The Graduate School

Nyrée McDonald, Ph.D.Associate Dean, Recruitment and Admissions

Graduate School

• Why you should consider it . . .

• How you get in . . .

Overview

• What is a graduate degree?• How is it different from an

undergraduate degree?• What will it do for me?• What can I do with it?• How to find a graduate program?• Question and Answer

The Goal• Get all of the education you can for

FREE!

What is a graduate degree?

• Degree you earn after completing the Bachelor of Science or Arts degree.

• Masters degrees take 2–4 years to complete – course work and original work

• M.S. Master of Science• M.A. Master of Arts

• Doctoral degrees take 5–8 years to complete!– Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy– Ed.D. Doctor of Education– Sc.D. Doctor of Science

True story . . .A student had requested admission to the Ph.D. in department X, and was accepted. He received a letter saying that he had been admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy program in the department of X.

• He responded with an email that said:Dear Dean,There has been some mistake, I applied to Department X, not to the Philosophy Department.

Why?

• Council of Graduate School– Masters degree becoming entry level requirement

– Employability improved with specialization

• Ph.D. key for future employment and career advancement (22% of jobs 2016)

• Drive the innovation that will lead to sustained economic growth

Who should consider this option• Thirst for Knowledge• Willing to devote significant time

and effort• Relish Intellectual Challenges• Want to search for new and better

ways to advance knowledge in your field

• Be a contributing member in a global society

Unemployment and Median Salariesby Level of Education

How is a graduate degree different from an undergraduate degree?

• This is your chance to specialize!– Medieval Studies– Transport Phenomena

• Research—a topic that interests you!

With a Doctorate YOU can: Do cutting edge research

Become a professor

Explore new frontiers—

discover/invent

Improve the “now”

Advance the knowledge of your discipline

Hone independent

thinking

Be intellectually stimulated and

challenged

Become a leader in your

field

Advance your career

Enhance your problem-solving

talents

Maximize your earning power

Grow professionally

What will it do for me?

More Education = More Opportunity

Enhance your

leadership ability

Increase earning

potential

Unemployment Rate and Median Earnings by Education Level

What can I do with it?

• A better question is what can’t you do?

How to find a graduate program . . .

• Recognize your interest

• Talk with your faculty members

• Attend graduate school fairs

• Search US News and World Report’s list of graduate programs

• Search for programs that have faculty in your area

• Contact the graduate school, or department and ask for additional information

How to find a graduate program . . . (continued)

• Contact the graduate school, or department and ask for additional information– Areas of specialty– Average time to completion– Where do the graduates go– Application deadlines– Application content– Funding

How to find a graduate program . . . (continued)

• Take the GRE (www.ets.org)

• Contact the faculty you think you may be interested in and provide GRE and transcripts– Make sure you know something about their most

recent works and ask questions

– Will you be taking new students/ current students

• Research experience

Apply to the program

• GRE scores• Transcripts• Statement of Purpose/Intent• Letters of Recommendation

GRE Scores

• Relative to all students who have taken the the exam

• Strong GRE scores are crucial to the application– How competent you are in Mathematics, Writing

• GRE Subject – Specific to a discipline– Few programs

Statement of Purpose/Intent• Proposes a goal • Why this goal• How to achieve the goal– With examples or facts or something that occurs

to you.• Focused document!• BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!!!

Letters of Recommendation

• Written by faculty members with direct knowledge of your academic skills– REU supervisor– Faculty that you have taken courses with– Other professionals in your field who are familiar

with your work

How to get good letters

• Be brave– Be prepared for class– Ask questions– Visit faculty during office hours

• Ask for precisely what you want– Example

• Select your recommenders with respect to the program

Sample of what you want

• “I have known XOXO since he arrived as a new recruit to our program last year, in Fall vwxy. In the vwxy - xz academic year, he would drop by my office at least once a week to talk shop, given our common interests in the history of shop. I am currently one of Scott’s academic advisors, and I was his professor for a seminar in Fall vwxz.”

What you want?

“He engaged with the course material at a high level and was not circumspect in sharing his thoughts and ideas with the class. It was in these classes where I gained a genuine appreciation for his creativity and his ability to assess and approach classic philosophical problems in novel and interesting ways. He is studious, and a pleasure to work with. He regularly knocks on my door, full of ideas and looking for more reading.”

Sample of what you don’t want“Comes from an academically

disadvantaged background. To be sure, he was raised in an environment where very little emphasis was placed on academics and despite XOXO’s obvious intellectual gifts, he was simply patted on the back and not challenged throughout his formation.”

Sample of what you don’t want• “She is a bright student but has

three children”

• “I am professor so and so of blah blah. Mr W took a class from me last Spring, he earned a C. “ End of letter

Sample of what you don’t want“His writing is often imprecise, and his papers

generally lack focus. He is anxious to fit as many ideas as he can into a paper, rather than systematically developing a narrow and specific thesis that he can adequately defend. Of course, this is a common problem among many beginning students, and in time these failings can be corrected. Unfortunately, while at XYZ, he has encountered some fairly serious health problems that have partially prevented him from realising his potential in this regard.”

What I wish he could follow up on”

“Indeed, last year we had a prominent philosopher of science (one who is not prone to empty praise) visiting XYZ for the semester and who interacted significantly with him. One day he knocked on my office door solely to relate to me how impressed he was with XOXO and how incredibly smart he is.”

How to get what you want

• Ask the recommender if s/he will write a positive letter of recommendation for you

• Be honest with yourself– Recognize your weakness and address them to the

extent possible in your statement of purpose!

Questions?