AN OVERVIEW OF

GRADUATE
EDUCATION
An outline of the process, and the tips and tricks to
securing your graduate school
- Srivaths Ramasubramanian (ECE, RVCE)
Why Graduate School in General?

▪ Greater Research Thrust

▪ You are not contented with a bachelor’s degree and want to boost your profile
▪ You seek academic challenges
▪ You want the experience of being educated by a great professor
▪ You want a better job
▪ You seek an academic career
▪ And many more……
Why Graduate School Abroad?

▪ More focus on research

▪ You want to attain much greater career opportunities
▪ To experience a different research-oriented teaching style
▪ Very independent lifestyle
▪ You want to network internationally
▪ Cultural immersion
▪ You wish to land a prosperous job in a foreign land
VARIOUS DEGREE TYPES

Should I pursue an MS or a PhD?

Traditional Master of Science (MS or MSc)

▪ The traditional 2-year program, where in your final semester you must produce a
thesis
▪ Research-oriented degree. Need to produce a thesis in your final semester
▪ Some universities also offer an MS-Research degree
▪ The research MS may not be offered in all universities. It is a good idea to check on
the university’s website
Accelerated MS

▪ This is a 1-year (slightly more) program, which completes your MS in rapid time
▪ No (or minimal) research component in the curriculum
▪ Coursework based curriculum. You also get professional and vocational course
training
▪ A good choice for those students who aspire to pursue a corporate life post their
graduate school
▪ Prepares you for industry
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

▪ Considered the terminal degree in Engineering (unless you want to pursue a Post Doc)
▪ Students with a very high interest in pursuing an academic career, or want to invent
and be a master in their field, must pursue this.
▪ Typically lasts for several years (anywhere between 3 to 7 years)
▪ USA (and a few European Universities) admit students directly from Bachelor’s. Most
PhD students in many universities have only an undergraduate degree
▪ Can also pursue a PhD post your MS or MS-Research (it might be difficult for
Accelerated MS students to enroll in a PhD)
FIRST STEP: INTROSPECT AND
ATTAIN CLARITY ON YOUR GOALS
▪ Spend several days on your intentions to pursue a graduate degree. Plan your ultimate
objectives in your life.
▪ Setting your ultimate goals would help you throughout the process, especially in your
SoPs.
▪ Choose your degree objective – Are you interested in an MS or a PhD?
▪ Convey to your parents, and request them to be prepared
SECOND STEP: UNIVERSITY
SHOPPING!
Overview of University Shopping

▪ Go through your desired program in several universities

▪ Feel free to research universities from several countries. Different countries have
different systems!
Example: The USA allows research freedom, while the EU may not (not necessarily)
▪ Open an Excel spreadsheet / Google Sheets. Make a table, and note down important
information
▪ Do this till you are satisfied
▪ Long process, can take several months
Research on Professors of your Interests

▪ In all those programs you shortlisted, are there professors who matched your
interests?
▪ Note their research interests, Lab information, mail ID, and other important information
▪ Follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc.
▪ Try mailing for an Internship! If you can work under them in your free time before
applying, it’s a big bonus!
▪ Professors are important specifically for a PhD, and very helpful for MS
▪ Again, a long process and takes several months
THIRD STEP: STANDARDIZED TESTS
Overview of the Standardized Tests

▪ Once you are confident of your choices, prepare for your standardized tests
▪ TOEFL and the IELTS:
▪ Required to demonstrate your English proficiency level
▪ Easy exam. Can prepare in less than a month

▪ GRE:
▪ Not required for most programs. But research and find out if your university requires it
▪ A good idea to write the exam.
▪ A good score on the GRE would help you boost your application in certain sections.
Example – If you come from a lesser-known institution, the GRE can help boost your application
▪ Slightly harder and requires more time to prepare

▪ Important to study the exam before preparing

▪ Studying for Duolingo / PTE is NOT Recommended. It is NOT accepted everywhere
Resources for the Tests

▪ TOEFL-
▪ TST Prep: [Link]

▪ GRE-
▪ An official guide to the GRE – ETS (official book from ETS)
▪ Maghoosh: [Link]
▪ Maghoosh flashcards app. Download from Google Play or Apple Store
▪ Other sources: Manhattan, Princeton Review, Kaplan
FOURTH STEP: SHORTLIST
UNIVERSITIES
Shortlisting Your Universities

