By Nimna Ranatunga
Deciding on the next step after completing an undergraduate degree is a challenge that most students face during their junior or senior years in college. Some prefer to go straight to graduate school for a PhD or a Masters program while others prefer to take a couple of years off from studies and gain work experience in a relevant area. This gives them more time to decide what they really want to do with their lives for the next few years, while others use this time to gain more experience in a field that they would be interested in studying further.
If you have decided to apply to graduate school for a PhD or a Masters it is important that you start preparing yourself and getting familiar with the process early on since it is a lot more time consuming than you can probably imagine. This article provides some important tips for those interested in pursuing graduate studies in the biological sciences.
Research experience is key
If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in the field of biological sciences, prior research experience is very important. Having hands on research experience that is relevant to your field of study will help you stand out from the other applicants. Research work will not only make you more competent in a particular area, it will give you an idea of what to expect as a graduate student or a research scientist – something to seriously consider before devoting at least 6 years of your life to grad school!
Most universities and colleges in the U.S. have a number of continuous research projects that are carried out in different laboratories during the academic year. If your undergraduate institution does not have research opportunities, you can always explore research opportunities at other universities. For instance, Summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs provide research opportunities for college students, including international students. There are also opportunities to participate in co-ops /internships at companies in research areas that interest you. This is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the industry.
In addition, you can personally contact professors at different universities and inquire about research openings for the summer. In fact, this is the approach I used to gain all my research experience. Remember to:
Do some background research on other universities and research institutions.
Choose a few universities with research projects that interest you, or universities where you might want to do your graduate studies in the future.
E-mail the professors, discuss your interests and inquire about available opportunities in their labs.
Through personal experience, I realize that getting in touch with professors is not an easy task. You need to be persistent and show your passion/ interest in their work. Communicating via e-mail or even visiting professors if possible would help build personal connections. Don’t be surprised if you hear back from only 2 professors after e-mailing 15!
Prepare well for the GRE
GRE scores are not the only important aspect of a graduate application but they help determine your academic standard. Different schools have different grading systems, and therefore standardized tests scores are an important factor in evaluating the relative performance of applicants. Therefore, it is important that you take the GRE exams early so that you have time to retake the test if you don’t have satisfactory scores. Some students tend to take the GRE a year before applying; but if you have taken the test by September or October at the latest, you will have sufficient time to send in your scores by the December deadlines.
In addition to the general GRE test, some schools require you to take GRE subject tests. Check the requirements of the universities so that you have enough time to prepare and plan for all the required tests, especially since the subject tests are not administered throughout the year. Even if your prospective graduate institution does not require GRE subject tests, it might not hurt to take them if your grades in a particular subject are not up to standard. For example, if you don’t have stellar grades in Biology, it might be advantageous to take the GRE Biology subject test to prove your capabilities (for a list of GRE preparation books, see the “Resources” section on www.SL2College.com).
Choose graduate programs that provide a good fit for you
Selecting prospective universities that fit your requirements is always a challenge. Every university / department has both positives and negatives. Therefore it is important to do extensive background research on a number of universities before you can narrow them down to a list of universities / grad programs that fit your requirements.
A good starting point for your background research is the U.S. news website (http://www.usnews.com/). Choose universities from the ‘Ranking’ section of the website and make a comprehensive list of the best graduate programs/ best universities. Initially select a number of universities that you think might be a good fit. Determine if you fulfill all the requirements for the program before you apply – if not it would just be a waste of time and energy.
While academics are a priority, it might also be a good idea to consider the location of the schools if you are concerned about aspects such as safety, campus life, etc. Consider if the university is located in a state or area that you would be happy living in for the next 5-6 years!
In addition to the website, U.S. News and World Report Inc. publishes America’s Best Graduate Schools handbook that has an expanded list of universities which are grouped into tiers according to their relative ranking. This yearly publication is available in most school libraries and Fulbright Commission offices. This book also provides rankings for subdivisions within a specific field of study, e.g. best molecular biology programs.
To come up with a list of prospective grad programs / universities, do some online research on the universities and their departments, visit the Fulbright Commission library, or talk to your school advisors. Make sure to read about the research projects/ papers of specific faculty that you might be interested in working with. Graduate school (especially PhD programs) in the biological sciences is research intensive so having professors that you would be interested in working with is key.
E-mail or meet with faculty to inquire about their research. Professors might be slow at responding and you will definitely have to be persistent. It is critical that you read the website of the faculty before contacting them so that they know you are familiar with their research.
Current graduate students are also an excellent source of information (department websites usually provide a list of their graduate students). Graduate students are usually more than happy to answer questions since they have already experienced the rigorous process of applying to grad school. They might not be able to answer all your questions (e.g. funding opportunities) but they can provide useful information about labs, facilities, student life, etc.
Having done your background research, make a comprehensive list of prospective universities (20 to 25) based on their relative tiers/ rankings and your personal preferences. Since applying to graduate schools is expensive and time consuming, it is important to narrow this initial list down to 8 to 10 schools after doing more research. For e.g. If you have decided to apply to a maximum of 10 schools, you can choose 3 schools from the top tier (schools ranked between 1-20), 2 schools from the 2nd tier, 2 schools from 3rd tier, and finally a couple of back-up schools. Remember to include 1-2 dream schools in your finalized list, even though you might not meet all the requirements.
