Applying to Graduate School

1. Applying to Graduate School Pertinent Questions

2. Why am I considering going to graduate school? • Expectations of family, faculty, etc. • Don’t know what else to do. • Not sure what I want to do. • Be occupied before reapplying to professional school. • These are NOT GOOD REASONS!

3. What do I want to be? • Imagine yourself 10 years from now. • Will that career require a graduate degree? • If so, a Master’s or Ph.D?

4. What if I don’t know which career is for me? • Career services • 150 Careers in the Health Care Field • Occupational Outlook Handbook HF5381. U62 1998-1999 + other Career Guides (HF5381 in Library) • Other Websites listed on last slide • Imagine! • The 8+8+8 Hour Day for Pay Strategy

5. How can I be sure if a career is right for me? • You can’t ever be certain, but you can be well informed. • Go with your gut feeling.

6. What is the purpose of Graduate School? • Prepare you for your chosen career • Master techniques, develop independence • Develop research skills • Build credentials • Graduate School is NOT a purgatory for pre-professional schools! • Graduate School admissions requirements are NOT trivial.

7. Masters or Ph.D.Which is for me? • Depends on career plans and job market • What is the difference? • Masters • 2-3 years, pay your own way • more coursework, less research • Ph.D. • 4-6+ years, includes financial support (stipend) • 1-2 years coursework, 2+ years fulltime research

8. How do I decide where to apply? • Ask your professors for recommendations • Look at Websites • Check Peterson’s Graduate Programs in the Biological Sciences (copy in Dept. Office) • Search for faculty who are doing interesting research • Keyword searching • Get abstracts or papers

9. What are the admissions requirements? • GPA varies by program • Research experience highly desirable • Letter from research supervisor • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) • General Test: Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical • Computer-based General: 1st 3 wks each month ($99) • Subject Test: 1 of 14 areas (Biology is one) • Paper based Subject test: ($130) Nov, Dec, & April • Apply online (www.gre.com)

10. How can I find out about a particular graduate program? • Peterson’s “Guide” will provide • Description of the program • List of facilities • Financial aid.....Stipends!!! • Out of State Policy • Cost of study • Housing • Applying (Requirements, deadlines) • List of faculty & their research interests • Contact person

11. How do I contact a program? • Write, e-mail, or call Graduate Director of the program listed in Peterson’s Guide • Check Website • Ask for information on their program

12. What should I look for in a graduate program? • # 4 Expectations for teaching/work study • # 3 Time to complete degree • # 2 Reputation • # 1 Several faculty who are doing interesting .......research

13. How can I increase my chances of being accepted? • Get abstracts and papers from faculty doing interesting research • Read those abstracts and papers • Call or write the Graduate Director for application, mentioning the names of their faculty • Call or write the faculty person(s) and inform them of your interest. (This is flattering.) • Ask to come for a visit

14. What happens on a visit to a graduate school? • Meet with • Graduate Advisor • Members of Admissions Committee • Prospective Thesis Advisors • Current graduate students • Tour the • department • facilities • environs

15. What will they ask me during my visit? • What research experience do you have? • What topics interest you? • How much do you already know? • Why are you interested in their program? • What are your career goals?

16. What should I look for on my visit? • Modern facilities • Enthusiasm of faculty and students • How long to complete the degree • Teaching/Work study opportunities/requirements • Attitude of graduate students • How hard people are working • Attitude of faculty toward students

17. What should I ask? • Degree requirements • Examinations • Timetables • Course requirements • Teaching/ work study expectations • Basis of admissions decisions • Questions about the projects you see

18. What are they looking for in me? • Interest & Enthusiasm • Evidence of preparation • Reaction to criticism • Work ethic • Determination & Dedication • Awareness of what you’re getting into

19. How should I follow-up my visit? • Letter of thanks to • Admissions Director • others • Grad students who you visited or hosted you • Prospective advisors

20. What happens to my application? • Examined by Admissions Committee • You are discussed and voted on • Your prospective advisor(s) can put in a good word

21. What is life like as a first yearPh. D. graduate student? • 1st year coursework, many seminars • Rotate through several labs of your choosing • By end of first year, select thesis advisor • Forget carefree summers • Comprehensive exams on course work • Select thesis project in consultation with advisor

22. What is life like as a 2nd year graduate student? • Begin fulltime research on your project • Become a specialist on the literature • Master techniques • Report your progress • Select thesis committee of 3-5 scientists • Specialty exam (oral and/or written)

23. How long does it take to complete the degree? • Depends on • how hard you work • how difficult a project you attempt • how much support you get from • advisor • technicians • how much is expected by your • advisor • Thesis/dissertation committee

24. What is the most important decision I’ll make? • Choosing an advisor • Your advisor will • give you advice • establish how much must be accomplished to earn a degree • determine how fast you move along by how much assistance they give you • be a part of your scientific pedigree • influence what happens once you finish

25. What do I consider when choosing an advisor? • How much s/he expects of students • time in the lab • contribution to the work of the lab • teaching • Track record for grants • Fate of previous graduate students • Interpersonal skills • helpfulness (sink or swim vs. mentor) • patience • individual attention • Other Commitments (teaching, people in lab, etc.)

26. What is the cost of graduate school? • Doesn’t matter for Ph.D! Tuition and fees are often waived, even for out of state students. • Most Ph.D. programs support you for the first year with a stipend of $15-20K • After 1st year, most programs expect your stipend to be paid from your advisor’s grant. • Since your advisor is spending money on you, they have a right to expect you to be productive!

27. If they’re paying me to get a degree, what do they expect in return? • Productive research • Publications • Commitment to science • Some funding may restrict choices (ROTC Style) • Intent to continue in industry or research or academics • Enhance their reputation

28. What should I be doing and when? (for Seniors) • October • Consider career plans • Prepare a list of programs to investigate • Schedule GRE • November • Request information & applications • Check out faculty research • December • Schedule a visit

29. The Time Line for Seniors (continued) • Jan-Feb • Applications deadline • Follow-up correspondences • Invitations for interviews • Mar-May • Admissions decisions are made • Notification of your acceptance/rejection

30. What should I be doing now?(I’m a NOT a Senior.) • Investigate summer research opportunities! • Arrange to get research experience!!! • Look at admissions requirements. • Prepare for GRE • Be a serious student

31. Useful Websites • http://www.furman.edu/~snyder/careers/careers.html (specifically for Bio majors) • http://stats.bls.gov:80/ocohome.htm (Occupational Outlook Handbook) • GRE http://www.gre.org • Peterson’s Guides http://petersons.com • http://gradschools.com