Grad School

Tips and Tricks:

Applying to Grad School

BY KAELA HAMILTON

ABOVE: Phi Sigma’s annual senior prank. Unlike Willie, we students can’t stay in Harned forever. Photo by Noah Dillon.

Are you a freshman? Sophomore? Junior? Senior? Literally anyone except a current graduate student? Then you might be in luck! It may seem far-off now, but if graduate school is even a consideration for you, take a look at some of the things that I picked up on while applying. Hopefully these are helpful, so you don’t have to learn things the hard way (like me).

1. Start early! Applications usually open around August or September. Before they open, you should have an idea of where you might want to apply so that you’re not scrambling to find programs before deadlines (which, by the way, are usually late November/early December). 2. Schedule taking the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) about a month out so you have your pick of locations and times. Make a point to study for it consistently—it’s an arduous testing process made easier when you are prepared! There are lots of free online practice tests you can take. However, before you start worrying about the GRE, make sure that the schools you are applying for require it—not every school does! Why take it if you don’t have to? 3. Figure out your approach—there are generally two ways to go about finding places to apply (not mutually exclusive). One way is to think about what subject you might want to get your degree in and search for schools with that specialization. Figure out the keywords you need to search in order to find programs that you would be interested in. Another way is to search for principal investigators (PIs; professors leading the research in the lab) that conduct research related to your interests. Find the specific faculty members you would like to work with (hint: look at authors of journal articles you enjoyed!) and apply to their schools. 4. This one is important: you have to actually contact the people whose research you are interested in. If you haven’t already, once you’ve identified the programs you’re interested in, find out who is doing what and what appeals to you. Send emails to PIs asking about their availability to take on graduate students in the coming year, and express how interested you are in their current projects (another hint: read the abstracts and conclusions of a few of their more recent papers and mention something you found interesting about their findings). 5. The hard truth is that most replies will be in the “I’m not currently taking grad students” or even “I don’t want you” arena. That’s okay. Keep sending out emails and building relationships. Your chances of being admitted rely heavily on the impressions you make on potential mentors! 6. Once you’ve received positive replies from some PIs you like, suggest a call or video chat to discuss what opportunities are available in their lab. They will want to know about your research experience, and you can get a better idea of the projects that the lab is currently working on. To ensure you make a great impression, prepare for the call by looking over the PI’s lab website, skimming a few of their papers, and coming up with some questions about their research, mentoring style, and the application process.

7. Make use of resources we have here on campus to help you through your applications! Several professors work as faculty consultants at the CWLT to help students refine personal statements and other application materials. Get feedback from people who have actually been through this process and know what admissions committees are looking for! 8. Don’t forget about letters of recommendation! Identify a few professors (or non-academic professionals) who know you well and will probably say good things about you. Ideally, you should have at least one recommender who can speak to your research experience. If you are thinking about applying to research-based graduate programs (natural and physical sciences) and you haven’t done independent research yet, definitely think about starting a project in a lab you’re interested in here at Puget Sound. You can get funding to work over the summer, or academic credit for doing research during the semester. Having recommenders who know you are comfortable with the research process and can speak about your ownership of a project is very compelling to graduate school PIs. 9. Also, give recommenders plenty of heads-up before applications are due! It is generally good practice to ask for letters at least one month in advance of deadlines. Remember that many of our professors are very busy, so sending a friendly reminder when the due date gets closer is not a bad idea.

Good luck! Play to your strengths but be transparent about how you hope to grow in the future. Believe in yourself and don’t let the stress of waiting to hear back totally cripple you (speaking from experience here). Finally, remember that it is not the end of the world if you aren’t admitted the first time you apply. Take a step back, and gain some real-world experience in a job that will help you grow as a researcher. Then, decide if you want to try for another round. Grad school is a long-term investment in your future. There is no pressure to jump in immediately! Prioritize grad school preparation as a way to improve yourself as a person, not just to jump through hurdles. YOU got this, no matter if you choose to pursue grad school or not. Be glad to be a grad!