How to Go to Graduate School
Biology Department
Saint Louis University
Dr. Downes & Dr. Nordell
bdownes1@slu.edu
nordell@slu.edu
What is graduate school?
• Graduate school is training in research
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Research = discovery of the unknown.
Are you an explorer?
Do you like to think creatively?
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?
• 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.
What is graduate school?
• Graduate school is preparation for careers
including:
– industrial research
– government research
– academic research
– teaching
• Teaching is the ultimate destiny for any knowledge
if it is to be preserved and expanded.
What is graduate school?
• Graduate school is the pursuit of a Master’s or
Doctoral Degree
– Master of Science (M.S.)
• 2 year commitment
• Research & writing
• Industry or research technician, high school education,
– Doctor of Philosophy in Science (Ph.D.)
• 4-6 year commitment
• Extensive research & writing
• academics, research
• Post-Doctoral Position
Why go to Graduate School?
• Graduate school requires intense commitment of time and
resources.
• Ability to work independently is a requirement!
• Good reasons to apply:
– Professional development/ career goals
• Teaching, research, industry
– Intellectual curiosity
• Bad Reasons to apply:
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Not sure what else to do
Don’t feel ready for a job
Waiting to get into medical school
Looking for expanded undergraduate education
BEFORE Applying to Graduate School
• Grades and GRE’s
– Minimum 3.0 GPA
– Score well on the Graduate Record Examination
(www.ets.org)
• Measures:
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Verbal reasoning (scale is 200-800)
Quantitative reasoning (scale is 200-800)
Critical thinking
Analytical writing (scale is 200-800)
• General
• Biology
• Many dates (can take at SLU)
– Computer-based test scores reported within 3 weeks
– Paper-based test scores reported within 4-6 weeks
BEFORE Applying to Graduate School
• Gaining Experience
– Start doing actual science early!
• Lab courses
• Real hands-on research experience
• Find faculty with research that interests you
– Biology Dept. Research Opportunities
– Examine faculty research on web
– E-mail faculty
» request meeting about doing research
» during their office hours or by appointment
– Discuss research & commitment required
– Join a scientific student organization
• St. Louis University Tribeta Biology Club
• Just Earth (mailto:slujustearth@hotmail.com)
• SLU Alpha Epsilon Delta
Applying to Graduate School
• Choose an area of research
– What interests you?
• Topics in courses
• Read Science Daily
– http://www.sciencedaily.com/
• Career Info
–http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/carebio
l.htm
• Read job postings
–See what looks interesting for you!
Applying to Graduate School
• Select an institution
– Scientific society within discipline often has lists of who has graduate
assistantships to offer
• American Society for Microbiology
– http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=1214
• American Physiological Society
– http://www.the-aps.org/education/edu_grad.html
• Ecology Society of America
– https://listserv.umd.edu/archives/ecolog-l.html
– Talk with SLU Biology faculty members/ mentor/ advisor
• Get application form& deadlines
– mid January or earlier
– http://www.pitt.edu/~biohome/Dept/Frame/applytograduateschool.
ht
Applying to Graduate School
• Apply to primary and multiple secondary choice
schools
– High competition for positions
• Be prepared to work on advisors research project
– Usually will be working on a subset of the advisor’s
research
• Be flexible in your research interests
– Research interests often change during or after
graduate school
Applying to Graduate School
• Select potential advisors
– Find specific faculty members
• Do your homework
– Check their web site/ Read their scientific publications
• Contact the potential advisor
– do early – before applying!
– Tell them:
• why you are writing
• why you find their research interesting
– Are they accepting any graduate students?
– Research assistantship or teaching assistantship available?
– Send them your:
• Curriculum Vitae (Academic resume – long version)
E-mail to Potential Graduate Advisor
Dear Dr. X,
Hi. My name is Bob Billiken I am a senior biology major at Saint Louis University. I am
currently applying to graduate schools with PhD programs in the biological sciences, specifically those
programs encompassing animal ecology research, and I came upon your information in the process.
After reading about your research and the work done in your lab, I am very interesting in the
possibility of earning my degree with you as my mentor.
If you are accepting new students into your lab this coming school year, I believe that I
would be a worthy candidate. For your consideration, I have included below some information about
myself and why I believe you should consider my application. I have also attached to this email my
resume and a writing sample from my undergraduate thesis proposal.
Please consider me as a potential member of your lab, as I believe I could provide a
valuable contribution to your research team. If you have any questions or would like to talk to me
further about the possibility of joining your lab if I am admitted to the biology graduate program,
please contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Bob Billiken
What would you think if you got this letter?
Applying to Graduate School
• What should be on your Curriculum vitae:
– Undergraduate degree and date expected
– List of science (& related) courses and grades
• Science and non-science GPA
– GRE scores
– Research experience
• In class/lab & in research lab
– Work experience
– References (these are important!)
• Provide them with pertinent information to provide an accurate reflection
of your abilities (see next slide)
Applying to Graduate School
• How to get a good letter of recommendation
– Request and discuss in person
• Ask them if they can write a positive letter!
• Provide all forms, stamped and addressed envelopes
• Remind them of their interactions with you
– Course number and semester and grade
– Academic information
• Names and numbers and grades for courses & GPA
• Test scores, academic awards, etc.
– Research & work experience
• Be specific
– Academic strengths & weaknesses
– Personal characteristics
• Concrete examples of your dependability, intellectual capabilities & critical
thinking skills, initiative, written & oral communication skills, interpersonal skills
– Gentle reminders of timeline
Applying to Graduate School
• Letter of Intent
– Your goals/ intentions
• Why do you want to go to graduate school?
– Your research interests
• State clearly (not vague generalizations)
• Should tailor for each potential advisor
– Sell yourself!
• 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
Applying to Graduate School
• Interviews
– Be prepared
• Know faculty research interests
– Ask to meet graduate students
– Do one or more faculty have research programs that
interest you?
• Meet with each of them
– Quality of library resources
– Are more than one faculty are active in your research field
of interest?
– Send thank you!
National Science Foundation Graduate Research
Fellowships
• Fellowships for graduate study leading to researchbased master’s or doctoral degrees
• Can apply your senior year!
– http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=620
1
• Due in early November
• Based on academic achievement, reference letters,
GRE scores, research proposal