“WHY GRADUATE SCHOOL?” “Turning Today’s Technical Talent Into Tomorrow’s Technology...

““WHY GRADUATE SCHOOL?”WHY GRADUATE SCHOOL?”

“Turning Today’s Technical Talent Into Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders”

The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Science and Engineering, Inc.

Presented by: Dr. Sandra Cruz-Pol Associate Professor- ECE UPRM

2“Turning Today’s Technical Talent Into Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders”

FAQs BY STUDENTS

Why Should I Go to Graduate School?How Can I Pay for Graduate School?How Do I Apply for Graduate School?How Do I Apply for a GEM Fellowship?Where Can I Go to Graduate School?Tips For Getting Fellowships?

““WHY SHOULD I GO TO WHY SHOULD I GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL?”GRADUATE SCHOOL?”




The National GEM Consortium

FOUNDED IN 1976: To provide graduate educational opportunities for

underrepresented minorities in engineering and science.

MISSION: To enhance the value of the nation’s human capital in

engineering and science by increasing the participation of under-represented minorities (Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Other Hispanics) at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Percentage of Minority Engineering Graduates, 1994

College-Age Population

BS Graduates

MS Graduates

PhD Graduates8.5%

4.3%

1.8%

28%

WE NEED YOU!

Source: NACME Research Letter, Vol. 6, Number 1, May 1996


BENEFITS

Increased compensation Higher starting salary Greater ability to earn independently

Enhanced career flexibility Competitive advantage Greater choice of work Greater mobility

Fortified self-confidence Demonstrated ability to perform rigorous tasks


IDENTIFIES YOU AS A LEADER

A seat at the table. Solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing

problems lie in science and engineering: Healthcare (AIDS, Cancer, Alzheimer's) Environment Transportation Communication Civil Infrastructure


WHO BELIEVES IN GRADUATE EDUCATION?

Over 50 GEM employers, including:Hewlett Packard

Intel

Lexmark Int’l

Lucent

Merck

Microsoft

Motorola

NASA

QUALCOMM

Raytheon

Sandia Nat’l Lab

Siemens

Timken

Texas Instruments

3M

Agilent Technologies

AMD

BP Amoco

Compaq

Corning, Inc.

Daimler Chrysler

Dow Chemical

DuPont

Eastman Kodak Co.

ETS

Exxon Mobil

Ford Motor Co.

General Motors

GlaxoSmithKline


TOP COMPANY MEMBERS

COMPANY MS ENG PhD ENG PhD SCI TOTAL

Hewlett-Packard 10 0 0 10

DuPont 5 3 0 8

3M 4 3 0 7

Dow Chemical 4 1 2 7

Ford Motor Co. 4 3 0 7

Ford Powertrain 7 0 0 7

General Motors 7 0 0 7

Pfizer 1 1 4 6

Intel 5 1 0 6


STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

Golden Torch Awards to GEM Fellows

2000 Outstanding

Graduate Student

Mekita Davis 1998 MS EE Fellow

GA Tech Motorola (Sponsor)2001 Pioneer of the Year

Dr. Terry Alford Material Engineering

1989 MS Fellow NC A&T 1993 Ph.D. Fellow Cornell

IBM (Sponsor)AZ State U (Employer)

2000 Technologist of the Year

Marvin Johnson 1993 MS Ch E Fellow

U of Missouri RollaDOW Chemical Co (Sponsor)

Proctor & Gamble (Employer)


STRATEGIC ALLIANCES(continued)

Career Communications Group, Inc. Black Engineer of the Year Awards to GEM Fellows

2002 Student Leadership Award

Leon Pickett, Jr. Eng

Mechanics Ph.D. Candidate Iowa State

University Ford (Sponsor)

2001 Student Leadership Award

Amin Holmes MS

Elec Eng Fellow GA Tech The MITRE Corp

(Sponsor)2000 Outstanding Young Alumnus

Johney Green, Ph.D. MS ME Fellow Oak Ridge Nat’l Lab (Sponsor & Current

Employer)


STRATEGIC ALLIANCES (continued)

Memorandums of Understanding:

Signed May 2000

Signed August 2001

Signed March 2002

Signed in 1999

Signed June 2001

Signed March 2002

““HOW CAN I PAY FOR HOW CAN I PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL?”GRADUATE SCHOOL?”




GEM DELIVERS!

