Visiting Advice
Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:48 pm
I'll be visiting ASU next week, and I thought it would be helpful to get some advice from others about what to expect as well as pass on some advice that my professors have given me.
First off:
From those of you who have visited schools before, what should be expected? Will professors expect you to be well acquanted with their research or the way the department is run? What sort of clothes should be worn (formal or casual)? Any specific questions you feel should be asked or avoided?
From my professors:
If you're a female, make sure you find out if the department is female friendly. One professor mentioned that the University of Washington has a lot of inter-departmental conflict that can often affect grad students on a private level, if not a professional one, so it might be useful to ask other grad students if there are any (unfriendly) rivalries in the department.
It has also been discussed on this board that occasionally departments will force students out after completing only a Masters so they can use them as TAs without having to fund them through a PhD. It would be smart to ask other grad students about this issue as well.
First off:
From those of you who have visited schools before, what should be expected? Will professors expect you to be well acquanted with their research or the way the department is run? What sort of clothes should be worn (formal or casual)? Any specific questions you feel should be asked or avoided?
From my professors:
If you're a female, make sure you find out if the department is female friendly. One professor mentioned that the University of Washington has a lot of inter-departmental conflict that can often affect grad students on a private level, if not a professional one, so it might be useful to ask other grad students if there are any (unfriendly) rivalries in the department.
It has also been discussed on this board that occasionally departments will force students out after completing only a Masters so they can use them as TAs without having to fund them through a PhD. It would be smart to ask other grad students about this issue as well.