the nuts and bolts of applying to graduate school aises national conference minneapolis, mn november...
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The Nuts and Bolts of Applying to Graduate
School
AISES NATIONAL CONFERENCEMINNEAPOLIS, MN
NOVEMBER 10, 2011
KELLIE SZCZEPANIEC, MSWSERRA HOAGLAND, MESM
THOMAS REED, PHD CANDIDATE
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1. WHY GRADUATE EDUCATION2. CHOOSING A PROGRAM3. APPLYING4. POST APPLICATION5. ACTIVITY: UNIQUENESS6. DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS7. GOALS AND VISION8. FUNDING9. CALENDAR10.RESOURCES
Roadmap for today…
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Why Graduate Education
• What is graduate school?
• Expectations are different
Masters Doctoral
2-3 years 4-8 years
Coursework Coursework
Exams Exams
Presentations Presentations
Internships Dissertation
Written thesis
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Why Graduate Education
URMs represent approximately 25% of total populationURMs represent 17% of the STEM bachelor’s degrees earnedURMs represent 6-10% of the STEM graduate degrees
earned
Kellie Szczepaniec
Need for AIAN in STEM fields and pursuing graduate education
Source: NSF, 2009
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Why Graduate Education
Percent of doctorates earned by racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, 1998 & 2008
Asian Black Hispanic American Indian
0123456789
108.7
5.1
4.3
0.600000000000001
8.3
6.6
5.7
0.4
19982008
Source: Survey of Earned Doctorates, Summary 2007
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Why Graduate Education
Percent of AIAN doctoral recipients in specific fields, 2008-2009
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac Issue 2011-2012
All Fie
lds
Educa
tion
Engin
eerin
g
Hum
aniti
es
Life
Scien
ces
Phys
ical
Scien
ces
Social
Scien
ces
.0%
.1%
.2%
.3%
.4%
.5%
.6%
.7%
.8%
.9%
0.50%
0.80%
0.40% 0.40% 0.40%
0.20%
0.50%
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Why Graduate Education
• Is it right for me?!
Yes
• Special ize• Gain ski l ls• Career advancement• Contribut ion to
fi eld• Increase earning
power
No
• Stal l ing• Not ready or don’t
want to work yet• Everyone else is• Want to gain
experience in industry
• Support family
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Why Graduate Education
Half of all STEM workers earned $70,600 in 2007
Workers with STEM degrees earn more than workers with comparable levels of education
Unemployment was 9.7% nationally, but only 5.5% for STEM workers (9/09)
Kellie Szczepaniec Source: Science and Engineering Indicators, 2010
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Why Graduate Education
Average earnings by educational attainment, 2009
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac Issue 2011-2012
Hig
h Sc
hool
Assoc
iate
Bache
lor's
Mas
ter's
Prof
ession
al
Docto
ral
020406080
100120
22.5 30.6 40.151.8
67.2 67.132.244.8
56.671.5
116.1
92.1
WomenMen
Th
ou
san
ds
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Choosing a program
• Choosing a program – creating a vision and goal for yourself
• Additional things you can do now
“Research professions that are of interest to you and determine if a master’s degree is needed for that field.”
“Many students pursue a graduate degree that is entirely unrelated to their undergraduate degree.”
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Choosing a program
• Evaluating programs• What is important to you in a program?
• Cost• Financial assistance• Focus of program• Location• Support systems• Faculty to student ratio
• Research or ask questions• Compile a list of requirements for each
school that makes the cutKellie Szczepaniec
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Applying
What you’ll need
• Transcripts• Admissions test scores• Letters of recommendation• Resume• Statement of purpose• Interview – some schools
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Applying
Tips
• Apply early• Seek outside assistance and criticism• Plan, write, edit, rewrite, and carefully proof
your essays• List accomplishments, leadership, and
community service• Create a calendar of due dates and do to by
dates
Kellie Szczepaniec
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Post-Application
• Pick top 3 choices• Make a decision
• If you haven’t heard from your top choice but need to notify other schools – ask for extension
• Notify all schools of this decision• Pay deposit• Research area• Solidify financial aid from school
• Waitlisted?
• Not admitted?
Kellie Szczepaniec
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WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE?
ACTIVITY
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You Are Unique
Just as a fishing lure, you are exactly what some graduate department or scholarship office is looking for.
Know yourself. Find out how you stand out amongyour peers.
Look for ways to improve yourself in key categories
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Uniqueness Workshop
Purpose: To find your traits which few others possess that will be valuable in your
scholarship search.
Step 1: My Own Uniqueness Write 5 words or phrases that describe you
Example: Hopi Electrical Engineer Tennis Ukulele Puns
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Uniqueness Workshop (Cont’d)
Now let’s compare to our key areas: Attending a specific school Academic or Exceptional Performance Need-based Group-related: Ethnic groups, Gender, Veterans Major Area of Interest: Computer Science, Biology,
Music Special Interest: Hobbies, Skills, Interests,
If you didn’t have any items that fit into this list of criteria, let’s add at least two more words or phrases to the list relating to the key areas.
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Uniqueness Workshop (Cont’d)
Example: Adding to my list Seattle, WA UCSB GPA 3.9 Parents income $45,864 Home Video Production
Step 2: What is most unique about me? Rate the phrases you listed about yourself on a scale of
1 to 5 (5 being most unique) Identify top phrases (ones that have 4s and 5s) Note: Income-- FAFSA
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Uniqueness Workshop (Cont’d)
Example: Most Unique Traits Hopi, Elec. Eng. With 3.9 GPA, Puns
Step 3: My Unique Search Spend 20 minutes doing a Scholarship Search using your top
two or three unique attributes. (NOT JUST ONLINE!)
