Graduate School and Graduate School and Funding Funding OpportunitiesOpportunities

University of Toledo AlumniUniversity of Toledo AlumniUniversity of Michigan Graduate University of Michigan Graduate

StudentsStudentsNational Science Foundation FellowsNational Science Foundation Fellows

Brian TreaseBrian TreaseMechanical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringCompliant Systems Design LabCompliant Systems Design Lab

Jessica WilliamsJessica WilliamsBiomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering

Skeletal Engineering GroupSkeletal Engineering Group

Why are YOU here?Why are YOU here?

Considering Graduate Considering Graduate School?School? Enjoy doing researchEnjoy doing research Desire to continue learningDesire to continue learning Job perspectiveJob perspective

– Industry: Head of research team, Industry: Head of research team, creating your own projects from creating your own projects from your own ideasyour own ideas

– Academic Career: Professor, Academic Career: Professor, ResearcherResearcher

Deciding on a school:Deciding on a school: Location. Take into consideration Location. Take into consideration

all of your hopes and dreams. all of your hopes and dreams. Decide on a professor, NOT a Decide on a professor, NOT a

school.school.– Decide on a specific projectDecide on a specific project– For industry jobs, make sure the prof For industry jobs, make sure the prof

uses cutting edge technologyuses cutting edge technology

Application Application RequirementsRequirements ApplicationApplication Statement of PurposeStatement of Purpose TranscriptsTranscripts Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation GRE generalGRE general

ApplicationApplication– Application Deadline is Jan. 15 for Fall Application Deadline is Jan. 15 for Fall

2003 (UofM). Some are earlier.2003 (UofM). Some are earlier.– The earlier you get it in, the better.The earlier you get it in, the better.

Statement of PurposeStatement of Purpose– 1-2 pages double spaced1-2 pages double spaced– Your goals for going to grad schoolYour goals for going to grad school– Research/Internship highlightsResearch/Internship highlights– Identify faculty/labs where you might be Identify faculty/labs where you might be

interestedinterested– Explanations, e.g. a bad semesterExplanations, e.g. a bad semester

TranscriptsTranscripts– Order early (in October)Order early (in October)– You can have the school mail it directly to the school You can have the school mail it directly to the school

you’re applying to, or you can send it with any other you’re applying to, or you can send it with any other material as long as it is in a sealed envelope.material as long as it is in a sealed envelope.

– If you are unsure of which schools you will be If you are unsure of which schools you will be applying to, get multiple copies mailed to you in applying to, get multiple copies mailed to you in signed, sealed envelopes.signed, sealed envelopes.

Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation– Most schools require 3 letters (at least 2 of the 3 Most schools require 3 letters (at least 2 of the 3

should be from faculty).should be from faculty).– Ask earlyAsk early– Provide a cover letter with information about the Provide a cover letter with information about the

deadline, the address, and any information about deadline, the address, and any information about yourself that might be helpful to them.yourself that might be helpful to them.

GREGRE– Most schools require the GRE generalMost schools require the GRE general– Scores take about 4 weeks to reach Scores take about 4 weeks to reach

schools, so plan on taking it with plenty schools, so plan on taking it with plenty of time before the application deadline.of time before the application deadline.

– The GRE changed its form on Oct. 1 to The GRE changed its form on Oct. 1 to include an analytical writing section.include an analytical writing section.

– Study for the GRE. You can download Study for the GRE. You can download some practice tests at www.gre.orgsome practice tests at www.gre.org

Financial AidFinancial Aid 4 types of financial aid4 types of financial aid

– Fellowships (departmental scholarships)Fellowships (departmental scholarships)– GSI (TA) positions (given by department)GSI (TA) positions (given by department)– Research Assistant Positions (given directly by Research Assistant Positions (given directly by

faculty)faculty)– Outside FellowshipsOutside Fellowships

Everyone is considered for departmental Everyone is considered for departmental financial aid when they apply to the financial aid when they apply to the programprogram

Financial Aid is Extremely CompetitiveFinancial Aid is Extremely Competitive

Outside FellowshipsOutside Fellowships National Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundation (NSF) HertzHertz National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship National Defense Sci and Eng Fellowship Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense NASANASA GEM MinorityGEM Minority Ford Foundation MinorityFord Foundation Minority Bell Labs FellowshipBell Labs Fellowship Gates Millennium ScholarshipGates Millennium Scholarship

