Getting into Grad school....Tips, Suggestions, Thoughts

[Stiganator]

My buddies and I were talking today and I think we have all decided to go to graduate school. My plan is to shoot for a Phd and skip the M.S. unless it happens to fall in place. Having trouble deciding what I should go for. What is a good marketable Phd to have? I have a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. I feel like Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science are both very utilitarian and broadly desireable. I thought about doing Chinese, but I don't know if I would get returns on that Phd as opposed to just fluently learning Chinese instead. I was also considering Computer Science, but I think I would need extra catch up schooling and it seems like the really successful people don't even have a formal training. Another consideration was a Phd in business, but my friends didn't think that was in high demand. Thoughts?

What do graduate schools look at most on the application, i.e. GRE scores etc? What should I be doing to get a leg up on the competition?

 

[jaybert]

lol..how about getting one in something you are interested in? Seeing how you will be doing it for the next 5-6 years?

 

[darktubbly]

I can't comment on what grad schools are looking for in general, as it really varies depending on the school. A word of advice if you care to listen; look for a professor who is doing research in a field you are interested in, and make sure you're going to grad school for the right reasons.

 

[rsd]

sounds like you are treating a phd like it's a pez dispenser. I'd put a little more thought as to why you want to do it instead of just "my friends are doing it", considering you will be doing it for the next several years.

 

[Gibson486]

PhD is a full time job in itself. It's not something you just get.

 

[Stiganator]

Well the thing is, I find technology and science on the whole interesting. It's hard to choose just one thing, but you kind of have to.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
My buddies and I were talking today and I think we have all decided to go to graduate school. My plan is to shoot for a Phd and skip the M.S. unless it happens to fall in place. Having trouble deciding what I should go for. What is a good marketable Phd to have? I have a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. I feel like Mechanical Engineering or Materials Science are both very utilitarian and broadly desireable. I thought about doing Chinese, but I don't know if I would get returns on that Phd as opposed to just fluently learning Chinese instead. I was also considering Computer Science, but I think I would need extra catch up schooling and it seems like the really successful people don't even have a formal training. Another consideration was a Phd in business, but my friends didn't think that was in high demand. Thoughts?

What do graduate schools look at most on the application, i.e. GRE scores etc? What should I be doing to get a leg up on the competition?

From my experience working in the materials sci grad dept, if you are an american student, you will have no problem getting in. Our dept is nearly 100% chinese immigrants....the americans just don't apply.