The Perfect Program

With so many factors to consider, searching for a graduate program can be overwhelming.

The most important first step?or perhaps pre-step?is to take a look at yourself before you take a look at prospective programs. Assess your own priorities first: is it research area, then possible adviser, then location? Or do financial considerations trump them all? These are personal questions that only you can answer. Take the time to examine what you are searching for in a program before making big decisions.

One challenge to graduate program research is simply pinpointing factors to consider in your search. Here is a rundown of some of the key elements.

First things first?you need to decide if you want to pursue an MS or a PhD. For some, that's an easy choice, but for many, that choice is not so simple. In very general terms, the MS is sufficient for careers in industry or government, and a PhD is desirable for careers in academia.

This is painting the picture in very broad strokes, however. If you have an idea of what type of job you'd like to seek once graduated, check out CVs of people in the field?especially those who have graduated more recently. This should give you a better idea of what is typical to the field you'd like to pursue.

Great?you know what type of degree you are going to work toward, now the choice of institution begins. Academic and laboratory quality are clear factors, but finding a respected optics program is one thing and making sure it's the right program for you is another.

Know your personal technical interest areas. Even if your undergraduate degree only gave you a limited look at photonics research, it's a good idea to know what areas appeal to you, and which you'd like to investigate further.

A thorough understanding of department requirements, the average time it takes to complete a degree, and the percentage of students to pass qualifying exams on the first try are all important to investigate. Make sure to find out if there is a teaching requirement and what the expected time commitment is for such a requirement.

Understanding how the program?and your education?is funded can't be emphasized enough. Research the program's funding track record. Has it been consistent and is it sufficient? Find out if there is a stipend for housing, insurance, and other living expenses, then explore whether this is a realistic amount, what more you'll need to live on, and the options for supplementing this.

Finding out what alumni go on to do after graduation is also relevant. What is the likelihood of receiving a job fresh out of the program? How supportive are programs to the job search?

Researching the professors involved in the program is a crucial step and should go hand in hand with researching the program itself. Find out the active research areas of potential advisers, see if you can get a sense of their personality and of their support of students after graduation.

The catch here is that when applying for and even upon entering programs, there are no guarantees what adviser you'll receive. Choosing a program that has a variety of professors you'd be happy with is best.

There are a myriad of other practical considerations as well. Will sub-zero temperatures or months of rain be impossible to handle? Then there are geographic locations you'll want to scratch off the list. Do you have a significant other to consider? If so, make sure you and your partner are honest with each other about your possibilities. You may be the one entering the program, but your "better half" should be vital to the decision.

Thanks to the internet, researching the considerations listed so far is increasingly easier (see sidebar), but don't underestimate human contact. Once you've got your choices narrowed down, contact a few students and ask them about their experiences. Keep reading for a list of questions that are important to ask both current students and professors.

Researching graduate programs is hard work, but hopefully these guidelines will help make the effort a little easier.

There are numerous resources for finding graduate programs. Here are some highlights:

Published by SPIE and OSA, this directory details hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs in the many fields of optics and photonics around the world.

This is available in print or searchable online at www.opticseducation.org.

The AIP also provides statistical research on education and employment in physics in the United States available at www.aip.org/statistics. Especially interesting is "Core and Breadth in Physics Doctoral Education." The report has an interesting section that invited individual universities to share their best practices.

The acceptance letters have arrived, you've narrowed down your choices, and now it's time to really scrutinize the schools and programs.

This is the opportunity to visit campuses, explore the programs, and talk to students and professors to gain their perspectives. Whether during an in-person visit, or by email or phone, this human contact is invaluable for unique insight on the next few years of your life.

Provided here are some sample questions to ask students and professors.

It's important to do your homework ahead of time, and have questions tailored to the type of research being done at the university. If there is a particular area of research you are interested in, make sure to find out how much research is being done in this area.