▪ From your list of universities, choose the best universities you would want to apply to
▪ Compare between two universities to select.
▪ Sometimes, you may need to compare between programs offered (especially for
Computer Engineering – Can be offered in Computer Science and Electrical and
Computer Engineering)
▪ Choose a set of 10 to 15 universities from your overall list
▪ Also, choose a matrix. For example, if I am applying to 10 universities, I may want to
choose such that-
▪ 4 Ambitious
▪ 3 Moderate
▪ 3 Easy

▪ Also, send your GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores to the universities you shortlisted
FIFTH STEP: MAIL PROFESSORS
Mailing Professors

▪ Mail professors and explain your interest in joining their labs

▪ Usually, they do not reply. If they do, it provides you an elevated platform to explain
your interests to a professor
▪ Can help you connect with him, and accelerate admit
▪ This step is a MUST for PhD aspirants
▪ Optional but highly desirable for MS aspirants
SIXTH STEP: WRITE YOUR
STATEMENTS
Statement of Purpose (SoP) – Tips and Tricks

▪ Explain your research and academic background in brief

▪ Your internships and outcomes. What did you learn?
▪ Your independent projects
▪ Try to weave a story, centered around your ultimate aspirations
▪ Read research papers authored by your shortlisted professors. Pick out your favorite
points from those articles and mention them.
▪ Mention your ultimate goals after the completion of your degree
▪ Keep the SoP technically focused and rich.
▪ Word limit: 1000 words (fits most university guidelines)
Statement of Purpose (SoP) – Don'ts

▪ Do not mention random life experiences, unless it is relevant to your goal.

▪ Relevant life experience: You taught your juniors (motivates you to become a professor in your future,
ultimately tying to your desire to pursue graduate school)
▪ Irrelevant life experience: You donated blood during blood donation camp (does that relate to graduate
school?)
▪ Irrelevant experiences would dilute the SoP

▪ Do not use cliches

▪ Phrases like fueled my passion, providing me a launchpad, sending me into orbit (honestly what is
this??)
▪ They don’t add much to the SoP, and make the reader in the admissions committee numb

▪ Do not reproduce your resume on your SoP. This is a common mistake!

▪ If you are a PhD aspirant, you MUST mention potential faculty members and research
in your essay. Not mentioning faculty and research would not add credibility to your
application.
SEVENTH STEP: REGISTER FOR
APPLICATION AND APPLY
Open your Application Portals

▪ Register yourself on the university application portals

▪ Enter the relevant details
▪ Upload your relevant documents
▪ Transcripts
▪ Resume
▪ SoP
▪ Personal Statement (for some programs)

▪ Pay the application fee by DEADLINE

▪ Late applications are mostly unaccepted. Highly advisable to pay your fee by deadline
Application Form Experience

▪ ETH Zurich Application form

Application Form Experience

▪ Georgia Tech Application form

EIGHTH STEP: POST APPLICATION
Follow Up with Universities

▪ Respond to the emails instructed by the universities

▪ Mail your professors periodically, motivating them to pick your application
▪ Watch your cards fall
▪ Admits can be released anytime between January and April. So be patient and trust
the process
NOTE ON LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)

▪ Select three recommendation providers. Choose professors or internship managers

who know your work and profile well. You should have worked with them for a
considerable amount of time
▪ Do not choose a big-shot individual who does not know you much. He/She might write
an LoR, but it would be generic and would thus, be dilute
▪ A recommendation can be from anyone. Being a student, target for-
▪ 2 Academic and 1 Professional
▪ All 3 Academic

▪ Let them know in advance that you will be applying, and follow up with them to complete the
letter.
NOTE ON CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Are Consultants Good?

▪ Many consultancies help you with your applications for a large fee
▪ Though they promise success, they are not advisable
▪ They will bias you to a certain university.
▪ They might undersell you
▪ Universities would highly prefer you to apply yourself
▪ Highly recommend you to apply yourselves. Just follow these steps and you would be
alright
▪ Examples of Consultants – Kaplan, Manya-Princeton Review, Maven Consultancy
TIMELINE TO FOLLOW
(NOT STRICTLY)
Suggested Timeline
DISTRIBUTION OF APPLICATION
PACKAGE WEIGHT
Application Package – Importance Per Component
(This can Vary!!)
PLEASE RENEW YOUR PASSPORT
ASAP!!
ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!