| | | Choosing Examiners |
Prior to taking the Quals you will need to fill out a preference form for potential examiners available at the EE Quals Site. The preference form is typically due toward the end of the Autumn quarter.
There is a wide range of theories on the best way to rank your potential examiners. The consensus is that just picking the professors you know best in the areas in which you are the strongest works as well as many of the more complicated schemes. To do this successfully you must do a good job of "scouting" the potential examiners. What are their research areas? What types of questions have they asked in the past? What's their personality like? In addition, you must know your own strengths and weaknesses. If you are taking Quals as a first year student, you should not in general try to pick a completely new area. Instead, try to build upon your strengths - e.g. what areas come easy to you? You can always transition to a new area after you've passed the Quals. To give you a better idea of the strategies that have worked for some students we've provided some quotes from 1998 Quals Survey below.
| | | Choosing Examiners |