Portable Fellowships to 88 Universities M.S. Engineering Fellowship Program

• Minimum $10,000 stipend over 3 semesters/4 quarters• Full tuition and fees at GEM Member University

Ph.D. Engineering Fellowship Program• Minimum $14,000 academic year stipend for 5 years• Full tuition and fees at GEM Member University

Ph.D. Science Fellowship Program• Minimum $14,000 academic year stipend for 5 years• Full tuition and fees at GEM Member University

Summer Internships at 51 Company Members


OTHER FORMS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Research Assistantships (RA) and Teaching Assistantships (TA) A form of financial aid where the graduate student

is paid for work which is often related to the student’s studies or area of specialization. An RA pays a student to assist a professor on a research project; a TA pays a student to teach sections or classes of undergraduate courses, or to help grade papers or examinations.


RESOURCES FOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

GEM’s Web site - http://www.gemfellowship.org The Financial Aid Web site- http://www.finaid.org/ The Graduate Office at your University The Graduate Office at Universities of interest to you The department you plan to pursue

your degree in McNair Scholars waives application fees.

Go to http://www.ed.gov.offices/OPE/HEP/trio/mcnair Project 1000 waives up to seven application fees

E-mail: [email protected] Go to http://mati.eas.asu.edu:8421/p1000

““HOW DO I APPLY FOR HOW DO I APPLY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL?”GRADUATE SCHOOL?”




The Graduate Admissions Process

Graduate School Application: Complete application forms and questionnaires at

University and Department levels as required. Submit transcripts, letters of reference, and statement

of purpose. Apply for admission at member

universities before January 1st

for additional funding opportunities. Take Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Submit ALL documents at once.


The Graduate Admissions Process (continued)

Supporting documents: Ask for STRONG letters of recommendation from

faculty. Allow sufficient time for letters to be written (2-3

weeks). Have faculty review statement of purpose before

submittal.


The Graduate Admissions Process (continued)

Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Two parts: General and discipline exams;

• October 2002 new exam guidelines include a writing section. Go to http://www.gre.org

Computer based exams offered continuously; Resources include search services, on-line practice

exams, and on campus workshops/seminars; Submit GRE scores with admission packet; Review Peterson’s Guide for scores (previous class)

submitted at various universities; and Submitting GRE scores is required for funding

opportunities at some universities.

““HOW DO I APPLY FOR AHOW DO I APPLY FOR AGEM FELLOWSHIP?”GEM FELLOWSHIP?”




GEM FELLOWSHIP PROCESS

First year students should begin exploring options now. Participate in undergraduate research experiences. Gain internship and/or co-op experiences in industry and/or

government laboratories. Juniors may apply.

Begin to target specific graduate programs at member universities. Go to web site for list of members.

University alumni/ae are encouraged to apply.

Apply on line at www.gemfellowship.org by December 1st deadline.


GEM FELLOWSHIP PROCESS (continued)

Eligibility requirements: Minimum 2.8 GPA for MS Engineering Fellowship; Minimum 3.0 GPA for Ph.D. Engineering and Science

Fellowships; Submit two (one from faculty) letters of recommendation; Detailed resume; Include statement of purpose; Undergraduate and graduate transcripts; Be member of underrepresented majority group (African

American, Latino/a, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and American Indian); and

Be a US Citizen.


GEM FELLOWSHIP PROCESS (continued)

Internship Expectations: Internships begin summer before Fall enrollment at

member university except Juniors;• Juniors complete three internships with employer.

M.S. Engineering Fellows are expected to complete two internships with employer sponsor;

Ph.D. Engineering and Ph.D. Science Fellows are expected to intern at least once with employer;

All interns are evaluated as potential full-time employees; and

Employers pay internship salary and travel.


2001 vs. 2002 APPLICANTS

329

62 58

432

94 89

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2001 2002

MS E

PhD E

PhD S


2001 vs. 2002 SELECTIONS

159

28 13

110

26 100

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2001 2002

MS E

PhD E

PhD S


2002 M.S. ENGINEERING APPLICANTS AND SELECTS

432

1100

100

200

300

400

500

# of

Students

2002

Year

Applicants Selects

Applicant Profile:•308 (71%) African Americans•112 (26%) Latinos/a• 12 ( 3%) American Indians•200 (46%) Female•363 (84%) >3.0 GPA•190 (44%) >3.3 GPA

Select Profile:• 80 (73%) African Americans• 27 (24%) Latinos/a• 3 ( 3%) American Indians• 44 (40%) Female• 99 (90%) >3.0 GPA• 74 (67%) >3.3 GPA• 52 (47%) >3.5 GPA


2002 Ph.D. ENGINEERING APPLICANTS AND SELECTS

94

260

102030405060708090

100

# of

Students

2002

Year

Applicants Selects


Select Profile:•16 (61%) African Americans • 8 (31%) Latinos/a• 2 ( 8%) American Indians•13 (50%) Female•13 (50%) >3.5 GPA• 8 (31%) >3.7 GPA


