IdeaWazaWiki - User contributions [en]

Archive:List of notable bagpipe makers

2009-02-26T04:59:56Z

24.59.15.157: /* Great Highland Bagpipes */

===[[Great Highland Bagpipes]]===

*[[D. M. Atherton Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[David Booth Bagpipes]]
*[[Peter Crisler Bagpipes|Peter's Pipes Inc.]]
*[[Cushing Bagpipe Co.]]
*[[J. Dunbar Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Tim Gellaitry]]
*[[Gibson Bagpipes, Inc]]
*[[Gillanders & McLeod Ltd]]
*[[Grainger & Campbell]]
*[[R.G. Hardie & Co. Ltd]]
*[[Peter Henderson Bagpipes]]
*[[Inveran Bagpipes]]
*[[Colin Kyo Bagpipe Company]]
*[[C.E. Kron & Co]]
*[[RG Lawrie]]
*[[MacDougall Bagpipes Ltd.]]
*[[MacLellan Bagpipes]]
*[[Douglas MacPherson]]
*[[McCallum Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Ian Murray Bagpipes]]
*[[David Naill & Co]]
*[[RK Bagpipes]]
*[[RT Shepherd and Son (Scotland) Ltd]]
*[[Wm. Sinclair & Son]]
*[[Wallace Bagpipes]]
*[[Somers Bagpipes]]
*[[Duncan Soutar of St. Andrews]]
*[[Chris Terry Bagpipes]]

===[[Uilleann pipes]]===

*[[Dave Williams]] (deceased)
*[[Joe Kennedy]]
*[[Geoff Wooff]]
*[[C.J. Dixon]]
*[[B.C. Childress]]
*[[Patrick O'Hare]]
*[[Seth Gallagher]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alain Froment]] (deceased)
*[[Mickey Dunne]]
*[[Mark Hillmann]]
*[[David Daye]]
*[[Kohler & Quinn]]
*[[Pat Sky]]
*[[Brendan Ring]]
*[[Nick Whitmer]]
*[[Leo Rowsome]] (deceased)
*[[Patsy Brown]] (deceased)
*[[Taylor brothers]] (deceased)
*[[Michael Vignoles]]
*[[Tim Britton]]
*[[Kenneth McNicholl]]
*[[Aaron Setunsky]]

===[[Northumbrian pipes]]===

*[[Richard Evans]]

===Scottish Bellowspipes===

*[[Garvie Bagpipes]]
*[[Hamish Moore]]
*[[John Walsh]]
*[[Nate Banton]]
*[[Richard and Anita Evans]]
*[[Fred Morrison Smallpipes]]

===French and German Pipes===

*[[Rémy Dubois]]
*[[Bernard Blanc]]
*[[Frans Hattink]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alban Faust]]
*[[Jean-Sylvain Maître]]
*[[Yvon Lecoant]]
*[[Serge Durin]]
*[[Jon Swayne]]
*[[Bernard Jaquemin]]
*[[Juergen Ross]]

[[Category:Lists of people by occupation|Pipe makers]]

Archive:List of notable bagpipe makers

2009-02-26T04:57:59Z

24.59.15.157: /* Great Highland Bagpipes */

===[[Great Highland Bagpipes]]===

*[[D. M. Atherton Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[David Booth Bagpipes]]
*[[Peter Crisler Bagpipes|Peter's Pipes Inc.]]
*[[Cushing Bagpipe Co.]]
*[[J. Dunbar Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Gibson Bagpipes, Inc]]
*[[Gillanders & McLeod Ltd]]
*[[Grainger & Campbell]]
*[[R.G. Hardie & Co. Ltd]]
*[[Peter Henderson Bagpipes]]
*[[Inveran Bagpipes]]
*[[Colin Kyo Bagpipe Company]]
*[[C.E. Kron & Co]]
*[[RG Lawrie]]
*[[MacDougall Bagpipes Ltd.]]
*[[MacLellan Bagpipes]]
*[[Douglas MacPherson]]
*[[McCallum Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Ian Murray Bagpipes]]
*[[David Naill & Co]]
*[[RK Bagpipes]]
*[[RT Shepherd and Son (Scotland) Ltd]]
*[[Wm. Sinclair & Son]]
*[[Somers Bagpipes]]
*[[Duncan Soutar of St. Andrews]]
*[[Chris Terry Bagpipes]]

