CEE Grad Guide 2023-24 9.2

This application features a comprehensive directory of institutions offering graduate programs in chemical engineering and related disciplines. By promoting these programs through our annual graduate education issue, our website, and within this app, participating institutions have provided financial support that enables CEE to continue serving the global community of chemical engineering educators.

Chemical Engineering Education (CEE) stands as the leading archival journal dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge among chemical engineering educators.

For any chemical engineering student contemplating graduate studies, two invaluable resources are available within CEE. The introduction to the 2021 Graduate Guide, authored by Visco, offers valuable perspectives, guidance, and information pertinent to engineering postgraduate education. In this context, Visco explores questions such as “How does graduate school differ from undergraduate experience?”—a topic examined with assistance from the journal's editorial team. Additionally, in the 2019 issue, Wankat provides an in-depth analysis of the question “Is Graduate School Next?” discussing motivations for pursuing or refraining from graduate studies and outlining various structures of engineering graduate programs.

For students considering further education, Wankat introduces the Kepner-Tregoe decision analysis as a systematic approach for selecting optimal graduate programs. This method involves identifying key criteria desired in a program, assigning weights based on their importance, and evaluating prospective programs against these criteria. The cumulative weighted scores facilitate an objective comparison, helping students align their choices with personal interests and goals. While Wankat offers strategic advice on application strategies—such as applying to multiple programs but limiting the total number—he does not delve into specific guidance on preparing application components effectively.

Graduate engineering programs often have limited capacity, resulting in highly selective admissions processes. PhD programs, in particular, tend to be fiercely competitive due to research requirements and funding constraints. Therefore, applicants should approach the application process meticulously and thoughtfully. Success hinges on clearly articulating past achievements and convincingly demonstrating the potential for completing rigorous graduate studies in engineering.