Graduate study is a potential career option for students with a burning desire to learn more about ecology. Because the graduate school experience is where you will develop your professional reputation, selection of the right environment for you is critical and a real passion for your model system and questions of interest are what help you succeed. You will want to start contacting potential programs early in the fall prior to the fall that you are interested in starting graduate school.This page contains a number of links that may be helpful in your quest to find the appropriate match of a graduate school program. Click on the area of interest to you:
*--What
is the GRE test?
*--What
Fellowships available for Graduate Study?
*--Where
do I get external information on Graduate
Programs?
*--Helpful
hints on graduate school admissions and
life as a graduate student--
*--FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) about Graduate
School?
*--A
suggested timetable for the Application
process
*--What
if I want to take a year off from school before applying? Look
for Hints on
maintaining
or increasing your competitiveness.
Helpful Links on the required test for most Graduate School programs:
Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) --the standardized test required for most
graduate
school
programs.
Two
exams
are
available:
General
and
Subject.
The
General
test is
the
most
often
required
test,
is
available
on
line,
and provides subscores
for skills
in
3
major
areas
(Verbal,
Quantitative,
and
Analytical).
The
Subject
or
Advanced
test
is
also
required
or
recommended
by
many
but not all graduate
programs.
Subject
exams
are
given
in
a
number
of
specialized fields
including
Biology
and
test
specific
disciplinary
knowledge.
Both
exams
are
extraordinarily
rigorous
and
require
significant
preparation.
Do
not
use
the
first
attempt at the
exam
as
'practice'--a
number
of
good
practice
materials
can
be found in
your
college
bookstore
and
are
available
through
the
testing
agency
itself.
Because
of
the
delay
in
scoring
the
exam,
you
should
plan to take this exam by
mid-fall
in
the
year
before
you
hope
to
be
attending
graduate school. Most
schools
require
these
scores
to
make
decisions
on
admission
and
financial aid
packages
such
as
teaching/research
assistantships
and
fellowships.
Princeton
Review --see the graduate school page for strategies and a free
practice
GRE
exam
Kaplan's Online
--various test taking information
TOEFL - language test for international students
Helpful Links for Fellowships:
National
Science
Foundation Student Research Opportunities
National
Institutes
of Health Research Training Experiences
National
Institute
of Mental Health Training Opportunities
Helpful Links on Graduate School Programs:
Peterson's Guide to Colleges
Kaplan's
gradschools.com --information
on nearly 50,000 graduate programs
U.S. News and World
Report
--various rankings and information
College Net --general
information
and search capabilities for graduate schools
Careers in
Science
and Engineering: A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and Beyond
--a very helpful guide
available
free on-line
Links to Graduate School Programs in Ecology
and Zoology
Helpful
Sources of Information about Graduate School Life and
Admissions:
Preparing
essays for Graduate Schools
--excellent suggestions from RPI
What
every
new graduate student should know... --suggestions from Indiana
University
How to be a good
graduate student --a paper with helpful suggestions
Princeton Review --a nice site for
tips and general information
What does Graduate School entail?
The
short
answer is a ton of work often with only yourself as a motivator.
If you thoroughly enjoy the field of biology and working a problem
through
to an answer, then graduate school is a rewarding option. Don't
continue
on just because someone else thinks you should or because you don't
have
any other options for employment. Since self-motivation and a
real
enthusiasm for a topic are what will drive you to the successful
completion
of a graduate school experience, a half-hearted start is not likely to
lead to success. Although most degree programs require some
coursework,
much of your growth as a professional occurs outside the classroom
during
your research experiences. Summer breaks in the academic schedule
are typically viewed not as vacation periods but as opportunities for
intensive
research.