===[[Uilleann pipes]]===

*[[Dave Williams]] (deceased)
*[[Joe Kennedy]]
*[[Geoff Wooff]]
*[[C.J. Dixon]]
*[[B.C. Childress]]
*[[Patrick O'Hare]]
*[[Seth Gallagher]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alain Froment]] (deceased)
*[[Mickey Dunne]]
*[[Mark Hillmann]]
*[[David Daye]]
*[[Kohler & Quinn]]
*[[Pat Sky]]
*[[Brendan Ring]]
*[[Nick Whitmer]]
*[[Leo Rowsome]] (deceased)
*[[Patsy Brown]] (deceased)
*[[Taylor brothers]] (deceased)
*[[Michael Vignoles]]
*[[Tim Britton]]
*[[Kenneth McNicholl]]
*[[Aaron Setunsky]]

===[[Northumbrian pipes]]===

*[[Richard Evans]]

===Scottish Bellowspipes===

*[[Garvie Bagpipes]]
*[[Hamish Moore]]
*[[John Walsh]]
*[[Nate Banton]]
*[[Richard and Anita Evans]]
*[[Fred Morrison Smallpipes]]

===French and German Pipes===

*[[Rémy Dubois]]
*[[Bernard Blanc]]
*[[Frans Hattink]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alban Faust]]
*[[Jean-Sylvain Maître]]
*[[Yvon Lecoant]]
*[[Serge Durin]]
*[[Jon Swayne]]
*[[Bernard Jaquemin]]
*[[Juergen Ross]]

[[Category:Lists of people by occupation|Pipe makers]]

Archive:List of notable bagpipe makers

2009-02-26T04:57:33Z

24.59.15.157: /* Great Highland Bagpipes */

===[[Great Highland Bagpipes]]===

*[[D. M. Atherton Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[David Booth Bagpipes]]
*[[Peter Crisler Bagpipes|Peter's Pipes Inc.]]
*[[Cushing Bagpipe Co.]]
*[[J. Dunbar Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Gibson Bagpipes, Inc]]
*[[Gillanders & McLeod Ltd]]
*[[Grainger & Campbell]]
*[[R.G. Hardie & Co. Ltd]]
*[[Peter Henderson Bagpipes]]
*[[Inveran Bagpipes]]
*[[Colin Kyo Bagpipe Company]]
*[[C.E. Kron & Co]]
*[[RG Lawrie]]
*[[MacDougall Bagpipes Ltd.|David Booth]]
*[[MacLellan Bagpipes]]
*[[Douglas MacPherson]]
*[[McCallum Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Ian Murray Bagpipes]]
*[[David Naill & Co]]
*[[RK Bagpipes]]
*[[RT Shepherd and Son (Scotland) Ltd]]
*[[Wm. Sinclair & Son]]
*[[Somers Bagpipes]]
*[[Duncan Soutar of St. Andrews]]
*[[Chris Terry Bagpipes]]

===[[Uilleann pipes]]===

*[[Dave Williams]] (deceased)
*[[Joe Kennedy]]
*[[Geoff Wooff]]
*[[C.J. Dixon]]
*[[B.C. Childress]]
*[[Patrick O'Hare]]
*[[Seth Gallagher]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alain Froment]] (deceased)
*[[Mickey Dunne]]
*[[Mark Hillmann]]
*[[David Daye]]
*[[Kohler & Quinn]]
*[[Pat Sky]]
*[[Brendan Ring]]
*[[Nick Whitmer]]
*[[Leo Rowsome]] (deceased)
*[[Patsy Brown]] (deceased)
*[[Taylor brothers]] (deceased)
*[[Michael Vignoles]]
*[[Tim Britton]]
*[[Kenneth McNicholl]]
*[[Aaron Setunsky]]

