Theresa M. Duello, PhD Associate Director for Diversity Initiatives Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program Theresa M. Duello, PhD Associate Director for Diversity Initiatives Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School Opportunities

Why do we say ‘the’ Graduate School? Aren’t there many graduate programs? Large campuses like UW-Madison have a central office which processes all graduate applications. If minimum admissions requirement are met, the application is then sent to the specific graduate programs.

Yes, you can apply to more than three programs. Just need to call the Graduate School and submit additional programs. Contact Dr. Duello to help you with an application strategy that will maximize your chances for admission at the UW

Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology.. biochemists cell biologists.... developmental biologists geneticists immunologists molecular biologists toxicologists Many programs are interdisciplinary, so if may not be obvious where to apply. Ask Dr. Duello for help.

Not much information. What, but not ‘how’.

Personal Statements Not an essay for summer camp... Not an essay for a creative writing course... Not scientific writing either....

There will be other applicants with your grades. There will be other applicants with your GRE, DAT, or MCAT scores. There will be other applicants who have great research or medical experiences. There will be other applicants with great letters of recommendation. The personal statement is incredibly important. It is your opportunity to shine!

If you think well and write well, we know you think well. If you think well and do not write well, we do not know you think well.

What are you going to write about?

First step – Produce a polished CV (or a hybrid).

Curriculum vitae or CV – An overview of a person’s life and qualifications. vita – singular vitae – plural Resume – A document that contains a summary of relevant job experience and education

Resume A hybrid Curriculum Vita Changes will parallel your advancement through the educational system into the career of your choice

Elements of the Graduate School personal statement Demonstrate that you have considered graduate school seriously, and more importantly their program in particular. Tell about your research experiences. Write as if you are already a scientist. Talk the talk, walk the walk. State how these research experiences were relevant to preparing you for this graduate degree.

Highlight your strengths / gifts. You can explain (but not apologize) for any weaknesses, or unusual aspects of your background or application, like discrepancies between your GRE scores and your GPA, impact of work, etc. * But you write everything as a success story.

* Write uphill. You were challenged, you conquered the problem. You succeeded.

But do you know what to do next?

Step 1 – Produce a polished CV (or a hybrid). Step 2 - Write an outline for the essay Introduction Educational background/motivation for research Research experiences Relevant extracurricular activities Why you and this program are a great match Maybe whose work you are interested in Great concluding paragraph Maybe where you see yourself in 5 years

Realize it is going to take multiple drafts. Have people within the field/discipline critique the essay for you. Not just critiqued for English usage. Not just critiqued for punctuation. Not just critiqued for flow. Critiqued by someone who sits or has sat on an admissions committee.

Summer Research Opportunities Program-SROP University of Wisconsin-Madison Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program (IBS-SRP) Bioenergy Computational Biology and Biostatistics Neurobiology Cellular and Molecular Biology Plant Breeding and Genetics Environmental Biology Forest Products Laboratory Summer Research Experience Program Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Research Experience for Undergraduates – Astrophysics

Research Experience for Undergraduates in Chemistry REU Microbiology Research Experience for Undergraduates in Nanotechnology Summer Education Research Program (SERP) Symbiosis Summer Program (SSP) Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE/REU in Engineering) Synchrotron Radiation Center (SRC/REU) For general information and eligibility: info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/diversity/srop/index.html For online application:

Thank you! Theresa M. Duello, PhD Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology Program University of Wisconsin-Madison