The Application Process in Brief
- Most applications are due by mid December through January.
- Once you have selected the universities that you intend to apply to, browse the university websites. Check for the requirements of each university and the specific department you are applying to and create your online application accounts.
- Pay close attention to the details and the fine print on each application. Some universities require applicants to submit a ‘general application’ to the university as well as a separate application to the specific department or program.
- Gather all the information you need in one place, and create a checklist of the documents that you need to submit to each program. Examples are letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, etc.
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose (SOP) is one of the most important sections of your application. It is mainly through the SOP and letters of recommendation that the admission committee "sees" the applicant before an actual interview. Therefore it is important that your SOP clearly portrays your passion for the field of study, your future goals, and most importantly, why you think you are a good fit for the specific program. Admissions committees also use the SOP to gauge applicants’ writing and communication skills. It is important to keep in mind that the statement of purpose should be your own creation. During interviews for graduate school, professors tend to ask about certain details mentioned in your SOP, and you should be able to explain these without hesitation; this will not be easy if you were not honest with the facts.
Writing a good SOP is a tedious process. Therefore it is advisable that you start with this early, especially if you are not a good writer! Regardless, the SOP generally needs a few revisions before it is ready to be sent out to universities.
- Each program usually requires a SOP and around 2 short essays (150-300 words).
- Though the short essays might seem unimportant, admission committees tend to use these to evaluate how the applicant is able to express themselves or an idea succinctly and to the point.
- Every school has guidelines for the statement of purpose they wish to see. Listed below is an example for one such university. It is important that you pay attention to what they require and address it in full.
“The Statement of Purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at XXX, your preparation for this field of study, study and research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study”
When writing your SOP,
- Brain storm a list of ideas that you would like to include in the SOP; try to relate these ideas with the specific “sub questions” addressed in the SOP
- Make your own personal deadlines for the different drafts, while leaving room for revisions (minimum of 3), before the final version is ready for submission
- It is important that you have your SOP reviewed or critiqued by a professor who is familiar with the program of study that you are applying to. Having a different one comment on your writing style etc is also highly recommended. Leave yourself time to revise the SOP once you receive feedback. Create a timetable like the one below for yourself.
Round Date given to the reviewer
Date expected back from reviewer Reviewer Imp: comments 1 15th Sept 19th Sept XX XX 2 24th Sept 27th Sept XX XX - When writing the SOP, always remember that you are addressing a group of individuals who know nothing about you. The main goal is to eventually have a well-written essay that could ‘speak’ about you and your capabilities.
- Pay close attention to the length
- Prepare a resume. Focus on your research and specific skills/techniques, which would make you, stand out from the rest of the applicants. Be very concise and the resume should be no longer than a page
References and Recommendations
- This is one of the most important parts of the application. Universities normally require at least three letters of reference or recommendations.
- It is important that you keep this requirement in mind when you decide on classes during your undergraduate years. Make an effort to get to know the professors; give them a chance to get to know you and your work ethic. Doing so will be extremely helpful when you need them to write letters of recommendation for you.
- Make an effort to pick professors who could speak about your academic capabilities, work ethic, as well as others who could relate on extracurricular activities that you were involved during your undergraduate years. This will be helpful since it will indicate that you are/were an all-round student rather than one-dimensional, excelling in only one given area.
- Most programs specifically require a letter of recommendation from at least one professor who can speak about your research capabilities - especially for applications in the field of Sciences. This should come from a professor with whom you have worked closely in a research lab.
- Once you have selected your recommending professors, inquire from them if they will be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation for you. Do this early on in the application process so that they will have ample time to get around to the task.
- Letters of recommendation could be either mailed or submitted online, though most of the universities prefer them to be submitted online.
- List of documents/notes for the referees:
- A list of universities the universities you are applying to, with short descriptions about the individual programs
- The deadline (and submission address if applicable) for each program.
- Things that you might want them to highlight about you when writing the letters. Eg: if you were a teaching assistant for a specific class, any specific lab skills that you gained while carrying out a certain project, awards and extracurricular activities
- An updated copy of your resume
- A copy of your personal statement if you have a rough draft by then.
It will not hurt to politely remind the professors about submitting the letters when it is close to the deadline. Also check with the appropriate department or university to make sure that the references have been submitted (particularly if they had to be posted), since it is always the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is complete with the necessary documents.
Additional Information
Most applications have a section that allows applicants to write about aspects that they didn’t have a chance to address in the application. This would be an ideal place for the applicant to mention grades, test scores etc if you feel you didn’t perform as well as you could have, giving reasons and building your “case” as to why you are nevertheless a strong candidate.
Submission
Once the applications are complete, make sure to retain copies while submitting. Check with the relevant departments if they have received all the components of the application, such as transcripts, letters of recommendation and, very importantly, the test scores.
If the application was submitted online it will be easier to check the status and to track what is missing.
After the application is complete, the next step is to wait to hear back from the universities and prepare for your interviews!
Resources