Typically,
3
types of degrees are possible. Some schools have two
types
of Masters degrees: a thesis and a non-thesis option; Masters degrees
usually
require 2-3 years for completion. The non-thesis
Masters(can be the M.A. or M.S. degree depending on the
school)
option typically requires only coursework and library research and is
meant
as a terminal degree for those not interested in continuing with
biological
research; a final written paper is often required. The thesis-option
Masters (can be the M.A. or
M.S.
degree depending on the school) typically involves coursework as well
as
an independent research project that culminates in a substantial
written
document, the thesis, that is ready for publication. Often
written
or oral exams are required as well. The Doctor
of
Philosophy (Ph.D) also entails
some coursework and an even more substantial research project usually
over
4 to 6 years culminating in doctoral dissertation that often contains
in
several publishable chapters. An oral and/or written
comprehensive
exam is typically required as is a final oral defense of your
dissertation
research. Postdoctoral
positions are often in academic departments as well and usually are
focused
on a continuation of research experiences above and beyond that
obtained
in pursuit of the doctorate; typically, although one might get academic
credit for enrollment, postdoctoral positions are not formal degree
experiences.
As I
mentioned,
the primary emphasis in most graduate school experiences in on
research.
However, coursework often is taken on the advice of an advisory
committee
of faculty that you have assembled to mesh with your interests.
Some
US schools and many foreign universities have no formal coursework
requirements.
Courses taken usually focus on those necessary to round out the
background,
required to increase technical proficiency, or to make up for
deficiencies
in the undergraduate academic record.
What are my career options with an advanced degree?
Advanced degrees can be used in a number of ways but typically open the door for more research intensive positions as well as those with teaching components. The new skills and independence that are developed in graduate school will help in many avenues of life. The job market is very tough, especially for academic positions. Master's degrees typically keep open the option of a Ph.D. at some point and prepare you for work in the Biotech industry, positions in State and Federal governments (research labs, environmental impact, forestry, wildlife and fisheries, parks), NGO's, lobbyists positions, and community college/lab instructor teaching positions. The added research experience typically means that you might move into something other than an entry level position and have a bit more to say about the research process. If teaching at the postsecondary level is a goal then you should seek as many teaching opportunities as possible when in graduate school. A Ph.D. increases your competitiveness in the academic world but the market is still quite difficult--a postdoctoral research/teaching experience is often necessary. Positions in biotech, federal/state agencies, NGO's, etc. are possibilities as well. The Ph.D. will increase your competitiveness for research oriented positions where some sort of leadership role is expected; however, doctoral recipients may be less competitive or viewed as 'overqualified' for some positions due to the experience in independent research.
How do I narrow my interests to select an appropriate program?
Perhaps the most common question asked by students considering graduate school. You probably know more than you think. Start with determining what you are not jazzed about studying in graduate school.
1.
Do you prefer a certain level of organization (cell/molecular vs.
community/ecosystem)?
2.
Do you prefer a certain taxonomic group? (fungi vs. animals, flowering
plants vs.
gymnosperms,
fish vs. birds)?
3.
Do you prefer a certain research setting (laboratory vs. field, aquatic
vs. terrestrial)?
4.
Do you prefer a certain level of analysis?:
a)
questions of mechanisms
b)
questions of physiological processes
c)
questions of developmental processes
d)
questions of survival value of a trait
e)
questions of evolutionary significance/phyogenetic affinity
5.
Do you prefer research on basic science or with an applied bent?
Skim the table of contents of scientific journals to see what kinds of projects get you the most excited. Visit websites of various schools to see what programs and courses are offered. Talk to professors in the courses that you enjoyed the most. Having very broad general interests in biology is a good thing and can be helpful in selecting an appropriate program.
How do I select an appropriate program?
Now is
the
time to do your homework. Use the questions and sources noted
above
and examine programs in detail. Are the courses of
interest?
The course listing can often give you a feel for the focus of a
program--lots
of interesting courses mean that faculty have similar interests.
If you have somewhat broad interests then use that to find a program
that
will enable you to be surrounded with faculty and students with a
breadth
of interests. If you are more focused, then use that level of
focus
to ascertain the programs that are the strongest for you. Try to
find programs that have a number of people who are publishing in
scientific
journals and have active research groups in the area(s) that most
interest
you. For instance, if you have strong interests in
molecular
biology and animal ecology, a program that has good molecular labs to
hone
your techniques in combination with a diverse ecology program in which
you will be able to apply these techniques is what you might look for
in
a graduate school. Such 'broad' interests may actually help you
narrow
your choices considerably more that if you were only interested in one
of these subdisciplines. The on-line sources listed above, the
scientific
journals, and your professors can assist you with finding such programs.