O.K. . . .Websites for scholarship search: Fastweb.com
MEH… Collegeboard.org
> Student > Scholarship Too General …
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Uniqueness Workshop (Cont’d)
Step 3: My Unique Search Use Your Uniqueness
Network with others Search Professional Orgs
Example: IEEE, AISES, SACNAS Go to your advisors
Example: BYU Multicultural Advisor – AIS, AISES Example: UCSB cultural resource centers have a scholarship
booklet for native students Example: Local native listserv – AIM, Chumash Tribe
Google It! (use general search instead…) Scholarships less picked over Your specific search terms will generate more hits (not just $$$
sponsored hits)
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What If I’m Not Unique? ‘___’
Working smart is always going to be a unique trait. Seek to stand out by working hard in school Get enrolled in your tribe (if necessary) Gain useful skills, attributes, & experiences in your
major Learn to write/communicate well—scholarship essays
and interviews can be powerful ways to help you stand out.
Get involved on campus—join clubs, participate in sports, take on leadership roles, learn as much as you can
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WHAT ARE THE SECRETS TO GETTING INTO GRAD SCHOOL AND WINNING
SCHOLARSHIPS?
Developing your skills
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Developing your skills
4 step process
Work HARD in school!
Get involved in activities
Get some experience
NETWORK!
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Goals/Vision
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Vision is a Buzz Word
Future Uncertainty: You have options No one else can decide your path
Come up with a vision An idea of what you want your life to look like in all its
aspects. work, family, social, personal, spiritual, community Goals, without a vision, is like flying a plane without a
destinationMake short/long term goals that lead to your
vision Example: To get a B.S. in Physics you have to start with
Physics 101
Bzzz
Bzzz
Bzzz
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Vision Example
Creating a vision—how will the future look? Educational—I will graduate with a M.S. in Materials
Science, with little or no debt, Summa Cum Laude, job connections.
Work—I will have a job with flexible hours, good salary, nice office, doing creative work, with a supportive boss, and retire someday
Family—I will have a happy relationship, happy family, 4 kids, home that provides comfort/safety, respect family
Social—I will have friends, attend social events Personal—I will be healthy, have hobbies, work hard Spiritual—I will connect with the Creator, have values Community—I will serve the local community, know my
neighbors, serve my Native community
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Express Your Vision
Essays for Scholarships/Admission should include parts of your vision. How will you contribute to society after graduating? How does your major fit into your vision? How have your past activities contributed to your
vision?60 Second Activity:
Take a moment to write down 3 parts of your vision.
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Scholarships
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What type of funding is available?
Many types!!1. Scholarships2. Fellowships3. Other awards/grants/loans
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AI-in-STEM Scholarships
AIEF: American Indian Education FoundationAIS: American Indian ServicesAIGC: American Indian Graduate CenterTribalOn-Campus ScholarshipsGraduate Research FellowshipsAISES ScholarshipsTravel ScholarshipsNSF, Ford Foundation Fellowships
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There’s more…..HINT: Write these down!
AICC: AI Chamber of Commerce ITC: Intertribal Timber Council Industry Awards: Raytheon and Lockheed Diversity Awards CTD: Catching The Dream TWS: The Wildlife Society (Native Peoples Working Group
Student Professional Development Grant) AAIA: Association of American Indian Affairs MEP/MESA awards Daughters of the American Revolution IHS/Tribal Clinic awards Your local Indian Health Clinic Local Indian Education chapters (i.e. County Indian Education
Programs) Additional resources: http://graded.sdsmt.edu/docs/130036.pdf
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AI-in-STEM Scholarships
On-Campus
AI/Minority Your Field
DepartmentalFellowship
UniversityMulticultural/Diversity Scholars
University FellowshipAcademic Scholarship
Need-Based ScholarshipFinancial Aid/FAFSA
Fraternal OrganizationsTribal Scholars
BIA FundingAIS
AIEF
Ford FoundationDiversity in
IndustryAISES
Rare AlumniEndowed Scholarships
Corporate School for Work
NSF/DoD/DARPA Fellowship
AIGC Fellowship
(Women too)
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AI-in-STEM Dates/Deadlines
Scholarship
Who When AMOUNT
AISES VariesHS studentsVaries
Feb 15 (Google)April 15 (B.N. Santa Fe) June 15 (ATA/Intel)
<$10,000~$1,000<$2,000
AIEF Varies April 4 (Grad & Undergrad) <$2,000
AIS Undergrads 4 deadlines/yr (2/15; 5/15; 8/15; 11/15)
Varies
CTD Varies 3 deadlines/yr (3/15; 4/15; 9/15)
$500-$5K
AIGC Grad/Undgrd
June 1 Varies
NSF All Proposals due in Nov Varies
ITC Nat. Res. related
March VariesIn general but not always, eligibility is as follows: ≥¼ blood, minimum GPA (>2.75 or >3.0), require full-time status and FASFA forms
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Questions?
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WHY GRADUATE SCHOOL
AIAN IN STEM FIELDS
WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE?
DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS
VISION
A STRONG APPLICATION
FUNDING RESOURCES
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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Our contact info
Kellie Szczepaniec [email protected]
Serra Hoagland [email protected]
Thomas Reed [email protected]
You can find this presentation here:buder.wustl.edu
Thanks for coming! Good luck!