Department of

Electrical and Computer Engineering

A Department of the Institute of Technology

Graduate Handbook About our Program

Department Application Goldy Gopher
Deadline: November 30th

Applicants:
Our admission decision is based on all aspects of your file. No one factor alone, such as GREs, decides the outcome. Your application will be judged based on:
* your academic record--in the context of the rigor and reputation of your undergraduate and graduate university and major:
* the informativeness of your goals/objectives statement;
* letters of recommendation;
* test scores; and
* your preparation for and fit with the program, including identity of adviser.

Please email Linda Jagerson, jager001@umn.edu, the following PDF documents in support of your application. In the email subject lilne, please list the following 'Supporting Documents -- YOUR NAME'.
1. Transcripts (Bachelors, Masters) in English and your Native language
2. GRE General test only
3. TOEFL (International Students Only)
4. Resume
5. Publications - limit 3 (if no publications, provide thesis, or project paper)
6. A statement which answers the following:
* the rigor and reputation of your undergratuate University and major curriculum;
* the comparative strength of your academic record compared to other students in your class;
* the relevant research or scholarly experience you have had;
* how your background is a good 'fit' within our program. Explain how your interests are a good match for the
faculty members you list you would like to work with;
* unique positive factors. Have you participated in summer programs, competitions?, etc.;
* if you have fluctuating grades, low GRE scores, please explain.

If you are unable to submit any of the above information by the deadline, please submit what you can ana include a note when we will receive any missing information.

The department will not consider any applicant for admission who has not filed both a Graduate School application and a Department application. Minnesota residents who are part-time students working in industry need only submit the Graduate Application and the Department application (they do not need to submit scanned copies of transcripts and test scores). If you are missing any supporting documents, please get everything else in by the deadline and include a note on when we will receive the missing information.

Our first Graduate Committee meeting to review Graduate applicant files for admission and financial assistance will be around the middle of December. We would not be to begin this process in December if we waited for the Graduate School to forward all Graduate School applications to our program before beginning the admissions/financial assistance process. This is why you need to send separate documentation to both the department and the Graduate School. Note: Will will accept a photo copy for purpose of evaluating your application. Official scores and transcripts will need to be submitted if you are admitted to our progam.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®) General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.

  • The GRE Institution Code for the University of Minnesota is 6874
  • The GRE Department Code for the Electrical Engineering Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota is 1203

All international applications should submit GRE test scores (General Test scores only).

U.S. applicants desiring financial aid should submit GRE scores (the one exception being if you received your BEE. degree from the University of Minnesota).

NOTE TO APPLICANTS FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, KOREA, TAIWAN, AND HONG KONG:

Please note the GRE General Test will be administered in two parts in the People’s Republic of China, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The Analytical Writing section is offered on computer; the Verbal and Quantitative sections are offered at a paper-based administration.

Test takers are required to take both the computer-based and paper-based parts of the GRE General Test in the same testing year, and must take the computer-based Analytical Writing portion first. A choice of two paper-based administrations will be offered during the 2007-08 testing year, spaced out so as to minimize congestion in the computer-based test (CBT) centers. You should schedule an appointment for the CBT Analytical Writing measure through the Prometric Regional Registration Center.

For more information refer to the GRE Web Site External Link.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Minnesota is 6874
  • The TOEFL Department Code for the Electrical Engineering Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota is 66

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Graduate School ApplicationRunning Goldy Gopher
Deadline: December 15th

The Graduate School application must be completed online at the Graduate School website. All letters of recommendation must be done online as part of the Graduate Application process. When you complete the Graduate Application you will be asked to list the email addresses of those writing letters of recommendation on your behalf. The Graduate School will contact your recommenders directly about what they need to do to submit their letters of recommendation online.

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose is an important part of your application. We are looking for diligent researchers capable of working hard and a consistent individual able to stick to a difficult task for a long time. Please include the following information when writing your statement of purpose:

  1. Make your statement concise. "Concise" means that you have given thought to the composition of your statement to make it a clear and cohesive piece of prose (with a natural/logical flow) that covers all the necessary points and doesn't cover unnecessary points.
  2. Describe what your principle research interests are.
  3. Desribe which experiences have contributed toward your preparation for further study in this field.
  4. Describe one research problem, project or area for Electrical Engineering that excites you.
  5. Describe how you are a "match" for our program. Explain what attracts you most to the University of Minnesota Electrical Engineering Graduate Program, to which you are applying. Align your research interests with one or more of professors listed on the ECE website.
  6. Tell us what are your future goals are.

What the statement of purpose should not be:

  • The statement of purpose is not about character (honesty, sincerety, conscientiousness, etc.).
  • The statement of purpose should not be an autobiographical sketch (for example, the story of your first computer when you were 10 years old and how it inspired you to devote your life to Electrical Engineering).

Format/Length

  • Format: Single spaced with at least a 10 point font and reasonable margins (at least 1 inch on all sides, preferrably more on the left and right with a 10 point font, Times New Roman font).
  • Length: Not more than 2 pages.