Mechanical Engineering Research Path

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm a 3rd year mechanical engineering major at the University of Louisville. I like the school but I want to go the Phd/research route and UofL is more geared toward BS/M.Eng (the PhD is hardly ever mentioned and I don't think we have very many PhD students). Because of this, I'm planning on applying next year (I graduate with a BS in 2012) to a range of programs that would be more oriented toward the research path. </p>

<p>I've gotten good grades (GPA: ~3.9), worked on the Formula SAE team for a year, and I will have worked for an entire calendar year (three semesters: fall, spring, summer) in three different positions as an engineering co-op at an aerospace company (Hamilton Sundstrand) by the time I apply next December. However, I will be only just starting to do academic research at my school this coming spring (I'll be working in a lab for the first time). </p>

<p>I wanted to get involved in research earlier but my co-ops have gotten in the way (I spent both the fall and spring semester of this year on co-op in Rockford, IL). My concern is that my lack of research experience could hurt my application for graduate school, especially where I will be applying directly to PhD programs. </p>

<p>Although my co-ops haven't been, strictly speaking, research positions, I have done many tasks that would be directly comparable to research such as performing vibration testing on Joint Strike Fighter hardware (fuel and oil pumps as well as the engine-mounted gearbox) and designing components used in testing electrical generators (for aircraft). I am not sure how programs will value this experience versus actual academic research experience (I've emailed ME programs about this and gotten ambiguous and mixed responses).</p>

<p>I will have a whole year (spring and fall) of research experience by the time I apply but from reading other posts on this forum, apparently that isn't very much for someone in my position. What should I do in this coming year to improve my graduate school admission chances (I will be in school during the spring and fall but on co-op again during the summer semester)? Also, how do you think schools will view my experience working in the field as someone that wants to do research?</p>

<p>PS. As far as the GRE goes, I'm currently studying for it (about to take a practice one actually...) and will take it this January so I'll have plenty of time to retake it if necessary.</p>

2

<p>I think you will be fine. You have good grades and it sounds like you at least have lot of practical engineering experience. Just be sure to try to get as much out of your research experience as you can and try to get a letter from the professor you work with. Are there people at your co-ops who will be able to write you a good letter of recommendation?</p>

<p>If you got actual hands on practical engineering work I think that will definitely look good on your application. In fact from what you mentioned it sounds to me like you got a lot of the same experiences an undergrad working in a lab at their university would get. Its not like most undergrads working at their university are coming up with their own research topic and investigating it all by themselves. They are usually setting up and performing experiments for research projects developed by professors and grad students.</p>

3

<p>I think the first supervisor I had on co-op might be someone to ask for a recommendation. He doesn’t have a PhD but he’s a vibration expert (30 years of experience) and gets called up by the vice president of the company and other companies to diagnose vibration issues. I’ve been debating whether it would be better to get his recommendation or a professor’ recommendation since the professor would be more familiar with what an admissions committee for a ME department would want to know. </p>

<p>At the same time, it might be good to have atleast one recommendation come from someone that I worked with on co-op. What do you think?</p>

4

<p>I think anyone who can talk about your aptitude as an engineer is good. I have known a few friends however who had problems getting letters from industry supervisors because they could not talk much about specifics of what the student did. But that would be something to talk to your former supervisor about. </p>

<p>Definitely do not replace a letter from a Co-op supervisor with a professor who can only write a “This student took my class and received an A.” letter because that probably will not help you at all.</p>