Kethika Kulleperuma graduated with a BSc from the Faculty of Science at the University of Colombo and MSc from the Department of Biology at Adelphi University in New York, USA. She is now reading for her PhD at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto.
In this article, Kethika reviews the process she went through when she applied to her MSc and PhD programs in the USA and Canada, respectively.
Graduate studies application process
It is from the time as an A/L biology student at Musaeus College that I first became interested in incorporating the enormous application of scientific knowledge to improve healthcare and for the betterment of life, community and the society at large. I was particularly interested in how the different fields of science are advancing with seamless integration to one another and not in isolation. Such an apparent example is how information technology has changed the way we do science today.
Although I was privileged to be accepted to dentistry, I decided to join the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo (UoC). It became the ideal learning institute for me to start my career. By the end of my 3 year bachelor's degree I was strongly determined to pursue post graduate studies in biology with cross-disciplinary interests. After an intense search I became aware of the US universities that offered post graduate programs of my interest.
Despite excelling in A/Ls I was not able to keep up with a strong GPA (Grade Point Average) and become eligible to complete the 4th year research project. However after graduation, I did extensive independent literature surveys under the supervision of professors, from whom I was later able to get letters of recommendation. I believe this made my application strong despite the lack of research experience in my undergraduate degree itself. Nevertheless it is worth mentioning the fact that if I had the fourth year degree with research experience, I would have been a stronger applicant for graduate programs.
When I started looking at graduate programs, I short listed universities that offered the
degree of my interest with full assistantship. I communicated with potential supervisors, did the TOEFL and GRE examinations, and collected letters of recommendation. One of the key elements in my package was the statement of purpose (SOP). I took ample time and effort into personalizing the SOP and making a strong case for why I deserved to be selected into the graduate program. When it came to sending transcripts, I even sent my A/L and the CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) results in addition to the university transcripts. The last, yet important step, involved sending all the necessary documents on time. It took about a year to put everything in my application package together.
In year 2007, I was privileged to get accepted to Adelphi University, New York, for its Masters program in Biology with a teaching assistantship.
MSc at Adelphi University, NY, USA
The MSc was a 2 year graduate program. The first year involved completing mandatory graduate courses and further exploring research and academic prospects within the department. It included finding out about professors and their personal attributes, research and funding opportunities before choosing a supervisor to work under during the second year. Based on the lab that I selected, I conducted my research in elucidating evolutionary relationship of the Tilefish species based on gene sequences.
During the 2 years, I fulfilled my duties as a teaching assistant (TA). It included assisting professors with lecture/lab preparation and conduct. Whenever possible, I also attended many optional, yet related and very interesting classes. Even with a busy graduate life, I made sure that I had time to embrace and enjoy the very festive New York City, known for its vibrant colors of rich culture.
Looking back, completing my MSc was a huge learning experience. It gave me a bundle of academic achievements and possession of personal attributes that mainly included obtaining high grades, developing scientific skills and building a strong rapport with peers, students to whom I TA, professors and staff.
Early in the second year I started seeking for opportunities in PhD programs. The strong GPA, research experience and recommendations from Adelphi University made me a strong PhD applicant which paved the path to a PhD program offered by the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto. Soon after graduation from Adelphi University I worked as an adjunct summer lecturer for human anatomy and physiology at Molloy College, after which I moved to Toronto in September, 2009.
PhD at University of Toronto (UofT), Canada
The PhD program in UofT is extensively and intensely research oriented. The program, which is fully funded, is conducted in affiliation with the Department of Molecular Structure and function, Hospital for Sick Children, in the heart of downtown Toronto. My research involves the computational study of the structure and function of selected human proteins.
For the past year, as a PhD student, I feel as if I have been challenged at every waking hour and on numerous occasions, for several weeks straight! The threshold for self-motivation, resilience and vigor are reset and continue to soar with a profound sense of rewarding satisfaction.
I am very grateful to all my lab mates who are incredibly supportive and now, as a whole, I am enjoying life in Toronto.
Life in New York and Toronto
Adelphi University, NY, is located in Long Island, in southeast New York, just east of Manhattan. It is a small part of the city where the community is also very close knit. Manhattan itself is home to many famous landmarks in the world, such as Wall Street and the headquarters of United Nations. It is a major financial, commercial and cultural center of United States and the world. It is always alive, cheerful and bustling with activity. Stores and restaurants are open well into the morning hours, and it is always jammed up! There is a very supportive Sri Lankan population with plenty of community events. The weather conditions in New York didn't affect me that much since I am generally neutral when it comes to weather. Public transportation was readily available. It took me 40 minutes on bus to get to the university from home. I spent about US $800 for rent, food and transportation per month. Off campus accommodation is definitely cheaper than on campus and the cost per month ranges from $400-500 for shared accommodation.
In comparison to New York, Toronto is a quieter city. It is the largest city in Canada and known for a diverse immigrant population. The Hospital for Sick Children is in close proximity to the University of Toronto. It takes me about 40 minutes on the subway and a bus ride to reach home from work. It is much colder and windier in Toronto. I manage the monthly expenses within US $800-900.
In closing, I would like to emphasis that pursuing higher education is truly a passion and a
blissful journey. Hence one should not let the dreams die due to short-term failures. I strongly believe that perseverance with hard work can make them a reality. I encourage students who are applying for graduate studies to always make use of time in a productive way (even while waiting for exam or application results!) and do everything possible to get the experience in their field and make their graduate application stronger. I'm also thankful to my family, teachers, professors and friends who have been very supportive of me throughout my journey so far.
Author : Kethika Kulleperuma
Publisher : The Sunday Observer (in 2 parts)
Date(s) : 19th and 26th December 2010