Once you
have identified programs of interest, write to obtain more information
including a list of recent publications of the faculty. This
should
help you hone your list even further. From this point, you should
contact individual faculty members preferably by letter.
Carefully
craft a letter that states your interests and provides the details of
your
preparedness for graduate study, your familiarity with the faculty
member
to whom you are writing (read their publications), and expresses your
interest
in joining their research group. Inquire if the faculty member
anticipates
any openings at the time that you would like to begin graduate
studies.
Be certain to spend considerable time composing this letter and have a
large number of people review and comment on your composition.
Remember,
first impressions can be last impressions. You are going to be
one
of dozens of people (at least) who are writing and you are trying to
convince
this person that you are a developing professional who would be a
welcome
addition to their research group. The responses from these
letters
will narrow the choices considerably.
How do I apply? A Timetable for the Application Process:
You can never start too early is likely the best advice. But here is a suggested timetable for you to follow. I have geared the dates for a student coming directly out of undergraduate study who desires to start the fall semester after a spring semester graduation.
Junior
Year
(1.5 years prior to desired start date)--Spring semester
--Get
started familiarizing yourself with potential graduate programs
1.
Talk with faculty about what programs are appropriate
2.
Use the Career Services office, this website, and the internet
to
learn about programs.
3.
Review articles in journals and note schools/people of interest
--Contact
departments/download information on programs from the Web.
--Plan
test date and register for the GRE
--Study
for the GRE exam over summer
Senior
Year--September
and October
--Compose
a letter of inquiry and a statement of your career goals
--Request
letters of recommendations and ask your writers to review your
letter
and statement
--Utilize
the Career Services office to review your letter of inquiry and
statement of goals.
The
Writing Center can also be very helpful here--the more comments the
better in
helping
you to craft the very best letter possible
--Take
the GRE or other standardized exams
--Visit
your Career Services office to learn more about strategies for
financing your
graduate
school experience. The links above for Fellowships should
also be a help.
--Send
out letters of inquiry to faculty members with whom you are interested
in working.
Respond
to all letters that you receive in response to your inquiry.
Send a follow-up
letter
if you do not receive a response from people with whom you are very
interested
in
working. Faculty are very busy or may be on sabbatical or out
of the country--don't
necessarily
read too much into a slow or no response. Be tactful
in your second contact
November
and December
--Request
copies of transcripts be mailed
--Submit
your applications early to maximize your competitiveness
for
financial aid/fellowships/assistantships.
--Send
a thank you note to prospective advisors that reaffirms your enthusiasm
to join their
graduate
program and alerts them that your application is on the way.
--Discuss
potential fellowships that you might apply for with your prospective
graduate advisors
January through March
--Contact
potential advisors or programs about visiting and interviewing.
Be sure to meet with other
current
graduate students to get their impressions.
--Be
certain to send a thank you note to those that helped you on your
interview
--Complete
the GAPSAF form available at your university's Career Services
or Financial Aid
office
or via the schools to which you are applying.
April
and May
--If you are accepted, rejoice!
Discuss options with your undergraduate advisors/professors to
determine
which option is best.
--Once
you have made your final selection, inform all of the schools to
which you have applied. For
schools
that you have not yet heard from a letter will suffice. A
personal phone call is appropriate
to
the individuals with whom you have been accepted to work but opt to
go elsewhere.
--Contact
the professor with whom you decide to work and ask what you might
do to prepare for the
fall.
--Prepare
a bibliography on topics of interest so that you can hit the
ground running and know the literature
when
you arrive in graduate school.
--If
you are not accepted, contact the people with whom you have
corresponded
and obtain feedback
on
your application and assess what you can do to increase your
competitiveness
for the next
round
of applications. See the next category below for general hints.
How do I maximize my competitiveness for admission? A few hints:
1.
