Applying to Graduate School in the Life Sciences

1. Applying to Graduate School in the Life Sciences University of Notre Dame

2. Why Enter a Doctoral Program? • Because you want to do research • The primary goal of doctoral programs is to train researchers • You want to pursue scholarly subjects in great depth • You want to make fundamental contributions to a field • Because you want to teach at the college level • A Ph.D. is required to be a professor at most universities

3. Poor Reasons to Enter a Doctoral Program • You enjoy taking courses • You are not in a hurry to get a “real job” • You didn’t get in to med/vet/etc school • You are trying to improve your salary

4. The Graduate School Lifestyle:Is it for you? • Flexibility is everywhere • Classes, projects, hours, vacations, location • Supportive community of peers and mentors • Travel opportunities • Self-motivation is thus paramount • A 60-80 hour work week is typical • Without external deadlines, some flounder

5. Start Looking for Schools • No later than the summer before you apply • Time consuming process • Courses or credits might be required • GRE exams require planning • Still time to cultivate recommenders!

6. Choosing Schools for Application • Narrow your interests • Begin with advice from current profs • Is there a professor doing work that interests you? More than one? • Prestige • Size • Based on geography (if necessary) • Apply to about 10 schools

7. Make contact with faculty before you apply

8. The Easy Parts of the Application • Spend the time to get it perfect • No misspelling, inaccuracies, missing info • Tailor to each school • The Graduate Record Exam • Study for this exam! • Take the summer before you apply • The general test is universally required but the subject tests are not always required

9. The “Statement of Purpose” or Personal Essay • This is your main chance to sell yourself! • Should be concise, helpful and specific • Cute essays in style of UG apps are reviled • Use names of each university & its faculty • Customize the research angle to program • Keep it short; their limit or ~2 pages • What (have you done), Why (are you interested), Why (this school)? • Get feedback from UG professors

10. Topics for the Essay • Take their recommendations first! • If program request is general: • Your eventual career goal (AFTER the PhD!) • Field(s) of research that interest you and why • Your prior research experience (key) • A particular research question possibly • Discrepancies in your record (eg bad grades)

11. Letters of Recommendation • Cultivate relationships and choose well • Should be professors (not TAs or staff) • Should know your course work and/or research experience well (no “character” references) • Supply writers with resume, statement, transcript, and information on your career goals • Organize materials carefully for ease of recommenders

12. The “Kiss of Death” in the Graduate Application Process • Not doing your homework • Applying to a program they don’t have • Proposing to work with deceased faculty members • Damaging personal statements • Altruistic personal statements • Excessive self disclosure • Nonspecific research goals • Professional inappropriateness Survey from IUPUI and Idaho State University faculty of 88 programs

13. The “Kiss of Death” in the Graduate Application Process • Academic problems • Erratic grades; blaming others for poor performance • Faulty letters of recommendation • Inappropriate authors; disclosure of undesirable personality characteristics • Lack of writing skills • Failure to proof; poor grammar or composition • Misfired attempts to impress • Name dropping

14. Summary • Think deeply about your career & life goals • Start program research & applications early • Make contact with faculty before application • Study for the GRE exam • Produce a perfectly prepared application • Get input on your statement of purpose • Customize your applications • Cultivate recommenders and give them the right tools

15. Departmental Statistics • Currently 134 graduate students • Currently 45 faculty members • Student: Faculty ratio of ~3: 1 • Over 40 post doctoral fellows • Close to 100% funding rate for Biology faculty (extramural grants) • Biology ranks #1 at UND in amount of extramural funding (~$20M per year)

16. Advantages of Our Program • Excellent support package • Flexibility in coursework and research • Well funded and active laboratories • Excellent facilities • Many interdisciplinary opportunities • Collegial and interactive faculty & students • Low student:faculty ratio = interaction

17. How are Biology Students Supported? • Teaching Assistantships • Typically teach 1 lab per week • About 10-12 hr per week for all teaching duties • Research Assistantships • Research in your advisor’s laboratory • Often linked to your own graduate research • Fellowships and Traineeships • University Fellowships • Training Grants (IGERT, CBBIP, etc.) • National Fellowships (NSF, USEPA, DOD, AHA, etc.)

18. Level of Stipend Support • $25,000 for 12 months in 2010-11 • $18,750 for academic year (9 months) • $6,250 for summer support (from grants typically) • Same for TAs or RAs, Ph.D. or M.S. • Some fellows have enhanced stipends (e.g., IGERT) • Full tuition waiver provided • ~$38,270 per year • Five years of support toward Ph.D. • Three years towards M.S. • Assumes adequate progress toward degree

19. Our Admission Criteria • Research Experience • Undergraduate research & summer internships • Emphasize in your application & letters • Master’s degrees • “Fit” with the Lab and Program • Make contact with faculty before you apply • Do your homework on research programs • Make the case in your personal statement

20. More Admissions Criteria • Letters of Reference • Our favorite phrases: • “intellectual curiosity” “great work ethic” “team player” • “excellent writer” “problem-solver” “self motivated” • Undergrad Institution and GPA • GRE scores • General test required • Subject tests optional but desirable

21. Graduate Recruitment Weekend • 40-60 applicants visit at our expense • 2 ½ days of activities (meals, tours, boring talks) • Faculty Interview Questions: • What are your long-term goals? • What areas of research interest you? • What was your favorite undergrad class? • What are your hobbies? • Do your homework on the program & faculty!

22. Predoctoral Fellowship Opportunities: Extramural: - NSF (GRFP) - Private Foundations (American Heart Association, etc). Intramural: - internal endowment funds - training grants - university programs

23. University of Notre Dame