Graduate Fellowship Applications

Jeffrey Donnell

Mechanical Engineering

MRDC 3104

894-8568 / jeffrey.donnell@me.gatech.edu

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• Who pays for graduate education?

• Admission criteria.

• How to apply for national fellowships.

• Go to www.me.gatech.edu/me/academics/graduate/Graduate_Fellowship_Applications.ppt

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Who Pays for your education?

• Your Employer

• Your Department (GTA)

• Your Research Advisor (GRA)

• Fellowships (Government and / or private)

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• GPA

• GRE scores

• Biosketch/essay

• Interest in Ph.D.

• Letters of recommendation

• Specific field of interest

How people decide whether to pay for you

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• GPA > 3.0

• Graduate Record Exams– Verbal 500– Quantitative 700– Analytical writing 4 to 4.5

• GRE Engineering is not required

Quantitative Guidelines for Admission(without funding)

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The Admission Process (for GRA)

• Faculty members estimate how many students they can pay

• Admissions director matches student applicants with faculty needs

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• GPA 3.7

• Graduate Record Exams– Verbal 600– Quantitative 700– Analytical writing 5

• GRE Engineering is not required

Quantitative Guidelines for GRA

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Quantitative Guidelines for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

• GPA > 3.5• Pedigree of school• Graduate Record Exams

• Verbal 600

• Quantitative 700

• Analytical writing 5

• GRE Engineering is not required

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Resources at GT Graduate Studies

Fellowship links:

www.grad.gatech.edu

Dr. Amanda Gable

Savant 307

894-0014

amanda.gable@grad.gatech.edu

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International Fellowships

Contact Dr. Gable for information about international opportunities, including:

• Rhodes

• Marshall

• Truman

• Gates

• Fulbright

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Locating fellowship links

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After selecting“Fellowships”:

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A sample fellowship description

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What are the deadlines?

• For Graduate Admission:December through February

(depends on the school)

• For Graduate Fellowships:Early November (NSF)

Mid January (DoD)

Early February (NASA)

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What you should prepare

1. Plan of study

2. Experience

3. Motivation

4. Impact of your work

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Fellowship application essays

• Plan of Research / Study

• Biosketch / Experience

• Motivation / Personal experiences

• Experiences – integrating research and education, – advancing diversity, and – contributing to your community

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Your Plan of Study

• Describe a project / research interest– Field in the discipline– Practical need– A specific problem

• A plan for attacking the problem

Not stated but important:Find an advisor!

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Research guides and your advisor search

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Look for research interests and publications

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Experience

Required– Describe your role in professional projects

Optional (but useful)– Describe what experience has prepared you for– Did your plan evolve from professional

experiences?

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Describing projects

• Need / Problem– What was the project supposed to do or determine?

• Tasks– What did you design?– What tests did you conduct?

• Result– What was developed (or expected)?– What publications were issued (or projected)?

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Personal, professional or educational experiences or situations

What do you bring to your colleagues?

– What motivates you?– What experiences or interests do you bring to

your work? – What might people learn from you?

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Research & education, diversity, community

What have you done (or will you do) for others?

– Teaching? Judging science fairs?– Inviting others to participate?– Professional activities, Campus activities, Civic

activities?

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NSF Review Panel

• All applications accumulate.• Deadlines are strictly enforced.• All credentials and information must be

provided.• Panel meets for three days.• Each applicant is reviewed by three

panelists.

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NSF Review Panel

• Panelists bring their own biases to bear.

• Process is imperfect.

• Write your application with the reader in mind.

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NSF Review Panel

Reviewers are asked to assess:

• Intellectual merit of the applicant

• Broader impact of supporting an individual’s graduate study

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References--1

How people invest in you!

– University Faculty (strongly preferred)– Professional supervisors (when qualified)– Faculty at other schools (when available)

They must understand your plans and interests

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References--2

To write a supportive letter, faculty members need these things from you:

– Resume– Plan– Biosketch / Experience – Your time and enthusiasm

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References--3

How they invest in you:

– Letters (commonly for several years)– Feedback on your plan– Information about schools and potential

advisors – A professional network