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Graduate School PanelFall 2009
GrEBES presents…
Paul Cziko
and
Graduate Students in theCenter for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The Agenda
What is graduate school in biology?
How do I pick a graduate school?
What do I need to do?
How do I make them pick me?
What is grad school?
Why go to grad school?– Become and expert in some field/specialty– Ask and answer interesting questions– Advance human knowledge– Training for a career
What graduate school is not:– A good thing to do because your parents want you to.– A good way to delay getting a “real” job, or making hard
decisions.– The same as your undergraduate education experience.
What do you do in grad school?
Taking classes– Usually some classes for the first couple of years.
Teaching– Minimum requirement of 2-3 terms, or each term for financial support.
Reading, writing, thinking.– Familiarize yourself with your field past and present.
Seminars and/or journal clubs RESEARCH
(results may vary!)
Wh
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rad
uat
e sc
ho
ol?
Is graduate school right for me?
Do I love research?– Work in a lab as an
undergraduate
Do I enjoy reading and writing papers?
Can I afford it?– Support offered?– How much?
What are my career goals?
– Masters vs. Ph.D– Academia?– Industry?– Teaching?
Do I want to spend 2-7 more years in school?
Do I like pain and suffering?
Wh
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Finding the right program
Lectures or classes you loved/captivated you Publications of interest (scientific or popular)
– Look up the authors
Ask around– Professors– People in your lab– GTFs– Advising center
Check out laboratory web pages – Surfing takes a LOT of time!
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Surfing Lab websites
Is the website beautiful and current?– Don’t judge on website alone (profs are busy…or not)
Are they still doing what you want to do?– Ask in the email, search recent pubs
http://apps.isiknowledge.com http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Who else is (was) in the lab?– Ratio of graduate students/undergrads/post-docs?– Size of lab; e.g. are there technicians?– Do they have a fancy Italian espresso maker?
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Okay you found a person!…Now what?
Email them – keep it short, but informative.
Dear Professor Smith,-I am considering applying to the PHD/Masters
program in Biology at the University of Oregon. I saw on your lab website [or in their recent publication] that you are studying XX. I find this your work fascinating, as it dovetails well with my current work (or longstanding interest) in YY. I’m wondering if you have space/funding in your lab for a new graduate student?
Sincerely, J. Jones
Attach a copy of your CV. Email up to three times.
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Who is on your team?The Recruiting coordinator is your friend Small schools
– Graduate School manages applications for all programs
Large schools– Each department has its own recruiting coordinator/team
Their job is to make the application process easy– answer your questions, explain requirements etc.
A good student is a valuable asset to a University– The recruiting team is working for you!
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Ask the recruiting coordinator
Joining a department vs. joining a lab– Lab rotations?
Amount of teaching required Rotations? Course load? Types of support offered
– Internal grants– Training grants– Teaching stipend (cost of living?)– Salary and health insuranceH
ow
to
pic
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pro
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m
If stars are aligned…
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Email response amiable/ Professor(s) appears willing to consider your application.
The lab is active and productive. The program appears to suit your needs. You’ve had a positive phone interview, follow-up emails You have multiple professors on your plate
– From the same department Same or different interests; Backup options might be
required.
You DON’T KNOW (yet): – What kind of lab the professor runs– What his/her personality is like– What the program is like
What do I need to do?
The Application– Forms and data– Statement of purpose – Letters of recommendation – Resume (CV) – GRE scores
General and subject exams (if necessary)
– Transcripts from undergrad. institution
When was that due…?
Sample of application due dates (Biology):– UO: Dec. 1– U of IL: Dec. 1– Stanford: Dec. 1– Harvard: Dec. 8– UW: Jan. 2
Application Fees:Generally $50-150 per school (Start saving!)
How many schools to apply to?
What if you don’t know your specific interests?What if your interests change?W
hat
do
I n
eed
to
do
?
