WES Student Advisor 1 | Page 8

GRADUATES CHOOSING YOUR BEST FIT GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM Did you know that over half of ALL engineering graduate-level students at U.S. colleges and universities are international? In fact, one in three international graduate students currently majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) at a U.S. college or university is studying towards an engineering master’s or doctoral degree. Below we’ve listed the top 25 universities where most graduate engineering students are currently studying. SIX STEPS TO SHORTLISTING GRADUATE SCHOOLS #1. Pick 3-4 schools each in your Dream, Fit, and Safe zones. Your Dream zone will be those that you’ve always dreamed of attending but may be a challenge to get into. Your Fit zone includes those you either feel confident you have a good chance of being accepted. Your Safe zone will include those that you are very confident of being accepted. #2. Determine your research area and, if possible, be specific. Within each engineering major, there are subsets of research that students can choose to focus on. For instance, within Biomedical Engineering, you can either focus on the more biological research or medical device research. #3. Choose a location where you want to build a professional network. The U.S. boasts over 4,000+ colleges and universities. California alone is home to seven universities with large international engineering graduate populations. This may be tied to the presence of tech hubs in Silicon Valley, where nearly one-fourth of all jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in STEM. Admit Data Tip: A PhD is a terminal degree whereas a Master’s degree can provide you with additional learning opportunities. So choose wisely!