Navigating the Graduate Application Journey
About a year ago, I started “applying” to Ph.D. programs for the Fall 2023 semester. It’s a stressful time - you don’t know where you’ll end up, and you have to present yourself to others? And prove why you deserve to be in a Ph.D. / Masters position?? Oof. Big imposter syndrome coming through.
When I started this process a year ago, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I knew that I had to email professors, and make sure there was room in the lab for me…but I didn’t know what that looked like. Yes, I googled what to do, but most websites confused me even more. My best help was asking graduate students that went through the process themselves just a few years ago. And that, my friends, is how I want to help you out. I want to provide you with the perspective of a 22-year-old, recently accepted Ph.D. student, on how to apply for a Ph.D. or Masters.
Was my way perfect? Absolutely not. Did I figure out how to make it better and what I would change next time? Yep. Throughout the summer, I want to post resources to assist other students that were in my place a year ago. The purpose of this website is for me to post my research, but also, it’s really a place for me to educate and help people in my position. Jumping into the world of research is really intimidating…and honestly, I don’t think there are enough resources (and when I say resources, I mean EASY to understand and sympathetic ones) for how to get started.
Growing up, if you liked animals, really the only jobs that were thrown at you were being a vet and working in a zoo. But in reality, there’s SO much more you can do - and research is one of those things. Not just research, but the ability to work in the presence of animals, organize field work, and manage labs. It is possible to find research technician jobs (I’m currently doing one now) with a Bachelor’s degree, but most of those jobs are to do the tasks that the people doing the research need to be done. For instance, I’m currently running DNA extractions and qPCRs about 10 times a week for my job - nothing else. Do I enjoy it - yes! But, do I want to do that for the rest of my life - no! I want to be doing the research, collecting the data, analyzing it, and then writing it up.
So, if you’re like me, or know someone like me, please follow along! Undergraduate students - you’re going to need to know this information quite soon if you want to go to graduate school!
I just added a newsletter button to my website. No, I’m not going to spam you, don't worry. I’m also not going to get you to buy anything (I hate it when newsletters do that). I’ll be sharing my blog posts and life updates! It’s just a way to be reminded, especially if you aren’t following me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
I’m excited to provide short, funny (maybe, we’ll see), and helpful blog posts that actually make sense. Here are some questions you can hopefully get answered.
How do I find professors with similar interests?
What should I include in the emails to professors?
How many professors should I email?
Is it bad to send multiple emails?
How do I organize all this information?
When do I actually apply to graduate school?
More specifically, here’s what you can look forward to over the next two months…
What the overall process of applying to graduate school in a biology-related profession looks like
A spreadsheet for organizing your professors and schools you’re interested in
A template for emailing professors → how do I go about this?
Tips on how to find professors that line up with your research interests
Unconventional ways to apply to Ph.D. programs (or Masters!)
Sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Twitter! It’s going to be a fun & wild ride. Okay. Not really. It’s a hard time in life but you know what - you’ve got it! And I’ll be here the whole way.