The SAT all over again
GRE general exam (~3 months prior, ~$150).– Offered regularly– Practice, Practice, Practice– Can re-take, 1x per month– Scores good for 5 years
GRE Subject exam (if necessary, ~$150)– October 10, November 7, 2009; April 10, 2010– Ideal: Spring, can retake October 10– Missed a deadline? Stand-by testing– Ask the Recruiting Coordinator if late scores are OK
1-2 months prior: request transcripts
Wh
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When to get things done
Make a calendar >3 months: GREs >2 months: Personal Statement, CV >1 month: Letters of Recommendation
– Meet with recommenders, with personal statement– FOLLOW UP ON LETTERS (rule of twos)
Submit application *on time*
Follow up with the recruiting coordinator 1-2 weeks after submission to make sure all materials were received.
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Letters of Recommendation
Trump card: Helps any application weakness MAKE SURE they’re giving you a positive recommendation!! ASK
THEM:– Prof, PI, Senior Post-doc, (not pastor, HS basketball coach, mom)
“would you be willing to write me a strong recommendation?”– Do they have useful, interesting things to say about you? – Give your application to your recommender, discuss interests
this pushes the deadline up some
The best thing your recommender can say?
“I would want [your name here] in my lab” Follow up: Be gentle but forceful, make sure they get it in on time.
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Statement of purpose
Mix of biography and research interests. Why do you love science, tell a story
– Corny is OK--if it’s genuine What have you done?
– Brief outline of completed or in-progress projects– Or..what do you really, really want to do and why
Achievements, awards, publications Address weaknesses if necessary (briefly) Explain how your interests mesh with the department’s strengths
– Show that you know what the dept. is about.– Explain how multiple professors’ interests match yours.
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Resume / Curriculum Vitae
Your Contact Information Employment History - include job titles & dates
– Work History (especially related to your field)– Research and Training
Education– Include dates, majors, and details of degrees, training and
certification, GPA overall and in major– High School & University
Relevant awards Publications & Presentations, including thesis Research interests/ongoing projects if you have them
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Bonus points awarded!!
Apply for external grants– Can often apply before you get into grad school– NSF GRFP–due Nov 6th!! (all sciences), get guidance?– EPA STAR, DOE, NASA– Get guidance from the profs you’re applying to work with.– http://scholarships.fatomei.com/index.html– http://www.ncsu.edu/grad/financial-support/fellowships.html
Countless small fellowships/scholarships Diversity/equality scholarships/fellowships Scholarships at the school you’re applying to
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Practical experience!
Make sure you have practical experience– Work or volunteer in a lab- Start NOW– Talk to your professors and GTFs– Summer research
UO: SPUR, REU, Work-study, ask Biology advising office
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The Interview / Recruiting Weekend
In the Spring– if the department/professor thinks you’re a promising student
Time to be professional, know your stuff!
Wine and dine, interview with potential PIs, meet the graduate students
– Facilities available?– Happy grad students?– Successful grad students?
– Burdensome workload?
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Overwhelmed?!?
These are all just suggestions..
None of the graduate students in this room did everything we’re telling you to do. …and yet, here we are.
I’m not ready for graduate school…
That’s okay!– Grad school isn’t the best thing on the planet.– You can be a good person without grad school– Your folks won’t disown you if you don’t go to grad school.– You can make more money at a fast-food restaurant.
Apply & Defer– Make sure that this is ok with your school
Not ready? Stay involved!
Technician– Usually full time– Positions vary from minion to semi-independent researcher– Good way to bolster application
Field work, research assistant
Biotech industry: make $$$
I’m n
ot
rea
dy
for
gra
du
ate
sc
ho
ol…
More resources
Books: – Getting what you came for: The Smart Student's Guide
to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D. Robert Peters– The Ph.D. Process: A Student's Guide to Graduate
School in the Sciences. Dale Boom, Jon Karp, Nicholas Cohen
Booklet Lots of info, check it out online! – Career Basics: Advice and Resources for Scientists
from Science Careers. AAAS– http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/careerbasicspdf
Your professors, current students, other undergraduates.