applying to engineering graduate school in the usa

INDONESIA MENGGLOBAL

Towards a U.S. Higher Education Applying to Engineering Graduate Schoolin USA

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Martin Kurnadi

|Indonesia Mengglobal

Agenda

• Personal Information

• Process to pursue graduate schools

• Research and preparation

• Master vs Doctorate

• Research assistant vs teaching assistant vs other type financial aid

• Research life at graduate school

• Conclusion

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Personal Information

EDUCATION

1994-1997 High school SMA St. Aloysius, Bandung

1997-1999 Iowa State University

1999-2001 University of California at Berkeley

Bsc in ME with CS minor

2002-2005 Georgia Institute of Technology

Msc in ME

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CAREER

1999 Internship at Amana Appliances Amana, Iowa

2005 - 2006 Automation Engineer at Millenium Mat Suwanee, Georgia

2006-2008 Quality & Reliability Engineer at Applied Materials Sunnyvale, California

2009-now Director at Jaya Murni Lestari Knitting Factory

2012- now Start a new business : Automation and IoT start-up


Process to pursue Graduate School

Process after you decided to pursue graduate school in the US. (Never too early to

prepare for graduate school)

1.Research on which schools and department to apply. School and dept may have

specific requirements. Please check for application deadline.

2.Build your resume. Ex : Undergraduate research, community, internship.

3.Strategize school applications (aspiration school, backup)

4.Prepare requirements for application (see below)

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Typical requirements to apply to graduate school in the US:

•Application form

•Undergraduate transcript / GPA

•Statement of Purpose / Personal Essay

•Recommendation Letters

•Standardized tests (TOEFL, GRE)


Research on schools

1. School Ranks (US News). Overall vs Major specific ranks. Public schools vs Private Schools.

2. Specialized Programs-Curriculum / Classes• Career focus• Specific topic• Research centers• Classes• Professors• Brand name

3. Tuition fee, Room and Living expense 4. Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant program.

5. Peers• Alumni 6. Location• Professional (internship) opportunities• Networking• Quality of life

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Undergraduate Transcript and Diploma

• Credibility of undergraduate institution

• Grade Point Average (GPA)

• Major / Discipline

• Translated and certified.

• May need high school transcript and diploma.

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Statement of Purpose / Personal Essay

What should I write in the essay?

“Most importantly, make sure you answer the question in the essay prompt then incorporate (smoothly) anything you’d like the admission committee to know about yourself – your experience, your achievement, your personality, you name it”

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•An important element of application – an opportunity to explain about yourself

• Can be generic, but tailor to the institution you are applying to. You can insert about your achievements,

undergraduate research assistant, community activities here.

• Seek suggestions/ opinions from others

• Never lie, exaggeration is ok

• Ensure no obvious grammatically error and typo

• Think of how your essay will stand out of the pool of applicants

•Spare enough time (months, not days!) to prepare


School Application: Recommendation Letter

What is recommendation letter?

“A letter from people who know you very well, generally at a higher level, that can

reflect your quality”

TIPS:

Request from someone who knows about yourself (professor, work supervisor)

Make sure that the letters are written in favor of you

Higher credibility from famous people

Help the person you are asking recommendation letter from:

Tell them your strengths, areas of interest, and aspirations

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School application: Standardized test

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TOEFL (IBT – Internet Based Test)

Types of questions: multiple choice (reading and listening), and essay (writing)

# Sections: Reading Listening Speaking Writing

Highest score: 120. Typical score for top schools: Minimum 100 – 110.

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GRE

•Graduate Record Exam is designed as a measuring tool and is required by most graduate schools in admission process.

# Sections: Verbal Reasoning Analytical Writing Quantitative

Reasoning

Typical score for top schools: 600 for Verbal,700 and above for Quant Reasoning, 3.5 and above for Writing.

Score range: 200 – 800.


School options for college graduates: Degrees (USA)

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MASTER Degree

Taking more advanced and specific classes in a specialized fieldResearch may be requiredThesis and Publication may be requiredTypically 1 to 2 yearsIndustry-oriented trackInternships strongly encouraged

DOCTORATE Degree

Taking more advanced and specific classes in a specialized fieldQualifiying Exam (Written + Oral ) select 3 from 6 Engineering subjects. Research is required and is the bulk of the experienceThesis and publication are non-negotiableTypically 4 to 6 years. Academic track (teaching component)Close working relationship with adviser and professor(s)


After Master degree, it is possible to continue to Doctorate Degree program (not typical). However it may take longer time to graduate compare to direct Doctorate degree. Delay may be caused by different research subject.


Research Assistant vs Teaching Assistant vs other type financial aid

Teaching Assistant

• Teaching Assistant openings are more limited

• Not guaranteed every semester• Need to go through interview

process.• Work involves grading, provide

twice – three times a week class to undergraduate students. Reviewing what was discussed duing lecture. Answer questions to undergraduate students.

• Compete with other new students.• Office hour.

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Research Assistant

• Each professor has their own budget. Based on funding from sponsor (government + private)

• Need to go through interview process.

• May need to contact professor via email. Once you get accepted into the program. Subject of research varies.

• Some school may post availability online.

• Compete with other students.• Typically professor separates

Master and Doctorate fundings.Other type financial aid

• Out of state tuition waiver• Other organization, such as Fulbright, AID program.• Work on campus, work off campus.


Research Assistant at Georgia Tech

• Tuition fee fully paid

• Monthly stipends from school

• Commitment

• Independent research

• Weekly progress report and discussion with professor

• End of semester progress report

• Need to issue journal

• Need to attend and do presentation at conferences

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Conclusion

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• It is POSSIBLE for Indonesian graduates to get accepted in the best universities in the world. Every element of application CAN be prepared.

(Know several ITB alumni while at UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech)

• Allocate significant time and resources for school application; it could be the MOST IMPORTANT action in your life.

• Focus on getting accepted into good school first, NOT on getting scholarship.

• Prepare ALL aspects of school application, NOT LIMITED TO standardized tests.

• Research school options EXTENSIVELY.

• Apply to SEVERAL schools strategically.

• Build your resume, for students who still have plenty of time to graduate, ex : undergraduate research, community, diversity.



More resources and Q&A


@mkurnadi

http://www.facebook.com/mkurnadi

Martin Kurnadi Email: [email protected]

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Enjoy your ride !

applying to engineering graduate school in the usa

Education

graduate schools research

graduate school process

high school transcript

high school sma

graduate school1

school ranks us news

specific requirements

application deadline