2002 Ph.D. SCIENCE APPLICANTS AND SELECTS

89

100

102030405060708090

# of

Students

2002

Year

Applicants Selects


Select Profile:• 5 (50%) African Americans • 4 (40%) Latinos/a• 1 (10%) American Indian• 5 (50%) Female• 7 (70%) >3.5 GPA• 2 (20%) >3.7 GPA


NETWORK

NETWORKFaculty

UniversityReps

GEMStaff

CompanyReps

Alumni/ae

network


TIME LINE TO APPLY

September 1 – APPLY ON LINE. Remember to apply to graduate programs at various member

universities and take GRE; and Indicate up to four employers of choice on GEM application.

December 1 - Submit GEM Application and Graduate School Application. Selection Committee will match your employer preferences with

internship opportunities available.

February 1 - Announcement of GEM Fellows.


TIME LINE TO APPLY (continued)

March - GEM Acceptance Forms Due. May - Forward Transcript & School Selection to

the GEM Office. May/June - Internship Begins. August/September - Fall Semester Begins; Meet GEM Representative

on Campus.

““WHERE CAN I GO TO WHERE CAN I GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL?”GRADUATE SCHOOL?”




Start Your Search Here!

Over 80 GEM universities, including:

MIT Cornell

ColumbiaGeorgia Tech

U of IllinoisJohns Hopkins

U of MichiganNorthwestern

Penn StatePrinceton

PurdueYale

U of Puerto Rico

U of Arizona

UC Berkeley

UC Davis

UC Irvine

UCLA

UC San Diego

Drexel

Stanford

Texas A&M

Rice

U of New Mexico

U of Notre Dame


TOP UNIVERSITY MEMBERS Fall 2001 Enrollment

UNIVERSITY MS ENG PhD ENG

PhD SCI

TOTAL

Georgia Tech 36 12 8 56

U Michigan 27 5 5 37

Stanford U 21 3 1 25

Purdue U 14 0 10 24

MIT 14 1 3 18

U MD College Park 7 5 4 16

Michigan State 10 4 1 15

U CA Berkeley 9 0 4 13

Renesselaer Polytechnic 8 0 1 9


How to Research a Graduate Program

Research university libraries Peterson’s Guide Chronicle of Higher Education Directory of Graduate Programs

Request information be mailed to

you from the department Visit schools you are interested in Surf the Web


How to Research a Graduate Program (continued)

Gradschoolshopper.com Your guide to graduate programs in physics and related fields; go to

gradschoolshopper.com, enter search parameters (i.e. geographic or academic preferences), and receive pages meeting these criteria.

Gradschools.com Worldwide web site dedicated to post-baccalaureate educational

programs; tens of thousands of programs listed, continually updated; go to gradschools.com, enter search parameters (i.e. geographic or academic preferences), and receive pages meeting these criteria.

Student prospector.com - draws prospective students from the gradschools.com web site and offers them a place to create & store a academic profile; recruiters subscribe to this service for a fee.


Identifying a Graduate Program

Are Faculty members conducting research in your area of interest?

What is the educational infrastructure (labs, library, computers, etc.)?

Does the curriculum support your interests? What are the degree requirements? What is the average time to degree completion? Is financial support available? What will be your work/study environment? Are the social outlets adequate?

““TIPS FOR GETTING TIPS FOR GETTING FELLOWSHIPS?”FELLOWSHIPS?”




Tips for Getting Fellowships! Start Early

Application deadlines range from early November to early February.

Research your options To find a program or a fellowship that matches your interests

and goals, plan on doing some serious research. The money won’t necessarily come to you – you have to go to it (or at least tell them how to find you...).

Pay attention to the restrictions Some programs put a limit on the number of credit hours you

can have finished before application.


More Tips!

Follow directions Although this may seem obvious, follow the directions in the application

packet to the letter. The Name Thing...

When applying for fellowships, you should be consistent in how you report your name. The name on your SS card, your graduate school admissions application, and your fellowship application should be identical.

Supporting documents matter Letters of Reference and Statements of Purpose can make a difference

in the selection process. Keep trying

If you don't get an award one year, apply again next year.


Q & A Period

QUESTIONS?

26YEARS OF LEADING CHANGE

The GEM ConsortiumP.O. Box 537Notre Dame, IN 46556(574) 631-7771(574) 287-1486 (Fax)[email protected]

“WHY GRADUATE SCHOOL?” “Turning Today’s Technical Talent Into Tomorrow’s Technology...

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