Remember to keep your curriculum vitae (resume) active by gaining as
much
experience as
possible even with short duration volunteer
experiences.
Check with local government
agencies,
parks, zoos, museums, universities, clinics, bio-oriented businesses
and
school
systems for opportunities to keep active in biology. While
on campus, try to
gain
experience working or volunteering on research projects of your
professors
even
if
this initially means washing dishes. Also, positions associated
with the writing center,
computer
center, library, bio/chem lab preparation room, grounds crew,
etc. can
provide
good experiences that demonstrate a commitment to a science oriented
career.
Consider a position as a paid or unpaid research assistant
to increase your
experience
in research. If you have corresponded with a potential
graduate advisor, you
should
ask if they have any such positions available this will give them
a chance to get to
know
you and also give you valuable experience.
2. Choose
your courses carefully to demonstrate a rigorous undergraduate career--solid
coursework
in biology/environmental science is assumed but supporting courses
in
chemistry, math, physics, and computer science not only increase your
academic
breadth but also demonstrate to your potential advisor that you
have
had
a rigorous undergraduate experience. Also, consider taking
meaningful
support
courses
in speech/media/rhetoric, writing, geographic information systems,
geology/geography,
sociology, psychology, anthropology, politics, etc.
These
courses
will provide a more well rounded appearance to your academic career
and
help
you demonstrate to graduate schools that you are a serious developing
professional.
Be
sure to take courses that provide a solid foundation in biology in the
broad sense.
3. Obtain
as much research experience as possible--any
experience
that you can be it paid or
volunteer
will be helpful. Not only will this experience enable you
to speak with authority
when
you discuss your future goals in a letter or interview but it will
also help solidify
your
goals and allow you to convey your interests with conviction.
Choose courses that
have
a significant research component in them so that you can gain
experience
and further
substantiate
your interest in conducting biological research. Conduct
a research oriented
senior
thesis or independent study project that is focused on your area
of interest. Attempt
to
publish your research findings.
4. Join
a professional society/organization--each
subdiscipline
of biology has a least one
and
often many journals associated with it. Many of these journals
are supported
by
a professional society. Members of that society get the journal
and newsletter.
These
publications allow you to keep up with changes in the field and also
job
openings while demonstrating that you are in fact interested in the
field. Most
societies
have a special student rate as well. Ask your professors
which societies
are
the most pertinent and 'student/recent graduate friendly'.
5.
Take the GRE very seriously and study accordingly--while
graduate schools look at the entire application
package,
solid GRE scores will open doors that might otherwise be closed
to you. Use
a
good introductory biology textbook and study it from cover to
cover.
Study guides and
practice
tests available for purchase or through the GRE On-line are very
helpful and will
enable
you to take the exam and feel comfortable with the style of questions
and the
breadth
of material. Oh...and did I say study--I cannot say this
enough. Put the time in
to
give yourself the best possible chance of doing well and flaunting your
stuff. I would
recommend
a minimum of 6 weeks of high powered, full-time studying.
If you are taking classes
simultaneously
then you should adjust accordingly.
6. Carefully
craft your cover letter and curriculum vitae to demonstrate a logical
progression
in
your growth as a professional.--remember
first impressions can be last impressions.
Your
letter should be the very best that you are capable of writing.
Be certain to
have
a number of people who you trust to give you a brutally honest review
look over
and
comment on your cover letter. Make use of the writing center
and career services
office.
How do I finance the graduate study?
Graduate study can be expensive and a visit to your institution's financial aid office and career services office will enable you to assess different possibilities to fund your continued study. However, the vast majority of graduate programs in biology offer teaching and research assistantships at the time of acceptance (or soon after). In exchange for teaching labs or working in a lab, graduate students typically receive a stipend that will enable you to cover living expenses and also pay your tuition so that you are only responsible for general fees, health insurance, etc. Discuss financial aid options with prospective graduate advisors. Unless you are only moderately competitive, you should expect to receive an offer similar to what I have just described and graduate school in biology should not make you wealthy but you will be able to cover your living costs and break even.
Updated
11
Feb 2011
John
L. Koprowski