Research goals

Graduate School
1

<p>So I have decided to go to grad school this fall but don't have an assistantship. So in my search for a research assistantship, I need to get my research goals and vision set. But I'm not sure how exactly to do that. All I know is that I am interested in two main research areas. But is two too many? Should I just focus on one? And plus, how specific should my research interests be? Should I have this dream research project in mind? An ultimate goal? How might I do this? Can I read literature to help me decide what my research goals are? </p>

<p>Or is it just enough to be interested in one or two research areas and target a few professors and labs to pursue? How many should I focus on? Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>What you’re interested in now is very much subject to change. You have to have an open mind about what you are willing to do. Target a few professors you’d like to work with, see how many invite you to work with them, and then make a decision based on which one interests you. Definitely do not lock yourself into something you may end up not liking.</p>

3

<p>Hmm ok…</p>

<p>But if the professors get back to me…or if I have to tell them what my research goals are…it’s enough to say interested in computational mechanics…or something interested in dynamics and control?? Both of these things are research areas…</p>

<p>Doesn’t have to be more specific than that?</p>