===[[Northumbrian pipes]]===

*[[Richard Evans]]

===Scottish Bellowspipes===

*[[Garvie Bagpipes]]
*[[Hamish Moore]]
*[[John Walsh]]
*[[Nate Banton]]
*[[Richard and Anita Evans]]
*[[Fred Morrison Smallpipes]]

===French and German Pipes===

*[[Rémy Dubois]]
*[[Bernard Blanc]]
*[[Frans Hattink]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alban Faust]]
*[[Jean-Sylvain Maître]]
*[[Yvon Lecoant]]
*[[Serge Durin]]
*[[Jon Swayne]]
*[[Bernard Jaquemin]]
*[[Juergen Ross]]

[[Category:Lists of people by occupation|Pipe makers]]

Archive:List of notable bagpipe makers

2009-02-26T04:56:14Z

24.59.15.157: /* Great Highland Bagpipes */

===[[Great Highland Bagpipes]]===

*[[D. M. Atherton Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[David Booth Bagpipes]]
*[[Peter Crisler Bagpipes|Peter's Pipes Inc.]]
*[[Cushing Bagpipe Co.]]
*[[J. Dunbar Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Gibson Bagpipes, Inc]]
*[[Gillanders & McLeod Ltd]]
*[[Grainger & Campbell]]
*[[R.G. Hardie & Co. Ltd]]
*[[Peter Henderson Bagpipes]]
*[[Inveran Bagpipes]]
*[[Colin Kyo Bagpipe Company]]
*[[C.E. Kron & Co]]
*[[MacLellan Bagpipes]]
*[[Douglas MacPherson]]
*[[McCallum Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Ian Murray Bagpipes]]
*[[David Naill & Co]]
*[[RK Bagpipes]]
*[[RT Shepherd and Son (Scotland) Ltd]]
*[[Wm. Sinclair & Son]]
*[[Somers Bagpipes]]
*[[Duncan Soutar of St. Andrews]]
*[[Chris Terry Bagpipes]]

*[[RG Lawrie]]
*[[MacDougall]]

===[[Uilleann pipes]]===

*[[Dave Williams]] (deceased)
*[[Joe Kennedy]]
*[[Geoff Wooff]]
*[[C.J. Dixon]]
*[[B.C. Childress]]
*[[Patrick O'Hare]]
*[[Seth Gallagher]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alain Froment]] (deceased)
*[[Mickey Dunne]]
*[[Mark Hillmann]]
*[[David Daye]]
*[[Kohler & Quinn]]
*[[Pat Sky]]
*[[Brendan Ring]]
*[[Nick Whitmer]]
*[[Leo Rowsome]] (deceased)
*[[Patsy Brown]] (deceased)
*[[Taylor brothers]] (deceased)
*[[Michael Vignoles]]
*[[Tim Britton]]
*[[Kenneth McNicholl]]
*[[Aaron Setunsky]]

===[[Northumbrian pipes]]===

*[[Richard Evans]]

===Scottish Bellowspipes===

*[[Garvie Bagpipes]]
*[[Hamish Moore]]
*[[John Walsh]]
*[[Nate Banton]]
*[[Richard and Anita Evans]]
*[[Fred Morrison Smallpipes]]

===French and German Pipes===

*[[Rémy Dubois]]
*[[Bernard Blanc]]
*[[Frans Hattink]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alban Faust]]
*[[Jean-Sylvain Maître]]
*[[Yvon Lecoant]]
*[[Serge Durin]]
*[[Jon Swayne]]
*[[Bernard Jaquemin]]
*[[Juergen Ross]]

[[Category:Lists of people by occupation|Pipe makers]]

