{"114201":{"#nid":"114201","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Planning for Graduate School","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIf your student is considering graduate school to pursue a master\u2019s degree (MS) or doctoral degree (PhD), the following key points can help your student navigate through the selection and application process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EObtaining letters of recommendation.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStudents need to get to know faculty well throughout their time at Tech. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJust getting an A in a course doesn\u2019t mean the faculty can say great things about the student \u2013 except that they have an A. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGraduate schools are looking for evidence in these recommendation letters that a student is inquisitive, intellectual, self-motivated, and works well both individually and in groups. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETo get these types of letters, students need to be talking to their faculty about the course content \u2013 in an interested way, not in a \u201cwill this be on the test?\u201d manner.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETo get the strongest letters, students should actually work with faculty on projects, especially research. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGoing to graduate school in pursuit of a MS or PhD is mostly about research; hence, graduate schools are looking for students who already have research experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf a student is thinking of going to graduate school, they need to know if they even like research. An excellent means for students to gain this exposure is through Undergraduate Research Programs, at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ewww.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EKnowing where to apply.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThis is not always about the top universities. Strong departments can be located at schools that may not at first be an obvious place to look.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn order to know the best places to go, students really need to talk to the faculty at Tech who work in that area of interest \u2013 they are the experts and have the connections.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe next step is to research these schools. Who is doing research in the fields of interest to the student? What do the faculty at Tech know about this person?\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EContacting faculty at potential schools.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBecause graduate school is very specific, each program does its own admissions decisions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMaking a personal connection with a faculty member with whom the student is interested in working can make all the difference. Basically, an email with a resume attached is all that is needed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe student should be specific about why they are interested in that faculty member. Also, it is best not to ask if they have a position, but rather to ask more about their research. This contact should be made in the fall, one year before the student plans to start graduate school.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003ECompleting the application process.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EApplications are usually due in late fall the year prior to starting graduate school.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe GRE, the standardized test for graduate school, is required. It is best to sign up to take the GRE in the summer before the student\u2019s last year of undergraduate school.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf a student waits until fall to sign up, testing spots are often full. We also encourage students to take practice tests to get familiar with the mode and style of the questions. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA biographical sketch is also required as part of the application process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThis is the written statement that a student writes to describe why he\/she wants to go to graduate school, and an opportunity to be specific about his\/her interest.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA student should start this essay early in the planning process and ask advisors and\/or faculty members for comments.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003ESecuring funding.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn science and engineering graduate schools (particularly for PhD programs), a student is usually paid a stipend to live on, and tuition is covered.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThis is something to inquire about after acceptance if it is unclear in the letter.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThere are many great fellowships available for graduate school and we encourage students to be looking into these opportunities the summer before their senior year since applications are often due a full year before the student plans to attend graduate school.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EVisiting the school.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMost graduate schools will have a sponsored recruitment weekend where all accepted students are invited to meet the faculty and other graduate students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf a school does not offer this visitation opportunity, encourage your student to plan a visit anyway \u2013 it is that important!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EGetting advice on the process.\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf your student is interested in applying to graduate school, suggest that he\/she make an appointment with his\/her academic advisor to help begin the process and answer any questions (\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.advising.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ewww.advising.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIf your student is considering graduate school to pursue a master\u2019s \ndegree (MS) or doctoral degree (PhD), the following key points can help \nyour student navigate through the selection and application process.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"If your student is considering graduate school to pursue a master\u2019s degree (MS) or doctoral degree (PhD), the following key points can help your student navigate through the selection and application process."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2012-03-05 14:05:16","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:11:48","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2012-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2012-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.advising.gatech.edu\/","title":"Academic Advising"}],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1017","name":"applying to graduate school"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EParents Program\u003Cbr \/\u003E404.385.1396\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:parents@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eparents@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["parents@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}