Crafting a Competitive Application Graduate school application components

Crafting a Competitive Application

Graduate school application components 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Application/Questionnaire Transcripts Resume/CV Letters of recommendation Statement of Purpose GRE 2

Application, Resume, Transcript • Application • Follow instructions/guidelines • List your full name on top of every document • Submit before the deadline! • Ensure your application contains all required materials • Confirm submission • Resume • Ensure it looks professional • Transcript • Submit official transcripts for every school attended since high school 3

Secrets to a Successful Graduate Application • Preparation • Start connecting/build relationships • Familiarize with application guidelines/instructions • Deadlines • Required vs recommended 4

Resume • • • What is a Resume/CV? What should be in your Resume/CV? What shouldn’t be in your Resume/CV? How long should your Resume/CV be? Good web resource: http: //www. kent. ac. uk/careers/cv. htm 5

Recommendation letters • • • Types of Recommendation Letters • • Do not submit letters from friends, coaches, family, etc. . . If submitting letters from industry they should be at a high level preferably someone with a Ph. D Long letters vs short letters Generic letters vs glowering letters • • Ask now if you haven’t already Typically allow 2 -5 weeks for letters to be written Timing Ensure Strong Faculty Recommendations • • • Undergraduate research Visit their office Do well in their courses! Mentors Provide them with your resume and an outline of the points you would like covered, if necessary 6

Statement of Purpose • What is a statement of purpose? • Prompts to guide your responses • One or two page essay describing your career goals, how the program will help you reach those goals, and how your past experiences have prepared you • Include the area research for which you are interested in working and the names of any potential advisors doing that work • Tips • • Concise Identify and fill gaps Write, rewrite, have others edit Make is engaging 7

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) • Take it! • Even if all the schools to which you are applying do not require it • Take practice tests • Be very familiar with the format and instructions prior • Strive for a high Quantitative score • Be cognizant of score submission deadlines 8

GRE • • http: //www. gre. org Computer-based exams offered continuously Submit GRE scores with admission packet GRE scores may be required for some funding opportunities 9

Application Fee Waiver • In the fee waiver section of the application • Select “Graduate Engineering Open House” • We will provide the admissions office with your name so it will be approved when you apply 10

Additional Resources http: //www. statementpurpose. com http: //accepted. com/grad http: //www. princetonreview. com/grad http: //sciencecareers. sciencemag. org http: //www. rpi. edu/web/writingcenter/gradap p. html 11

Office of Graduate Education Funding Options at OSU • Fellowships • Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA’s) • Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA’s) • Graduate Administrative Assistantships (GAA’s) 12

Office of Graduate Education So, what’s full funding • Stipend • Tuition and fees • Health insurance subsidy • Total value for 2 year MS ~$91, 000 • Total value for a 5 year Ph. D ~$227, 000 13

Office of Graduate Education Fellowships Types • University and Early Offer* Fellowships • College Fellowships* • Departmental Fellowships • External Fellowships Benefits • Most prestigious and competitive funding opportunities • Students receiving fellowships are able to focus solely on academics and research leading to the completion of their degree • Stipend is higher 14

Office of Graduate Education University Fellowships • University wide competition for which students are nominated by the program to which they were admitted • Fellowships funded by our Graduate School • To be eligible for nomination students must submit a completed application to their graduate program of interest between November 30 th and December 15 th • Check deadlines at https: //gpadmissions. osu. edu/programs/ 15

Office of Graduate Education Early Offer Fellowships* • Priority consideration given to GEOH attendees • Fellowships funded by our Graduate School • To be eligible for nomination students must submit a completed application to their graduate program of interest very soon. You will receive confirmation of the deadline next week. • Full funding guaranteed up to 5 years 16

Office of Graduate Education Departmental Fellowships • Awarded by the department to which you have been admitted • Selection for these fellowships takes place at various times after a student has been admitted and is dependent of availability of funds 17

Office of Graduate Education College Fellowships • Priority consideration given to GEOH attendees • You must be nominated by your program • Awardees will be guaranteed full funding • • Up to 2 years for a MS Up to 5 years for a Ph. D 18

Office of Graduate Education External Fellowships • Funded by governmental agencies, companies, or foundations • Competitive • Provide a high stipend • Some provide travel support, funding for equipment, etc. • Our office provides support to help 1 st and 2 nd yr grads to apply for external fellowship awards 19

Office of Graduate Education List of External Funding Opportunities Co. E Funding resources website for Graduate Students http: //go. osu. edu/coefunding 20

Office of Graduate Education Graduate Research Associateship • GRA appointments are awarded by individual faculty members (typically your advisor) with funding from their grants • GRA’s are responsible for performing research for their advisor in exchange for full funding 21

Office of Graduate Education Graduate Teaching Assistantship • GTA appointments are provided by the unit for which you will teach • GTA’s are responsible for teaching related duties in exchange for full support This can include: • Teaching classes, recitations, and labs, • Advising and counseling students, • Grading, • Writing reports, or • Assisting faculty and administrators 22

Office of Graduate Education Graduate Administrative Associateships • GAA’s provide administrative support for the units or offices for which they are employed in exchange for full funding • Sometimes GAA positions may have a professional development component 23

Cost of Living in Columbus One of the lowest nationally Ranked in the top 10 "Best Place to Live" by Money Magazine 24

Office of Graduate Education Questions ? Stiner-jones. 1@osu. edu 25