Archive:List of notable bagpipe makers

2009-02-26T04:53:14Z

24.59.15.157: /* Great Highland Bagpipes */

===[[Great Highland Bagpipes]]===

*[[D. M. Atherton Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[David Booth Bagpipes]]
*[[Chris Terry Bagpipes]]
*[[Peter Crisler Bagpipes|Peter's Pipes Inc.]]
*[[J. Dunbar Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Gibson Bagpipes, Inc]]
*[[Grainger & Campbell]]
*[[Peter Henderson Bagpipes]]
*[[Colin Kyo Bagpipe Company]]
*[[C.E. Kron & Co]]
*[[MacLellan Bagpipes]]
*[[McCallum Bagpipes Ltd]]
*[[Douglas MacPherson]]
*[[Inveran Bagpipes]]
*[[Ian Murray Bagpipes]]
*[[David Naill & Co]]
*[[RK Bagpipes]]
*[[RT Shepherd and Son (Scotland) Ltd]]
*[[Wm. Sinclair & Son]]
*[[Somers Bagpipes]]
*[[Duncan Soutar of St. Andrews]]
*[[Gillanders & McLeod Ltd]]
*[[R.G. Hardie & Co. Ltd]]
*[[RG Lawrie]]
*[[MacDougall]]

===[[Uilleann pipes]]===

*[[Dave Williams]] (deceased)
*[[Joe Kennedy]]
*[[Geoff Wooff]]
*[[C.J. Dixon]]
*[[B.C. Childress]]
*[[Patrick O'Hare]]
*[[Seth Gallagher]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alain Froment]] (deceased)
*[[Mickey Dunne]]
*[[Mark Hillmann]]
*[[David Daye]]
*[[Kohler & Quinn]]
*[[Pat Sky]]
*[[Brendan Ring]]
*[[Nick Whitmer]]
*[[Leo Rowsome]] (deceased)
*[[Patsy Brown]] (deceased)
*[[Taylor brothers]] (deceased)
*[[Michael Vignoles]]
*[[Tim Britton]]
*[[Kenneth McNicholl]]
*[[Aaron Setunsky]]

===[[Northumbrian pipes]]===

*[[Richard Evans]]

===Scottish Bellowspipes===

*[[Garvie Bagpipes]]
*[[Hamish Moore]]
*[[John Walsh]]
*[[Nate Banton]]
*[[Richard and Anita Evans]]
*[[Fred Morrison Smallpipes]]

===French and German Pipes===

*[[Rémy Dubois]]
*[[Bernard Blanc]]
*[[Frans Hattink]]
*[[Andreas Rogge]]
*[[Alban Faust]]
*[[Jean-Sylvain Maître]]
*[[Yvon Lecoant]]
*[[Serge Durin]]
*[[Jon Swayne]]
*[[Bernard Jaquemin]]
*[[Juergen Ross]]

[[Category:Lists of people by occupation|Pipe makers]]

Archive:Nagina Group

2008-12-24T06:07:41Z

24.59.66.49: /* History */

{{Infobox_Company |
| company_name =Nagina Group
| company_logo =[[Image:Nagina group.JPG]]
| company_type =[[Public corporation]]
| foundation = 1972
| location_city = Gilburg-III, Lahore
| location_country = Pakistan
| key_people = Shaikh Inam Ellahi, co-founder<br /> Shaukat Ellahi Shaikh, Shafqat Ellahi Shaikh, Shahzada Ellahi Shaikh, co-founder<br />
| industry = [[textiles, energy, trading,]]
| revenue = {{profit}} [[Pakistani rupee|Rs.]] 832 million,<br />$100 million [[United States dollar|USD]] ([[fiscal year|FY]] 2006)
| homepage = http://www.nagina.com/
}}

'''Nagina Group''' is a [[public corporation]] based in [[Pakistan]]i that manufactures a wide variety of [[textile]] products. Founded in 1972 by Inam Ellahi Shaikh and Ashan Ellahi Shaikh, it was listed by [[Forbes Magazine]] as the best-performing company with less than US$1 billion in revenue in 2003.

==History==
What is now known as The Nagina Group began as a single company, Nagina Mills Limited, established by Shaikh Inam Ellahi and Ashan Ellahi Shaikh in 1967. Focusing on the production of [[cotton]] [[yarn]], it grew with the acquisition of [[Tanning|tanneries]], [[factory|factories]] that produced shoes and ice, and Pakistan's largest [[jute|jute mill]]. These assets were lost, however, when [[East Pakistan]] separated from the Pakistani Federation to become [[Bangladesh]] in 1971.