National Science National Science Foundation FellowshipFoundation Fellowship Offers three-year graduate Offers three-year graduate

research fellowships in science, research fellowships in science, mathematics, and engineeringmathematics, and engineering

Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 Duration: 3 years, usable over 5 year periodyear period

Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 Benefits: $30,000 stipend for 12 month tenure plus $10,500 tuition month tenure plus $10,500 tuition allowanceallowance

How to Apply:How to Apply: Provide the following documentsProvide the following documents

– Information FormInformation Form– Application FormApplication Form– Proposed Plan of ResearchProposed Plan of Research– Previous Research ExperiencePrevious Research Experience– 4 Letter of Recommendation (typically from 4 Letter of Recommendation (typically from

professors and co-op supervisors)professors and co-op supervisors) Submission is done onlineSubmission is done online Deadline: Early NOVEMBERDeadline: Early NOVEMBER

Why you should apply?Why you should apply? Good Money!!Good Money!! Good for resume (prestige)Good for resume (prestige) Self-confidenceSelf-confidence Academic FreedomAcademic Freedom Good preparation for your Good preparation for your

academic careeracademic career Keeps your PhD advisor happy Keeps your PhD advisor happy

Tips for a successful Tips for a successful applicationapplication Get a good GPA and good letters of Get a good GPA and good letters of

recommendationrecommendation Get involved in undergrad researchGet involved in undergrad research Get to know faculty membersGet to know faculty members Talk to professors and grad students Talk to professors and grad students

about cutting edge researchabout cutting edge research Ask professors for feedback on your Ask professors for feedback on your

essaysessays Get a copy of a successful grant from a Get a copy of a successful grant from a

professorprofessor

Preparation of Critical Preparation of Critical DocumentsDocuments Proposed Plan of ResearchProposed Plan of Research

– Needs to be specific about a particular Needs to be specific about a particular projectproject

– Should address long-term goals as Should address long-term goals as well as well-planned research well as well-planned research activitiesactivities

– Can be based on (a) technical journals Can be based on (a) technical journals (b) seminar talks (c) your own (b) seminar talks (c) your own undergrad/grad research and (d) a undergrad/grad research and (d) a professors successful proposalprofessors successful proposal

Preparation of Critical Preparation of Critical DocumentsDocuments Previous Research ExperiencePrevious Research Experience

– InternshipsInternships– Co-op experiencesCo-op experiences– Undergraduate ResearchUndergraduate Research

Planning your researchPlanning your research Your research proposal needs to Your research proposal needs to

describe:describe:– Research background and technical Research background and technical

problemsproblems– Solutions for these problemsSolutions for these problems– ObjectivesObjectives– ImpactsImpacts

Ask a professor for helpAsk a professor for help

Summary TimelineSummary Timeline NOW!!!NOW!!!

– Take the GRETake the GRE– Get Research ExperienceGet Research Experience– Obtain Application MaterialsObtain Application Materials– Research the faculty/areas of Research the faculty/areas of

interestinterest– Contact recommendersContact recommenders– Look at FellowshipsLook at Fellowships

Timeline cont.Timeline cont. OctoberOctober

– Work on ApplicationWork on Application– Ask for RecommendationsAsk for Recommendations– Do Fellowship ApplicationsDo Fellowship Applications

November/DecemberNovember/December– Finish ApplicationFinish Application

Early March, decisions from usEarly March, decisions from us

Timeline cont.Timeline cont. Decisions usually come out in Decisions usually come out in

early Marchearly March

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan Fall 2005 Admission ApplicationsFall 2005 Admission Applicationshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/students/prospective/graduate/http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/prospective/graduate/

admissions/applyingadmissions/applying.html.html Engineering Departmental ContactsEngineering Departmental Contactshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/contacts/http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/contacts/

gradprogcontacts.pdfgradprogcontacts.pdf Fall 2005 Recruitment Travel ScheduleFall 2005 Recruitment Travel Schedulehttp://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/events/http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/events/

index.htmlindex.html Funding ResourcesFunding Resourceshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/students/current/graduate/http://www.engin.umich.edu/students/current/graduate/

scholarships/otherfundischolarships/otherfundingsources.htmlngsources.html Additional Recruiting EventsAdditional Recruiting Eventshttp://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/ http://www.engin.umich.edu/admin/adge/recruiting/