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PHASMATIS

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  • Application Season
    2015 Fall
  • Program
    Electrical Engineering

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  1. Undergrad Institution: Top 15 National University in US (Small-Medium size, private, not THAT great in eng, except BME) Major(s): Electrical Engineering Minor(s): N/A GPA in Major: Overall GPA: 3.4+/4.0, BUT junior/senior GPA: 3.75+/4.0 Length of Degree: 4 years Position in Class: Don't know, don't care, most likely not very high Type of Student: US Citizen, South Asian, Female GRE Scores: Q: 170 V: 159 W: Don't care enough to remember... >=4 I think Research Experience: Started since high school - Intel International Science Fair Winner in Physics. At current university, had experiences with nanomaterials/plasmonics/nano- and micro-photonics research. Tried out several labs and several areas initially, then did summer research and regular semesters of research in a MEMS lab for plasmonics (1 year), did photonics research at an EE lab (2 years + summer) - loved it! This is what I am pursuing in grad studies. Presented at undergraduate symposiums Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Highest Engineering Merit scholarship - full tuition waived for all 4 years. Several thousand dollar research award and grant money. Summer Undergraduate Research Award, Dean's list (for a few semesters), Leadership Awards, etc. Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Undergraduate TA (grader, holding office hours, a few lectures there when professor is out) for Physics (2 years), Tutor for Solid state Circuits, Control systems, Systems Engineering Lab Applying for [ MS ] or [ PhD ] at: Applied for PhD for all BUT ended up taking a funded masters at a top EE program ACCEPTANCES: 1. UW Madison - ECE - top 20 program - for PhD, 6 month project assistantship 2. UCLA - EE - top 20 program - for MS, withdrew before any funding decision 3. UCSD - ECE - top 20 program - for PhD, no funding, nominated for a 2 year fellowship but no guarantee 4. UIUC - ECE - top 5 program - for MS, full tuition waiver w/ TA + stipend (Accepted this offer)!!!!!!!!! 5. Also, accepted into BS/MS program at current undergrad university (20% tuition waiver) REJECTIONS: 1. Stanford 2. Berkeley 3. Caltech (Wait listed then rejected) 4. Columbia (Wait Listed, withdrew after accepting UIUC) 5. UPenn 6. Harvard NOTES and ADVICE: I am aware my GPA is rather uncompetitive when it comes to applying to the top 20 schools + Ivy Leagues. So, to be honest, I wasn't really expecting any acceptances - certainly not a top 5 ECE program - and had the 5 year BS/MS program at my university as a backup plan. I would spend a year doing MS + research, pull my grades up, and then reapply for PhD. But this wasn't the most attractive option as, even with 20% tuition paid for, the overall year would have been very expensive nonetheless. 4 things that saved me: 1. Had done a lot of research and had some of the most amazing recs one could possible ask for. 2. My overall GPA is not competitive, but while first 2 years were shitty, junior/senior GPA was great! So adcomms saw the improvement and that is a plus. 3. Had 7 people review my SOPs - until I was sure it was as good as it was going to get, and this was a plus in my application as told by many of the adcomms and profs I talked to. 4. Getting in touch with POIs is key BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE ELSE AND THEIR FUTURES!
  2. Thank you everyone! I have accepted the funded ms at UIUC! Good luck to everyone on their decisions/future
  3. It really depends on what you're looking for, your future goals, and fit...
  4. So, MS with funding is recommended over getting into phd and then actively searching for TA/RAships? How likely is it to find TA/some sort of employment after entering if I am not given anything with the offer? The Madison program - I have heard he is a very strict guide and sometimes unpredictable, and that he is known to not accept students after the prob. period. Though it is still >50%. Thank you guys so much for the advice.
  5. Got into UIUC with renewable graduate assistantship (tuition waived/TA-ship + stipend). One of my favorite schools(was considering for undergrad), close to home, ranked very high in ECE. BUT. It is a MS program. (of course there is the potential for going onto PhD), heard the campus is nice but cornfields elsewhere? OR: UW-Madison ECE PhD with 6 month project assistantship for the first year, no other funding guaranteed. The POI is going to "observe" during this project assistantship (probationary period) and then may or may not take me. But research is pretty cool. Top 20 ECE program. Nice college town. OR: UCSD ECE PhD with no funding, no professor. Fellowship nomination that I won't hear back from until well past the deadline and with fellowship I would have to work for someone who I am not that interested in. Top 20 ECE program, great location. I have asked everywhere, I cannot get extensions. Decision must be made by tomorrow. Any help is appreciated Thanks!
  6. I have literally talked to the following: 4-5 professors (3 I have met personally) Dean and Assistant Dean of specific program, Dean of Department, 3 people from ECE Graduate Affairs Office, 2-3 grad students I have met personally, 2 postdocs, and Dean of Graduate Admissions Either I am not getting a reply or just getting bad news. I am ready to commit to either one - just really need to hear about funding, and if possible...without accepting the offer first in order to apply for TA. Getting nothing on RA first year. Are we allowed to accept offers from multiple programs simultaneously and then back out on the less favorable ones?
  7. Not international. American. I have been asking current students who are already in the programs. Everything they have said and in all the links they have sent...I have to have a valid email address from that university to apply for TA positions. I'm afraid to accept the offer just to get a university email if I am not guaranteed some sort of financial assistance. Should I go ahead and do it?
  8. So, I am one. from ECE. Literally nothing is happening. No matter whom I contact. No news. No statement saying I won't be funded. But at this point....is there really any hope? People in similar situations? People who got over this situation?
  9. Literally dying here. not getting first year funding anywhere. Is it likely that once we enter we'll get TA or something? And what are the chances of getting RA or a lab position after the first semester/year? Please.
  10. The following is what I keep hearing from them: --------------------- Unfortunately, we are not able to offer funding to all the students to whom we offer admission. Some students are able to get outside funding (such as government funding or agency funding) and are able to attend without funding from the department. It is possible to get some support in the form of a TAship starting in your second quarter, but this is not guaranteed. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you but I hope this information is helpful. --------------- I'm literally desperate here.
  11. I was offered admissions for PhD in EE back in January. Decision deadline is coming up soon, but haven't heard any word on funding. Is this normal? Why would a program accept a student for PhD so early on if they weren't planning to fund even a little? I've emailed 4-5 professors and talked to the admissions office...Any idea what to do?
  12. Should I call them an ask for an update then? I haven't received anything - expecting a rejection - but still.
  13. Are there still people waiting for this? Why is it taking so long?
  14. Thank you for the advice! I have met them in person and had some lovely conversations. One directly told everyone that he isn't taking any new students this year. Another, I only talked to the grad students/post doc in his lab since the POI was busy, and another said I should focus on classes first. There are many students who already have an advisor, and that way they are receiving funding for their study. I won't have anything my first year it seems :/ which I am a bit upset about.
  15. I posted this elsewhere, but perhaps it is better here.... I have two acceptances: EE PhD programs from UCSD and UW-Madison. Both a great, top 20 EE graduate programs, so I ams stoked. However...here's the dilemma: At one place, I have a guide (who claims he can fund me when his proposals are accepted, which hasn't happened yet and most likely won't until many months later). For the other place, I really like the program and several of the groups but I can't seem to find a research guide. (talked to 4 people: one won't take students until next year, another already has spots filled, haven't heard back from 2). Is anyone else in a similar situation? I don't understand why a program would accept me without having professors who actually are willing to take me on...
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