exploring the possibilities

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm an international student, which makes it harder for me to get into a good grad school. However, I also realize that to get into a good grad school, you need to play your cards right and set yourself up to look like the real deal. This requires a great deal of planning.</p>

<p>That said, (GPA and GRE aside) research is the most important aspect of the grad school application. The recommendation letters too. So it would be best to have reputable professors write my recommendations. Moreover, the commitment to that research is also important. That said, is it safe to say that older professors = better? Also, students are judged based upon the results they produce, right? What is a good frame of reference for the amount of results a competent and dependable student would produce?</p>

<p>Lastly, I think it could be nice to do something else after graduating from college, such as finding a job in industry or something. Personally, I've thought about joining the Marine Corps and serve 4 years in non-infantry. Unfortunately, I don't have that green card. This brings me to my last question. Would taking time off and pursuing other temporary interests for a period of time leave you a much less competitive candidate for grad school? What if I'm gone for 1 year, 2 years, 4 years, and then apply for grad school? Do the things I do in between those times matter?</p>

<p>If someone can help me with some of my questions, that would be great.</p>

2

<p>

Not necessarily. Old professors might be “stuck” on old problems or semi-retired from research. Look for professors who are willing to mentor you, whose work you are interested in and who you can work with productively.</p>

<p>

That depends entirely on the project. Empirical work usually leads to some sort of result because you can always publish your data if nothing else. Theoretical work is less predictable: you either have a good idea or you don’t.</p>

<p>

This again depends on your field. Some fields practically require some work experience. Others highly discourage it. For many fields relevant work experience can strengthen your application, but it is not expected or required.</p>