The company reformed in 1971 as the Nagina Group, consolidating its assets under a single [[umbrella organization]]. The group currently manages Nagina Cotton Mills Limited, Ellcot Spinning Mills Limited, and Prosperity Weaving Mills Limited. Together, the facilities hold approximately 100,000 modern [[spindle]]s, and produce forty-eight million pounds of carded and combed yarn annually.

Nagina Group also operates three private [[power plants]] to provide electricity for its mills. The installed capacity of its generators is 30.57 [[Megawatt]]s. Excess energy is sold to other industrial facilities in the area.

Nagina Group has an ambitious 5 year strategic objective. This objective includes expanding into logistics, consolidating position in energy production, and opening a 6 star beach resort in Karachi.

Nagina Cotton Mills Limited (Winner of Forbes Global Award "Best under a Billion-200") is the mother company of the Group, established in 1967. The company operates state of art spinning machinery comprising 47,040 Spindles with related process machines. Latest equipment from Japan, Europe and China allow production of high quality Spun Yarns in Carded and Combed versions for use in high speed looms and knitting machines. MUNDRI and ANGOTHI are popular brands of the company.

directors are pleased to report that prestigious International Business Magazine FORBES Global included the company in their list of "Best under a billion 200".

According to the magazine "Our list of 200 successful companies outside U.S. is drawn up from among 19,000 publicly traded concerns with annual below $ 1 billion. We screened out most corporation that didn't have operating margin of at least 5% over the past five aiming for the businesses that were profitable and that rewarded shareholders. A handful of companies that failed these tests were considered if they had outstanding results otherwise. The remaining 4000-odd concerns were graded against one another using various dollar based performance measures, and the top 500 reviewed for inclusion on this list".

...Atleast that's what Gary Busey told me.

==External links==
{{Primarysources|date=February 2007}}
* http://www.nagina.com/

[[Category:Companies of Pakistan]]

Admission to Graduate School in the U.S.

2007-04-15T16:47:20Z

24.59.193.3: a little extra

= Preamble =
The U.S. graduate school system offers unparalleled opportunities. However, successful admission is a complicated and lengthy process.
This wikibook, aims to help you navigate the application process, especially if you are not a US citizen.

== Table of Chapters ==
<table WIDTH="80%" >
<tr><td style="background-color: #FFFFEE; border: solid 1px #FFC92E; padding: 1em;" valign=top>
* [[Admission to Graduate School in the U.S./Chapter 1|Chapter 1: Why the U.S.]]
There is also an [[Admission to Graduate School in the U.S./Full Text|all chapters]] view for printing.
</td></tr></table>

== Contributors ==
Add your name to the list below in alphabetical order.

[[user:Cdamama|Cdamama]]

[[Category:How-tos]]

= Introduction =

== Why the U.S. ==

* Leadership in many scientific disciplines
* Top caliber academics with international exposure
* High national spending on research and development
* High caliber colleagues
* Hundreds of schools
* Freedom of thought, conscience and expression
* Competitive egalitarian society
* High standards of living and generous stipends

== Why not the U.S. ==
* Limitations on employment after graduation
* Expensive tuition in some types of programs

== Picking the school and program ==
Several national and international organizations rank universities and even individual graduate programs:
* [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php USNews.com]
* [http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ranking.htm Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ranking]
* [http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankings.asp Princeton Review]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_and_university_rankings#USA Wikipedia - College and university rankings USA]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_Ranking_of_World_Universities Wikipedia - Academic Ranking of World Universities]
However, such surveys are not always useful. Consider your own school: are the things that make it attractive to outsiders the same as the things that you yourself value? Probably sometimes these are actually different. Similarly, a particular graduate program may be great to you because you have found a good adviser or are working on a uniquely interesting project. As well, surveys attempt to solve the very hard problem of quantifying the quality of education. As a result, the criteria and methodology they use is often suspect and unreliable.

