Graduate Study Information Session

Christina Murray

Exploring Graduate Schools

What should I do and when?

• Freshman/Sophomores – Talk with your undergraduate advisor

• What are my career goals? Is a graduate degree necessary?

• Is the Co-Terminal program right for me?

– Talk with your professors and TAs • Which schools have the expertise you’re seeking?

• What is the graduate school experience like?

– Research school offerings • Faculty and research

• Financial aid

Exploring Graduate Schools

What should I do and when?

• Juniors – Research school offerings and requirements

– Study for and take required entrance exam(s)

– Gain research experience and/or tutoring experience

– Visit schools of interest

– Research external funding

Exploring Graduate Schools

What should I do and when?

• Seniors – DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES – Obtain letters of recommendation (also PPI)

– Write and re-write your Statement/Essay – make it succinct!

– Retake entrance exams, if necessary

– Complete the application and send in all required credentials

– Apply for external funding

Typical Components of a Graduate Application

• Application

• Application fee

• Statement of Background and Goals

• Resume

• Letter(s) of Recommendation

• Official Transcript(s)

• Test scores – GRE/GMAT/MCAT/LSAT

– TOEFL/IELTS – international students

– Personal Potential Index (PPI) – 5 evaluators

• Portfolio, Research publications, etc.

Sample PPI

Sample PPI

Making Your Application Competitive

• Demonstrating a clear link between your background and goals and the interests of the program you are applying to

• Undergraduate research experience /publications – Research assistantship potential

• Tutoring experience – Teaching assistantship potential

• Strong credentials – Recommendations

– Test scores and PPI

– Grade point average

8

Rensselaer-Specific Opportunities

Rensselaer Co-terminal Program

• The Co-terminal program is a program for RPI undergraduates to complete their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees within 10 semesters.

• Master’s degree does not have to be in the same field of study as the Bachelor’s degree.

• Eligible undergraduate financial aid extends up to 10 semesters for Co-Terminal students. Consult the Financial Aid Office to determine your eligibility.

Co-Terminal Requirements

• Accelerated admissions process – refer to handout, not an online application.

• Completion of 90 credits (including AP credits, transfer credits, and courses in progress) of course work toward the undergraduate degree. (101 credits for B.Arch students)

• Reasonable expectation Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees can be completed in 10 semesters.

• Co-terminal applications should be submitted before the end of applicant’s junior year.

• An approved Plan of Study and CAPP Report must accompany this application.

• Check for additional department requirements.

Leveraging the Co-Terminal

• MBA and MS – New Product Development Specialist, International Business Specialist (ISP), MIS Manager, Consultant, Financial Manager, Operations Manager, Marketing/Brand Manager, Human Resources Manager, Entrepreneur.

• MS Financial Engineering & Risk Analysis – Investment Banker, Quantitative Risk Analyst, Financial Controller, Private Equity Analyst, Financial Analyst, Leveraged Finance Portfolio Manager.

• MS Tech Commercialization and Entrepreneurship – Tech Transfer Specialist, Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Consultant, R&D Department Manager.

About ISP

Benefits for recent college grads:

• Differentiation in job market

• International experience

• Increased earning potential

• Advanced degree

Skills developed: • Working in interdisciplinary teams

• Communicating effectively

• Coping with adversity

• Problem solving

Program details:

• M.S. Management, MBA, M.S. Systems Engineering and Technology Management

• Live and study in Rome and Shanghai during the 10-week summer semester abroad

• Meet and be taught by world leaders in industry

• Visit major multinational corporations

• Become part of a project team, gaining first-hand understanding of global business and advanced technology

Financial Aid

• Internal to the university – Fellowships

– Assistantships

• Teaching assistantship (TA)

• Research assistantship (RA)

• External to the university – Prestigious Competitions

• GEM

• Fulbright

• Rhodes Scholarships

• National Defense Sciences & Engineering Fellowships

• Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, U.S. Department of Education

• Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships

• National Science Foundation

• American Indian Graduate Center

• National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC)

Rensselaer External

Award Winners

NSF Graduate Research

Fellowship

Heather: BS – PhD, Mathematics, 2010 Award

Recipient

Research Area: Radar - Experimental Data

Leadership Roles:

• Symphony orchestra

• RPI’s Women’s Mentoring Program

• Volunteer for RPI’s open house & accepted students days

• Intern at Sensors Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory

(AFRL)

• Intern at MIT-Lincoln Laboratory in Group 34- Intelligence, Test, and

Evaluation, and Group 36- Ballistic Missile Defense Systems

Integration

Other External Awards

• Department of Defense SMART Scholarship

• NDSEG Fellowship (National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate)

• NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates

• GEM MS Fellowship

• FREEDM Summer Research Experience for Undergrads

• DOE Office of Science Graduate Fellow

Housing

Resources

• Graduate Admissions

– gradadmissions@rpi.edu or 276-6216

• Office of Graduate Education

– Heather Carbary, External Graduate Funding

– Dennis Gornic, City Station Housing Applications

• Financial Aid

– Academy Hall, finaid@rpi.edu or 276-6813

Thank you