November 11, 2009
Is there a minimum score for the TOEFL?
Yes, we do require that the TOEFL score be at least 100 on the iBT (600 or higher on the paper-based test). The reasoning behind it is as a first-year PhD student, you will be taking several courses the first year that require high-level English language skills. For example in SI-701 Doctoral Foundations, you will be required to read, synthesize, and discuss large amounts of literature. You may be asked to give presentations. We have discovered that students with TOEFL scores lower than 100 have a great deal of trouble being successful in the doctoral program, because they just can’t keep up.
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Posted by sues at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)
November 09, 2009
For Current School of Information MSI Students
If you are a current SI student, the application process is a little different. Unlike when you applied for your MSI, you can't apply to our program on-line. You need to fill out a "Change of Program" form. The good news is that you don't need to pay another application fee!
Application: Rackham “Change of Program” form located at:
http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/admissions/forms/ChangeofProgram.pdf Send one copy to Rackham, and one copy to SI. Use 01100 as the program number.
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Posted by sues at 04:12 PM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2009
Letters of Recommendation
Who should write your letters of recommendation? You need three recommendation letters. They should be written by faculty members and/or professional colleagues who are in a position to judge your potential for success in the doctoral program, your aptitude for research, and your capacity to make a contribution to your chosen field.
You should plan on asking your reference writers well in advance of the January 5th deadline. You want your recommender to give you a good recommendation, here are a few tips:
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Posted by sues at 01:45 PM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2009
Is there funding available?
Yes, we fund our Ph.D. Students!
All Ph.D. students in the School of Information are guaranteed four years of funding, provided they are making satisfactory progress towards their degree. This includes tuition and stipend for four fall and winter terms, and year-round health benefits; it also includes a stipend for two summer terms. Additional funding may be available.
Posted by sues at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2009
If I’m not admitted to the PhD program can I still apply to the MSI program?
If you are not admitted to our PhD program, but would like to be considered for the MSI program, you should contact me.
Because the programs are quite different, I will ask you write the MSI Essay/Statement of purpose, and send it to me as an attachment. When I receive it, I will pass it along to the MSI admissions committee.
You will not need to pay an additional application fee to do this, however, the disadvantage to this is that you will most likely miss the first round of MSI financial aid, since the deadline for first consideration is February 1.
You can, of course apply to both programs at the same time, but I believe that Rackham Graduate School would charge an application fee for both programs.
Posted by sues at 09:12 AM | Comments (0)
PhD or Master's?
As some students are thinking about graduate school, they have to decide if they are going to apply to a PhD program, or a Master's program. This can be a really tough decision if you aren't sure which one will be the best fit for you.
Here at SI, there are some major differences between our PhD and Master's programs.
Our PhD program is focused on research, and training you to do original research to create new knowledge in the information field. Our graduates go on to positions in research universities or in the industry.
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Posted by sues at 08:48 AM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2009
What should I include in the Application Essay?
The application essay or statement of purpose is an important part of your application! The essay helps us determine a “fit” with the school and our faculty. It is also a chance for you to tell us what makes your application unique. The essay is your chance to communicate directly with the admissions committee, so take advantage of this opportunity!
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Posted by sues at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2009
How do I know which application pieces you have received?
When you submit your application through the EMBARK system that the Rackham Graduate School uses, your application, is then downloaded by the SI admissions office. Your SI Application Essay, Personal Statement, and your resume are also downloaded at this time. If you elect to have your recommenders submit their letters online to us, then you will receive a confirmation email directly through the online application system, as soon as the recommender submits their letter. For all the other remaining pieces, or to get a quick overview of what we have received or what we still might need in your application, you can also go to our Web site to check your application status. This will lead you to a personalized Web page that will let you know which documents we have received, and what we might still be waiting for. This will only work if you have submitted your application already, and if a couple of days have passed for us to have received your documents and matched them to your application. If this system doesn’t work for you, you can also email me directly and we can check on your status for you.
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Posted by sues at 04:04 PM | Comments (0)
The Review Process
The deadline for doctoral program applications is January 5, 2010. The doctoral committee is comprised of SI faculty and one current doctoral student. Once applications are received, they are loaded into a data base that the committee will use to review applications. We use a holistic approach to admissions, all materials are important in decision process. Each file is reviewed in full by multiple reviewers. Files are not screened by GPA or GRE scores before review.
Our goal is to finish reviewing applications and to make offers of admission by mid-to-late February. You will receive your notice via e-mail.
I expect that we will make between 10 to 20 offers of admission this year
Posted by sues at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)
What do we look for in an applicant?
We are looking for applicants with solid academic and research backgrounds and who have a strong interest in and understanding of the School of Information. We want to see applicants with superior academic records, with evidence of ability to engage in independent and original study in an information field.
Applicants should have a distinguished record of scholarship, maturity, integrity, intellectual honesty, leadership potential, professional promise, and the capability of making substantive and scholarly research contributions to the field.
We also look for a “fit” with research interests of our faculty.
Posted by sues at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
Applying to the School of Information Doctoral Program
Welcome to my PhD Admissions Blog! I hope you will find the information here to be useful as you apply to our doctoral program. If you have any admissions questions, please feel free contact me. Please come back often!
Posted by sues at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)