= Ingredients of a successful application =
Admission committees in many programs face mountains of applications and a very limited number of spots. Thus, for an application to be successful
it
* Must contain evidence that the applicant is a distinguished individual
* Demonstrate that the interests of the applicant nicely match the program he/she is applying to
* Not contain any obvious mistakes or exaggerations
* Be easily readable

Successful application must include high quality course grades, test grades, reference letters and a convincing personal statement.
It is important that ''all'' of the above are of a high quality and none can be used to eliminate the application in a preliminary round.
Probably the single most important factor is the reference letter, because members of the admission committee may know the author of the letter professionally. If so, and if the letter is of a high quality, the application would receive a strong boost. Course grades are least likely to be important because the admission committee may be skeptical of high grades: since it does not know how they were assigned, the grades can be inflated or unfair.

Even for the best applicants, pure change remains an important factor in the application's success, especially when the program is very competitive. Therefore, it is important to apply to more than one program. It may also be useful to apply to several less competitive programs as a security. Otherwise, it may be necessary to wait a year before applying again.

== Reference letters ==
High quality reference letters could be very valuable. Try to:
* Get the letter from a professor that has known you for a long time
* Has a good record of research
* Can communicate effectively in English

As well:
* Give plenty of time to write the letter
* Explain why you want to be admitted to each of the programs, so the letters can be customized
* Remind the writer about accomplishments that can be listed in the letter
* Follow up on your request with reminders about deadlines

== Relevant Experience ==
Graduate programs typically make requirements of the students that are different from the requirements of undergraduate studies.
Whereas undergraduates are typically asked to attend classes or do assignments, graduate students often face open problems and no clear deadlines, and are often required to teach. The difference in requirement means that students who have done well as undergrads find themselves under-prepared for the graduate student experience. Few things can be more frustrating to departments than seeing promising applicants become mediocre graduate students. As a result, admission committees actively seek applicants which document success in the kind of challenges graduate students face. This includes:
* Evidence for success in work on open problems
* Research experience
* Ability to communicate effectively in English
* Initiative
* Perseverance and focus
* Creativity

The above list includes some very general attributes, such as personality attributes. Consequently, it is useful to mention in the application evidence for these, even if it does not directly relate to the field of study. For example, starting a yoga club may demonstrate initiative, even if the application is for a program in biology. However, beware: these activities should not occupy much of the application. Graduate studies require individuals who know what they want to do, and therefore excessive information about side activities could be bad.

= Funding =
As a general rule, students in Ph.D. programs do not pay tuition and actually receive additional money sufficient for a modest living. Typically, funding is provided as long as the student maintains good grades, does work (as a teaching or research assistant) and completes the degree within a given time frame (usually 4-5 years). That said, it is important to look at the specific program details for more information: see if the department website or your admission letter says anything about guaranteed funding, and if so, for how long. Press them with specific questions. If you have an intended adviser, ask how would you be supported if the adviser abandons you in the middle of your degree.

In Master's or professional programs, the funding situation could be very different.

= Tips =
# Contact potential advisers in advance of your application. Contacting the faculty members is an extra opportunity to demonstrate that you are interested in the program. By expressing interest in working with a particular person, you can make your application stick out during the selection process, especially if the professor in question is in the selection committee. As well, in some universities, applications circulate between faculty members and the students are only admitted if there is a faculty member who selects the student's application. You may be surprised by the openness of professors to answer questions or to communicate with you.

= Frequently Asked Questions =
Q. Why do applications ask about race of the applicant - is race a factor?

A. Publicly-funded university are required by law to report the composition of their student body. However, it is possible that race would play a small role in the application, due to what is known as "affirmative action" or "diversity" policies. Affirmative action is a policy of giving preferential admission to applicants from groups which are under-represented in the student body compared to the general population; Diversity refers the stated preference of many schools to have a student body composed from diverse social backgrounds. That said, recent court ruling and laws have weakened such policies. In sum, race is not an important factor in success.

Q. I have been offered to pay for my program by working as a teaching or research assistant. Do I need to get a work visa?

A. No. Work in the university which is related to your program of study does not require an additional visa beyond your student visa.

