium credits
• Written and oral candidacy exam
• Ph.D. English proficiency exam
• Oral Comprehensive exam
• Formal Defense of thesis