1. How to Go to Graduate School Biology Dept., Saint Louis University Dr. Downes & Dr. Nordell

2. Graduate school is training in research Graduate school is training in research Research = discovery of the unknown. Research = discovery of the unknown. Are you an explorer? Are you an explorer? Do you like to think creatively? Do you like to think creatively? Are you eager to make a unique contribution to the world during your lifetime? Are you eager to make a unique contribution to the world during your lifetime? Are these things as important to you as a high salary? Are these things as important to you as a high salary? A career in research can be very profitable, but if that is the only motivation it is likely to be disastrous. A career in research can be very profitable, but if that is the only motivation it is likely to be disastrous. Do what you love. The rest will take care of itself. Do what you love. The rest will take care of itself. What is graduate school?

3. Graduate school is preparation for careers including: Graduate school is preparation for careers including: industrial research industrial research government research government research academic research academic research teaching teaching Teaching is the ultimate destiny for any knowledge if it is to be preserved and expanded. Teaching is the ultimate destiny for any knowledge if it is to be preserved and expanded. What is graduate school?

4. Graduate school is the pursuit of a Master’s or Doctoral Degree Graduate school is the pursuit of a Master’s or Doctoral Degree Master of Science (M.S.) Master of Science (M.S.) 2 year commitment 2 year commitment Research & writing Research & writing Industry or research technician, high school education, Industry or research technician, high school education, Doctor of Philosophy in Science (Ph.D.) Doctor of Philosophy in Science (Ph.D.) 4-6 year commitment 4-6 year commitment Extensive research & writing Extensive research & writing academics, research academics, research Post-Doctoral Position Post-Doctoral Position What is graduate school?

5. Why go to Graduate School? Graduate school requires intense commitment of time and resources. Graduate school requires intense commitment of time and resources. Ability to work independently is a requirement! Ability to work independently is a requirement! Good reasons to apply: Good reasons to apply: Professional development/ career goals Professional development/ career goals Teaching, research, industry Teaching, research, industry Intellectual curiosity Intellectual curiosity Bad Reasons to apply: Bad Reasons to apply: Not sure what else to do Not sure what else to do Don’t feel ready for a job Don’t feel ready for a job Waiting to get into medical school Waiting to get into medical school Looking for expanded undergraduate education Looking for expanded undergraduate education

6. BEFORE Applying to Graduate School Grades and GRE’s Grades and GRE’s Minimum 3.0 GPA Minimum 3.0 GPA Score well on the Graduate Record Examination (www.ets.org) Score well on the Graduate Record Examination (www.ets.org)www.ets.org Measures: Measures: Verbal reasoning (scale is 200-800) Verbal reasoning (scale is 200-800) Quantitative reasoning (scale is 200-800) Quantitative reasoning (scale is 200-800) Critical thinking Critical thinking Analytical writing (scale is 200-800) Analytical writing (scale is 200-800) General General Biology Biology Many dates (can take at SLU) Many dates (can take at SLU) Computer-based test scores reported within 3 weeks Computer-based test scores reported within 3 weeks Paper-based test scores reported within 4-6 weeks Paper-based test scores reported within 4-6 weeks

7. Gaining Experience Gaining Experience Start doing actual science early! Start doing actual science early! Lab courses Lab courses Real hands-on research experience Real hands-on research experience Find faculty with research that interests you Find faculty with research that interests you Biology Dept. Research Opportunities Biology Dept. Research Opportunities Biology Dept. Research Opportunities Biology Dept. Research Opportunities Examine faculty research on web Examine faculty research on web E-mail faculty E-mail faculty request meeting about doing research request meeting about doing research during their office hours or by appointment during their office hours or by appointment Discuss research & commitment required Discuss research & commitment required Join a scientific student organization Join a scientific student organization St. Louis University Tribeta Biology Club St. Louis University Tribeta Biology Club St. Louis University Tribeta Biology Club St. Louis University Tribeta Biology Club Just Earth ( mailto:slujustearth@hotmail.com ) Just Earth ( mailto:slujustearth@hotmail.com ) mailto:slujustearth@hotmail.com SLU Alpha Epsilon Delta SLU Alpha Epsilon Delta BEFORE Applying to Graduate School