Q. I have heard that the US does not have health insurance. What happens if I get sick?

A. Actually, in many if not the majority of schools, graduate students receive comprehensive health insurance from the university.

== Requests for answers ==
Please write any questions you would like to see addressed in the space below this line.
----

Admission to Graduate School in the U.S.

2007-04-15T16:36:41Z

24.59.193.3: /* Frequently Asked Questions */

= Preamble =
The U.S. graduate school system offers unparalleled opportunities. However, successful admission is a complicated and lengthy process.
This wikibook, aims to help you navigate the application process, especially if you are not a US citizen.

== Table of Chapters ==
<table WIDTH="80%" >
<tr><td style="background-color: #FFFFEE; border: solid 1px #FFC92E; padding: 1em;" valign=top>
* [[Admission to Graduate School in the U.S./Chapter 1|Chapter 1: Why the U.S.]]
There is also an [[Admission to Graduate School in the U.S./Full Text|all chapters]] view for printing.
</td></tr></table>

== Contributors ==
Add your name to the list below in alphabetical order.

[[user:Cdamama|Cdamama]]

[[Category:How-tos]]

= Introduction =

== Why the U.S. ==

* Leadership in many scientific disciplines
* Top caliber academics with international exposure
* High national spending on research and development
* High caliber colleagues
* Hundreds of schools
* Freedom of thought, conscience and expression
* Competitive egalitarian society
* High standards of living and generous stipends

== Why not the U.S. ==
* Limitations on employment after graduation
* Expensive tuition

== Picking the school and program ==
Several national and international organizations rank universities and even individual graduate programs. Including:
* USNews.com[]
*

However, such surveys are not always useful. Consider your own school: are the things that make it attractive to outsiders the same as the things that you yourself value? Probably sometimes these are actually different. Similarly, a particular graduate program may be great to you because you have found a good adviser or are working on a uniquely interesting project. As well, surveys attempt to solve the very hard problem of quantifying the quality of education. As a result, the criteria and methodology they use is often suspect and unreliable.

= Ingredients of a successful application =
Admission committees in many programs face mountains of applications and a very limited number of spots. Thus, for an application to be successful
it
* Must contain evidence that the applicant is a distinguished individual
* Demonstrate that the interests of the applicant nicely match the program he/she is applying to
* Not contain any obvious mistakes or exaggerations
* Be easily readable

Successful application must include high quality course grades, test grades, reference letters and a convincing personal statement.
It is important that ''all'' of the above are of a high quality and none can be used to eliminate the application in a preliminary round.
Probably the single most important factor is the reference letter, because members of the admission committee may know the author of the letter professionally. If so, and if the letter is of a high quality, the application would receive a strong boost. Course grades are least likely to be important because the admission committee may be skeptical of high grades: since it does not know how they were assigned, the grades can be inflated or unfair.

Even for the best applicants, pure change remains an important factor in the application's success, especially when the program is very competitive. Therefore, it is important to apply to more than one program. It may also be useful to apply to several less competitive programs as a security. Otherwise, it may be necessary to wait a year before applying again.

== Reference letters ==
High quality reference letters could be very valuable. Try to:
* Get the letter from a professor that has known you for a long time
* Has a good record of research
* Can communicate effectively in English

As well:
* Give plenty of time to write the letter
* Explain why you want to be admitted to each of the programs, so the letters can be customized
* Remind the writer about accomplishments that can be listed in the letter
* Follow up on your request with reminders about deadlines

== Relevant Experience ==
Graduate programs typically make requirements of the students that are different from the requirements of undergraduate studies.
Whereas undergraduates are typically asked to attend classes or do assignments, graduate students often face open problems and no clear deadlines, and are often required to teach. The difference in requirement means that students who have done well as undergrads find themselves under-prepared for the graduate student experience. Few things can be more frustrating to departments than seeing promising applicants become mediocre graduate students. As a result, admission committees actively seek applicants which document success in the kind of challenges graduate students face. This includes:
* Evidence for success in work on open problems
* Research experience
* Ability to communicate effectively in English
* Initiative
* Perseverance and focus
* Creativity

The above list includes some very general attributes, such as personality attributes. Consequently, it is useful to mention in the application evidence for these, even if it does not directly relate to the field of study. For example, starting a yoga club may demonstrate initiative, even if the application is for a program in biology. However, beware: these activities should not occupy much of the application. Graduate studies require individuals who know what they want to do, and therefore excessive information about side activities could be bad.

