Every year, graduate schools receive many applications – screening these applications is a time-consuming task. This demo is modeled after a more sophisticated and comprehensive system that was developed in conjunction with the University of Victoria's School of Public Administration (see Applications). It is presented here to demonstrate the potential of our expert system technology in handling screening operations through the Web. Using expert systems for screening purposes reduces time, and increases efficiency and consistency of the process.
If you are a faculty member, you may find this system to be an interesting example of how the screening component of your selection process could be handled.
If you are a student, you may find it interesting to try this system out. Have fun and remember this is only an example.
Don't base decisions about graduate school on this system's results.
NOTE: The Graduate Advisor is based on the following 9-point grade scale: A+ = 9, A = 8, A- = 7, B+ = 6, B = 5, B- = 4, C+ = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0
Any field left blank will receive a default value of Unknown.
Graduate schools will generally require that an application for admission be accompanied by assessments from two references. Please complete Sections 1 and 2 on the basis of what answers you think each of your two references would provide on your behalf.
Section 1
Section 2
Undergraduate and Graduate Universities: Please select the item that best describes the University that granted your degree(s). Select: Elite-(English-speaking) - if your degree is from an elite, English speaking University, i.e., Stanford, Oxford, etc. Select: Non-Elite-(English-speaking) - if your degree is from an English speaking University other than Stanford, Oxford, etc. Select: Elite-(Foreign-language) - if your degree is from an elite University that does not teach in English, i.e., Sorbonne, etc., Select: Non-Elite-(Foreign-language) - if your degree is from a University that does not teach in English, other than the Sorbonne, etc., Select: UNKNOWN - if you cannot fit your degree granting University into any of the above categories. Leave Graduate University blank if you have not completed a graduate degree.
Undergraduate and Graduate Major: Please select the discipline that best reflects your undergraduate and graduate major. Select Science - if your degree is a B.Sc., B.Eng., M.Eng., or an M.Sc. Select Other - if your major does not match the other choices Select: UNKNOWN - if you don't know your major Leave Graduate major blank if you have not completed a graduate degree.
GPA - Undergraduate and Graduate Grade Point Average. Please enter the numercial Grade Point Average (GPA) for the last 30 units of your undergraduate and graduate degrees, e.g., 6.35, in the boxes. Leave the box blank if your GPA is not available. Leave Graduate GPA box blank if you have not completed a graduate degree.
Analytical ability: Please count the number of math, physical science, statistics, research methods, econometrics, psychometrics, quantitative methods courses with a grade of at least "B", that you have taken, and enter the total number of these courses in the box. Leave this box blank if your transcript is unavailable or if these courses are not reported. Return to the application form
GRE - Graduate Record Examination score: Please enter your overall percentile score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the box. Leave this box blank if your GRE score is not available.
TOEFL score: If English is your second language please enter your score on the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a foreign language) in the box. Leave this box blank if your TOEFL score is not available or if English is your mother tongue.
Academic awards: Have you received a prestigious academic award, a local award or no award? Select: Prestigious-award - if the award is international or national, Select: Local-award - if the award is from a University, local organization, City or State, Select: No-award - if you have not received an academic award, Select: UNKNOWN - for any other circumstance.
Athletic awards: Have you received a major athletic award or participated in the Olympics, etc? Select: Yes - if you have participated in international competition or achieved national or international athletic recognition, Select: No - if you have not participated in international competition or achieved national or international athletic recognition, Select: UNKNOWN - if you don't know.
Placement: In comparison to others at the same level, please indicate, from the list of categories, where each of your references would place you when considering your academic abilities in comparison to others at the same level. For example, select "Top-5%" if you believe that when considering your academic abilities your references would place you among the top 5% of students at your level.
Written Assessment: When asked to supply a written assessment of your suitability for graduate studies would your references write an acceptable or unacceptable assessment of you? Select: Acceptable - if the assessment would be generally positive Select: Unacceptable - if the assessment would be generally negative or doubtful Select: UNKNOWN - if you don't know how your first reference would assess your suitability.
Recommendations: From the list boxes select one of the recommendations for admission to graduate studies that you would expert to receive from each of your references?
Appropriateness of your References: Are your references appropriate as references? Select: Appropriate - if a university professor or employer, Select: Inappropriate - if other than above, Select: UNKNOWN - if you can't tell.
Reputation of your references. Please indicate the reputation of each of your references? Select: Good - if it is a professor or employer in good standing with their organization, Select: Poor - if it is a professor or employer that is currently being disciplined by their organization, Select: UNKNOWN - if other than above.
Rating Criteria Consider the following set of 10 criteria:
