Graduate Admissions Panel
In this session, four professors from various departments and answer questions in regards to the graduate admissions process. All application processes are similar, however key differences are highlighted below. For the Electrical Engineering Department & Computer Science, applications are submitted online and read by 78 - 120 professors, each individual application is read by 5 - 7 professors. The committee looks for whether applicants can do good research, independence, excitement, and passion. Requirements for both entrance and/or while in program: 3 Recs, Tech Qualifying & Research Qualifying Exam, becoming a Teaching Instructor, write a PhD thesis and Defendant to the Public. For the Chemical Engineering program, applications are submitted via paper format and read by three or more faculty, and submission of Statement of Objectives. The committee is looking for motivation and any indicators in whether applicants will succeed in the program if grades are shaky. For the Physics Department, applications are submitted online and read by 20/70 faculty while paying attention to incoming student chemistry (ie: # of astrophysicists vs. # particle physicists) and taking a holistic approach, but also looking for independence, analytical and course skills. For the Biological Engineering department, applications are submitted online and read by 15-20/30 faculty, of the admissions offers there is a 70% yield, and of the process itself: there is a two part division. A) Invitation. (Here students who are invited back to campus have the ability to cointerview and are required to participate in a poster session to talk about their research.) B) Admission
Graduate Admissions Panel:
Ed Bertschinger : Professor & Department Head of Physics
Paula Hammond : Bayer Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering, Former Head of Graduate Admissions
Leslie Kolodziejski : Professor & Graduate Officer for Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Forest White : Associate Professor & Graduate Officer for Biological Engineering
