Ta. -AA 'n'i4rb l fl ,il . t411 A1...L _. TL. nr Li....+.,1 .0 4 fnnV ne MicHigan' vauy' ranUtI(W0M'- AND, v-, v zit - i ne micni2an uaaty tail UUVOOx - i nursaav. UCToner 13. lyyr -s -- ® , ..j - 4 Graduate School Information Fair Thursday October 30, 1997 Noon - 4:00 pm Michigan Union S~ J ily IY 4 Ir II:a ! U vM V n ~ui U y/ V V GI L I L u limp-- mw Iw -- -w- Research careers o ffer variety By Maria Hackett Daily Staff Reporter Inquiring minds want to know about the intricacies of life and the surround- ing world, so they get involved in med- ical, scientific and social research. Physics associate Prof. Franco Nori said research, in essence, is solving "a puzzle that you don't have an answer to." To be a good researcher, one must have a curiosity about the world and an interest in solving particular puzzles. "If I look at a topic long enough, I become interested in it," said Rackham student and researcher Edward Miller. The paths future researchers follow in developing their specific career focuses vary greatly. Research techniques can be applied to most issues and fields of study to provide anything from historical per- spective to environmental consequences. "I've enjoyed doing research since I was a little kid," Miller said. Although he may be on his way to an eventual profes- sorship, Nori said the possibilities are endless because research is prevalent-in other areas, like government. "You're training to solve problems crit- ically. You learn to think in an organized manner," Nori said. "That's why people with scientific training get hired in other fields like economics and business." Research will be an integral part of Miller's future professorship, especially if he teaches at the University. "Michigan is very heavily weighted toward research," Miller said. He added that published research is one of the cri- teria the University has in awarding tenure to professors. With a full load of courses to teach, however, balancing research with class time can be difficult. "I find it impossible to balance the teaching load that I'm expected to do and do really vigorous research," Non said. "I just do extra hours. I work about 70 or 80 hours a week." Students may also benefit from their professors' research outside of class. "I think it actually improves teaching because it keeps the professor at the fore- front of his or her field," said microbiol- ogy and immunology associate professor emeritus Frank Whitehouse. But research is not for everyone. "It's tedious and it's not a moneymak- er," said LSA first-year student Dave Fentlin. Students said working in research requires a lot of patience. Whitehouse has been investigating different aspects of why students who change test answers tend to do better than students who don't for the last seven years. "Just like anything, 90 percent of it is grunt work. The analysis is really a minor part," Miller said. "The payoff isn't that big, and there's a lot of detail work. The satisfaction is looking in incredible detail into a problem.: MPH Meet with over 80 graduate schools from across the country. C Some schools scheduled to attend: American University School of Public Affairs Canisius College Dept. of Sports Administration California School of Professional Psychology Center for Humanistic Studies Georgetown University Public Policy Institute Zn] Harvard University Loyola University - Chicago Mayo Graduate School Monterey Institue of International Studies New School for Social Research Northwestern University Medill Graduate School Standford University University of Chicago University of Wisconsin Washington University School of Social Work .and many, many more Grads take time off, postpone applications By Katie Plona Daily Staff Reporter A directroute into the work forc and "the real world" may not be th best path for all students immediately after graduation. For recent University graduates Eric Ellis and Kirk Wahtera, who traveled to the country's west coast visiting gradu- ate schools and having a blast for one month, the year after graduation equals relaxation. "This isnthe time when I don't have a family and I really don't have any major obligations," said Wahtera, a 1997 LSA graduate. "That's what's so great about doing something right now - you have your whole life in front of you. "It was well-planned but spur of the moment," he said. "It was one of the best things I've ever done." Wahtera, who currently lives at home with his parents in-Plymouth, said he plans to enter graduate school next fall to study aquatic ecology, but will take the ensuing nine months to travel more and casually pursue a short-term job. Like Wahtera, Ellis said the trip's timing was perfect. "I knew this was the only time I'd be able to visit grad schools," said Ellis, a 1997 SNRE graduate. Ellis said he plans to enter graduate school upon returning from a Peace Corps appointment, which he most likely will begin in June. Recent LSA graduate Jeremiah Chamberlin, who currently has a house- sitting position in Interlochen, Mich. and is working at Borders Books & Music, said he intends to enter a Master of Fine Arts program within a few years. In the meantime, Chamberlin plans to write and submit his work to publishers. "I don't know why anyone's in a hurry to settle into a 40-year career," Chamberlin said. "Itaseems like evey- one's in a hurry for retirement." Chamberlin said he didn't enter col- lege immediately after high school to pursue new experiences. "I took a year off between high school and college," Chamberlin said. "I think that was probably the best thing I did in my 18 years. "And when you go back it's by your choice," he said. "You feel like you're making a decision about your life, instead of your family." Ellis, who is still living in Ann Arbor and working full-time, said the fall is dif- ferent without school worries. "It was kind of weird being out of class in September," Ellis said, adding that he likes not having any homework. "It was weird, but it was a good time." Wahtera said he doesn't see the year off from traditional options as a lack- adaisical choice, but rather preparation for graduate school. "I see what it's done for people who have taken time off," Wahtera said. "That's what I want to be." GRADUA* PROGRAMS - Value of r By Janet Adamy Daily Staff Reporter With so many graduate schools to choose from, University seniors are looking to national graduate school ; rankings to narrow down their choices1 - but using them cautiously., U.S. News and World Report's annual; America's Best Graduate School issue shows how hundreds of graduate schools stack up against each other based on fac-l tors such as student selectivity, place-l ment success, and reputation.I But while the rankings are referenced; by prospective graduate students all over the country, many students and I academics caution the exclusive use of the rankings when choosing a graduate; school.; "We view it as one of a number of tools students can utilize in the college selection process," said Alvin Sanoff, managing editor of U.S. News' America's Best Colleges issue. "Generally, they're used not as a sole consideration, but in helping to devel- op a list of schools ... but I think it's very, very, very unusual that a person would pick a school on the basis of rankings." Sanoff said the rankings are most useful in the early process of eliminat- ing schools, but become fairly insignif- icant when students have narrowed their selections down to a few top choices.i The question comes down to the right1 fit for each individual student. uate schools themselves. "Johns Hopkins is a top-ranked school in public health, but other schools have programs in international health that are much better, so I'm not even looking at Johns Hopkins," Bahoora said. Last year, the Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution to lobby the administration to withhold infor- mation used by editors when compil- ing the rankings for U.S. News and World Report. MSA President Michael Nagrant said he cautions students not to put much weight on the rankings because they're not entirely objective. "They don't take into account many of emcga TWIRMW7 ankings qi "Students also need to visit campus- es and talk to students and counselors to see how well they fit in," Sanoff said. LSA senior Haytham Bahoora, who is applying to graduate programs in public health to study international health, said he used the rankings as guide for gener- al information on schools. "It's not just rankings, it's a number of factors," Bahoora said, adding that location, cost and faculty research all had an impact on where he applied. "I think (the rankings are) based a lot on reputation. That's why I'm a little weary of placing so much emphasis on them." Bahoora said he paid attention to the rank of individual graduate programs rather than the overall rank of the grad- -. CAA READ THE DAILY ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.PUB. 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