8. Applying to Graduate School Choose an area of research Choose an area of research What interests you? What interests you? Topics in courses Topics in courses Career Info Career Info http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/carebiol.htm http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/carebiol.htm http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/carebiol.htm Select an institution Select an institution Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Schools Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Schools www.petersons.com/GradChannel www.petersons.com/GradChannel www.petersons.com/GradChannel Gradschools.com Gradschools.com http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Biology-General/43.html http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Biology-General/43.html http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Biology-General/43.html Scientific society within discipline Scientific society within discipline Animal Behavior Society Animal Behavior Society http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSEducation/programs-in-animal- behavior/ProgramsAnimalBehavior-Oct2007.pdf/view http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSEducation/programs-in-animal- behavior/ProgramsAnimalBehavior-Oct2007.pdf/view http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSEducation/programs-in-animal- behavior/ProgramsAnimalBehavior-Oct2007.pdf/view http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSEducation/programs-in-animal- behavior/ProgramsAnimalBehavior-Oct2007.pdf/view American Society for Microbiology American Society for Microbiology http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=1214 http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=1214 http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=1214 American Physiological Society American Physiological Society http://www.the-aps.org/education/edu_grad.html http://www.the-aps.org/education/edu_grad.html http://www.the-aps.org/education/edu_grad.html Talk with SLU Biology faculty members/ mentor/ advisor Talk with SLU Biology faculty members/ mentor/ advisor Get application form& deadlines Get application form& deadlines mid January or earlier mid January or earlier http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/applytograd uateschool.htm http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/applytograd uateschool.htm http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/applytograd uateschool.htm http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/applytograd uateschool.htm

9. Applying to Graduate School Select potential advisors Select potential advisors Find specific faculty members Find specific faculty members Do your homework Do your homework Check their web site/ Read their scientific publications Check their web site/ Read their scientific publications Contact the potential advisor Contact the potential advisor do early – before applying! do early – before applying! Tell them: Tell them: why you are writing why you are writing why you find their research interesting why you find their research interesting Are accepting any graduate students? Are accepting any graduate students? Research assistantship or teaching assistantship available? Research assistantship or teaching assistantship available? Send them your: Send them your: Curriculum Vitae Curriculum Vitae

10. Applying to Graduate School Curriculum vitae Curriculum vitae Undergraduate degree and date expected Undergraduate degree and date expected List of science (& related) courses and grades List of science (& related) courses and grades Science and non-science GPA Science and non-science GPA GRE scores GRE scores Research experience Research experience In class/lab & in research lab In class/lab & in research lab Work experience Work experience References (these are important!) References (these are important!) Provide them with pertinent information to provide an accurate reflection of your abilities (see next slide) Provide them with pertinent information to provide an accurate reflection of your abilities (see next slide)

11. Applying to Graduate School Letters of Recommendation (positive?) Letters of Recommendation (positive?) Request and discuss in person Request and discuss in person Provide all forms, stamped and addressed envelopes Provide all forms, stamped and addressed envelopes Remind them of their interactions with you Remind them of their interactions with you Course number and semester and grade Course number and semester and grade Academic information Academic information Names and numbers and grades for courses & GPA Names and numbers and grades for courses & GPA Test scores, academic awards, etc. Test scores, academic awards, etc. Research & work experience Research & work experience Be specific Be specific Academic strengths & weaknesses Academic strengths & weaknesses Personal characteristics Personal characteristics Concrete examples of your dependability, intellectual capabilities & critical thinking skills, initiative, written & oral communication skills, interpersonal skills Concrete examples of your dependability, intellectual capabilities & critical thinking skills, initiative, written & oral communication skills, interpersonal skills Gentle reminders of timeline Gentle reminders of timeline

12. Applying to Graduate School Letter of Intent Letter of Intent Your goals/ intentions Your goals/ intentions Why do you want to go to graduate school? Why do you want to go to graduate school? Your research interests Your research interests State clearly (not vague generalizations) State clearly (not vague generalizations) Sell yourself! Sell yourself! Describe your qualities and experiences that make you unique and prepared Describe your qualities and experiences that make you unique and prepared Grades, research experience, internships, work experience, maturity, extracurricular experience as it relates to graduate school, motivation Grades, research experience, internships, work experience, maturity, extracurricular experience as it relates to graduate school, motivation

13. Applying to Graduate School Interviews Interviews Be prepared Be prepared Know faculty research interests Know faculty research interests Ask to meet graduate students Ask to meet graduate students Do one or more faculty have research programs that interest you? Do one or more faculty have research programs that interest you? Meet with each of them Meet with each of them Quality of library resources Quality of library resources Are more than one faculty are active in your research field of interest? Are more than one faculty are active in your research field of interest? Send thank you! Send thank you!

14. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees Can apply your senior year! Can apply your senior year! http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.j sp?pims_id=6201 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.j sp?pims_id=6201 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.j sp?pims_id=6201 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.j sp?pims_id=6201 Due in early November Due in early November Based on academic achievement, reference letters, GRE scores, research proposal Based on academic achievement, reference letters, GRE scores, research proposal