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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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”
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?”
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”
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.)
Part II: Grad School at PSUPart II: Grad School at PSU
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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