Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition brings information to Purdue

The event, which will focus on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and agriculture fields, will feature a series of workshops to aid prospective students.

The topics include funding graduate study, how to apply to graduate school, choosing a graduate program and how to succeed in graduate school. A panel discussion featuring industry representatives, professors and current graduate students also will take place.

The National Science Foundation will present a workshop on its Graduate Research Fellowship Program, government funding opportunities and programs administered by the American Society of Engineering Education.

"Workshops are a big component of the expo," said Dana Werner, director of Purdue's graduate student recruitment services. "They provide a platform for students to learn about the admissions and funding process."

In addition, a graduate school fair will be offered where faculty and student representatives from academic institutions will be available to answer questions.

Last year's expo attracted students from more than 70 institutions and 30 states. Prospective student attendance and institutional attendance at the expo more than doubled from 2004.

Along with Purdue, attending institutions include Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, Penn State University, Princeton University, University of Southern California and University of Wisconsin. A complete list of participating institutions is available online.

"Many universities have multiple booths or are represented by graduate admissions staff, along with faculty or students, so many departments are represented," Werner said. "We encourage universities to bring faculty and current graduate students to the event to interact with the students who attend the expo."

Information sessions for specific academic institutions will take place in the morning and immediately following the expo's close. The University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering information session will take place at 8 a.m. in Stewart Center, Room 310. The following universities will make presentations at 4:30 p.m.:

• Penn State University, "Mapping your Graduate School Experience." Stewart Center, Room 313.

• Princeton University, School of Engineering and Applied Science. Stewart Center, Room 318.

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Graduate Admissions. Purdue Memorial Union, Room 118.

• University of Michigan, College of Engineering and Program in Biomedical Sciences. Stewart Center, Room 206.

• University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Pharmacy: "Drug Action, Delivery, Design and Identification." Stewart Center, Room 202.

The expo, which runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will take place in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom. Student admission is $15, and travel scholarships are available before the preregistration deadline of Sept. 18. On the day of the event, admission is $20.

For information and the schedule of events go online.

Writer: Bethany Bannister-Andrews, (765) 494-2073, bbannister@purdue.edu

Source: Dana Werner, (765) 496-3310, dkwerner@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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