= Funding =
As a general rule, students in Ph.D. programs do not pay tuition and actually receive additional money sufficient for a modest living. Typically, funding is provided as long as the student maintains good grades, does work (as a teaching or research assistant) and completes the degree within a given time frame (usually 4-5 years). That said, it is important to look at the specific program details for more information: see if the department website or your admission letter says anything about guaranteed funding, and if so, for how long. Press them with specific questions. If you have an intended adviser, ask how would you be supported if the adviser abandons you in the middle of your degree.

In Master's or professional programs, the funding situation could be very different.

= Tips =
# Contact potential advisers in advance of your application. Contacting the faculty members is an extra opportunity to demonstrate that you are interested in the program. By expressing interest in working with a particular person, you can make your application stick out during the selection process, especially if the professor in question is in the selection committee. As well, in some universities, applications circulate between faculty members and the students are only admitted if there is a faculty member who selects the student's application. You may be surprised by the openness of professors to answer questions or to communicate with you.

= Frequently Asked Questions =
Q. Why do applications ask about race of the applicant - is race a factor?

A. Publicly-funded university are required by law to report the composition of their student body. However, it is possible that race would play a small role in the application, due to what is known as "affirmative action" or "diversity" policies. Affirmative action is a policy of giving preferential admission to applicants from groups which are under-represented in the student body compared to the general population; Diversity refers the stated preference of many schools to have a student body composed from diverse social backgrounds. That said, recent court ruling and laws have weakened such policies. In sum, race is not an important factor in success.

Q. I have been offered to pay for my program by working as a teaching or research assistant. Do I need to get a work visa?

A. No. Work in the university which is related to your program of study does not require an additional visa beyond your student visa.

Q. I have heard that the US does not have health insurance. What happens if I get sick?

A. Actually, in many if not the majority of schools, graduate students receive comprehensive health insurance from the university.

== Requests for answers ==
Please write any questions you would like to see addressed in the space below this line.
----

German/Pronouns

2007-02-11T18:20:36Z

24.59.36.12:

This lesson will cover ''basic'' German pronouns in what are called the subject ([[nominative]]), direct object ([[accusative]]), and and indirect object ([[dative]]) cases. The dative case will come later and is only posted here for reference.

==The Nominative Pronouns==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="50"|German
!width="200"|English
|-
|ich || I
|-
|du || you (informal)
|-
|er/sie/es || he, she, it
|-
|wir || we
|-
|ihr || you (plural & informal)
|-
|Sie/sie || You (formal or formal plural), they
|}

Pronouns in German are similar to pronouns in German. Two notable differences are "ihr", which is basically the English equivalent to "ya'll" or "you guys" and Sie (capitalized), which is used in formal circumstances. ("Sie" is also plural, so one would use it when speaking to one stranger or several.)

==The Accusative Pronouns==

''Note: for non-German speakers, the differences between accusative and nominative cases can be confusing. It is helping to think of them as the "direct
object case" and the "subject case". ''

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="50"|German
!width="200"|English
|-
|mich || me
|-
|dich || you (informal)
|-
|ihn/sie/es || him, her, it
|-
|uns || we
|-
|euch || you (plural & informal)
|-
|Sie/sie || You (formal or formal plural), they
|}

==The Dative Pronouns==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
!width="50"|German
!width="200"|English
|-
|mir || to me
|-
|dir || to you (informal)
|-
|ihm/ihr/ihm || to him, to her, to it
|-
|uns || to us
|-
|euch || to you (plural & informal)
|-
|Ihnen/ihnen || to You (formal or formal plural), they
|}

[[Category:German]]