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jjm10j

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  • Location
    Tallahassee, FL
  • Application Season
    2015 Fall
  • Program
    Materials Science

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  1. So I just found out the school I will be attending for graduate study has a very small incoming class in my department, 9 new people when they currently have about 170. This is a large state school with lots of funding I am just wondering if yall considered this a good or bad thing? I am excited about starting work with my advisor and I know there is nothing I can do about it. I just wanted to get yalls opinion on the situation. Thanks!
  2. If you can do well on your GRE I think you have a good chance of getting into a PhD program. If you can address your GPA in some way in either your LOR or personal statement I think that would be good. It might not hurt to split your applications 50/50 to MS and PhD programs just to be safe though. GPA is only a small part of your overall application. The fact that you have research experience is a big boost to your resume. Other than that your resume seems pretty good. I was able to visit several schools to tour their materials science programs this spring and they mentioned that GPA was generally just something to remove applicants. If your GPA is above their minimum requirements then you should definitely try for PhD programs. Best of Luck!
  3. Hello! I will be starting a PhD in materials science and engineering. I am super excited!
  4. They did, I applied for Materials Science, but those are the dates that I was invited for.
  5. I did indicate professors that I wanted to work with, but I did not contact these professors. They did talk about matching students with professors there so hopefully I will get a match. Thank you for the advice!
  6. Hello everyone, I am going for a PhD in materials science I have been invited to both UT: Austin and Penn State over the phone to meet the professors and students and tour the department there. Both schools told me that I am not accepted to their programs yet and that I may be if I can be matched with a professor during the visitation weekend. Is this a sign that I am a student on the edge of acceptance or is this a common thing for many schools. A few of my friends have been accepted straight out to other schools so I am just curious. I am still super excited!! Thanks!
  7. So I wrote a first draft of my SOP and I would like some helpful critiques if anyone can. Background: I am completing a Bachelors in Mechanical Eng and I am applying for a PhD in Materials Science and Eng. GPA: 3.75, 90th percentile verbal and quantitative. I am shooting for top 20 materials schools. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I want to pursue a doctoral degree in Materials Science and Engineering at University XXXX to study solar cells and other photovoltaics used to generate electricity. I am very interested in the materials used to fabricate solar cells and I would like to work to make them more efficient at producing power and more cost effective for consumers. As an undergraduate I chose to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering because an interest in machinery and equipment that I gained from use on my grandfather’s farm as a child. In my third year at Florida State I took a materials science class taught by Dr. David Larbalestier. He had a great excitement for materials research and urged all the students to think critically about materials. The more I learned about materials, the more I wanted to learn and be involved in the field of materials science. My fourth year I took a thermodynamics course and a large portion of the semester was based around power generation. My professor was very enthusiastic about renewable energy, specifically solar power. He talked a lot about two major issues of solar power is that the panels cost too much and are not efficient enough except in certain environments. I found that I wanted to combine my strong interest in materials science with improving solar panels. After taking my first materials science class I applied for a research assistant position at the Applied Superconductivity Center near the college of engineering. I started the following semester and began to perform characterization and quality assurance testing on high temperature superconductors, specifically YBCO. This superconductor was to be used for the assembly of a 32 Tesla all-superconducting magnet, the strongest superconducting magnet ever built. At work my tasks consisted of sample preparation for critical current testing, hardness testing, chemical etching, imaging with both optical and scanning electron microscopes, and focused ion beam cutting. I loved my time in the lab and because of that I applied for and received a research internship at Oak Ridge National Lab. At Oak Ridge I performed research on refrigeration systems powered by the magnetocaloric effect present in gadolinium. My work consisted of modeling with various software including Solidworks and Vent 2, design and construction of an accelerated life testing device, and testing of a new prototype refrigerator that will produce the same cooling power as current systems, but without the harmful refrigerants used in most refrigerators. I chose to apply to University XXXX because of your large focus on research and the flexibility you offer students in their studies during the pursuit of their graduate degree. (Insert Professor Specific comment here?) With over two years of research completed as an undergraduate I have found that I very much enjoy the atmosphere and that I would fit very easily into your system. I feel that your research facilities, specifically the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX would allow me to make strides in my work as a graduate student that no other University could provide. I have worked under several different researchers and have learned that each one is a little different in how they like to approach their work. This has made me adaptable to new situations and a quick learner when it comes to new skills and techniques. With a doctoral degree from University XXXX, I would be more than prepared for my life following graduate school. I plan to continue my research into materials science at either a National Laboratory or in the private sector as a researcher so my work can be used to benefit the next generation of photovoltaics and renewable energy. The amount of solar energy that could be harnessed into electricity is incredible and if only a small increase in efficiency of solar panels could be made, it would have a profound impact on society.I would like to thank the selection committee for considering my application to University XXXX and I look forward to continuing my education in your institute. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am lacking a "hook" but I have no idea how to make that work. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank You!
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