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Thinking About Graduate School?

Thinking About Graduate School?. K. T. A. February 22, 2007. You know you’re a redneck if . . Fewer than half of your cars run. You think that beef jerky and Moon Pies are two of the major food groups. You've ever used a weedeater indoors. You mow your lawn and find a car.

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Thinking About Graduate School?

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  1. Thinking About Graduate School? K. T. A. February 22, 2007

  2. You know you’re a redneck if . . • Fewer than half of your cars run. • You think that beef jerky and Moon Pies are two of the major food groups. • You've ever used a weedeater indoors. • You mow your lawn and find a car. • http://www.thatwasfunny.com/you-know-youre-a-redneck-if/532 Kutztown University

  3. Overview • Should you go? • Where to go • How to get ready • How to get there Kutztown University

  4. Should You Go? • If you can do it, DO IT • Career advancement • Job satisfaction • $$ • Especially if you like . . • Challenges • New opportunities • Interesting work • and don’t like . . • Same ol’ same ol’ • to be bored Kutztown University

  5. If you do go . . • What level? • CS or . . ? Kutztown University

  6. What level? • PhD if you can • 1 trip instead of 2 • Best time is NOW • 5 Year Masters is a good option • Short time frame • Low startup cost • Good quality Kutztown University

  7. CS or . . ? • Many areas of study • IT • IS • Informatics • MIS • HCI • Design Kutztown University

  8. CS or . . ? • Many specializations within CS • Robotics • Computer vision • Bioinformatics • Many others • Which best fits your • Abilities • Interests Kutztown University

  9. Where to go • Types of rankings • U.S. News and World Report • NAGPS • http://www.cs.ucf.edu/newsletter/vol1/issue_one/ranking.html • Many good schools • Central principle – best for you Kutztown University

  10. How to Choose • Considerations • Faculty • Program • Areas of specialty/centers of study • Graduation rate • Location Kutztown University

  11. Getting to Know the School • Quality • of offerings • of faculty • publication history • collaboration history (esp. with advisees) • 90% is relationship with thesis advisor • Relationships with industry • Areas of expertise • Treatment of students • graduation rate (CMU vs. Duke) • hoops vs. research (UVA) Kutztown University

  12. How to Choose • Cast a wide net • Check out web sites • Look for specifics • Establish your own criteria • Desiderata • Sine qua non • Create a “short list” Kutztown University

  13. Choosing an Area of Study • Starting points • topic • person • school • conference • journal Kutztown University

  14. Choosing an Area of Study • Fanning out • Bibliography • Node hopping with tabbed browsing • School to person • to paper • to conference • to lecture • to person • to school • Etc. Kutztown University

  15. Choosing an Area of Study • Download papers • directly accessible • MIT • CMU • others • ACM – KU has subscription via library • IEEE – good luck! Kutztown University

  16. Getting Ready • World has changed • WWC = worldwide competition • 1 > 0 • So take 1 step Kutztown University

  17. How to Get Ready • Academic preparation • Application preparation Kutztown University

  18. Academic Preparation – Course Work • Depends on area of study (see CS or . .) • Math • Core CS areas (depends somewhat on school) • Algorithms & complexity • Automata theory • Operating systems • Artificial intelligence • Software engineering • Networking Kutztown University

  19. Academic Preparation – Research • Seek research opportunities • REUs • KU - URC • Collaborate with faculty Kutztown University

  20. Academic Preparation - Research • Your cup of tea? • Undergrad research opportunities (see above) • Undergrad presentations & publications • PACISE • Moravian • St. Joe’s • U.R. journals • Finding research areas (see above) Kutztown University

  21. How to Get There • Preparing to apply • Know Deadlines – some very early • Fall or Spring? • Line up references • Keep up with schoolwork • Schedule your work • Keep up with coursework • Plan for interference (e.g., Dec. 15) Kutztown University

  22. How to Get There - GREs • Schedule them • Which test? • Morning only • Subject GRE? (depends on school) • Math GRE • To study or not? • KU • Lehigh • Changes coming • Retake?  Kutztown University

  23. Application • Prepare ahead of time • Will need • transcript • references (gentle, diplomatic reminders) • resume • personal statement • other (depends on school) • Variety of formats • internet • paper • hybrid Kutztown University

  24. Application – Allow Plenty of Time • References need time • Schedule for each application • Can be up to a day per • Each one is different • Time to sort it out Kutztown University

  25. And Above All . . Don’t Give Up ! Kutztown University

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