The Journey to Graduate School
Staring down the barrel of planning for graduate school can be intimidating, even harder if you are planning to directly join a Ph.D. program without pursuing a master’s prior in a related field of interest. While this transition to a direct Ph.D. is unique to academic programs in the United States, it is something every student whether domestic or international needs to effectively navigate, to join a program that best fits their interest. While there is no cookie cutter approach to getting into your dream PhD program, the three of us have found there are two critical attributes to consider: 1) be honest, and 2) be intentional. Being honest with yourself about your interest, motivations, and passions to pursue in graduate school will help you sift through the endless brochures, websites, and graduate program handouts. Not just that, it will also help you reflect on whether the 5-7 long years of intellectual pursuit is the right choice for your envisioned career. For example, for some, the location of graduate studies and future career endeavors may be a significant factor. Doing so can facilitate the preparation for this journey, assist narrowing down the application list, and help demonstrate to graduate programs your sincerity in pursuing a graduate degree.
Further still, be intentional in your decisions. Understand that graduate school and/or a doctorate is not for everyone, and the decision to pursue a degree in higher education will mean significant sacrifices in other areas of your life. While these sacrifices can certainly be worth it, go forth with your long-term purpose always in mind. Once you have decided that the graduate program is the right fit for your future career, be intentional about the steps needed to tailor your CV and experiences. This is more than just having a high GPA or good GRE scores (considering, especially, the growing trend of universities dropping the GRE as an application requirement and its acknowledgement as having utility in only assessing English language proficiency (1 - 3)). What does this mean for aspiring Ph.D. applicants? Work on expanding your knowledge base, resume, and experience in other areas - this includes undergraduate research experience, as well as strong reference letters from individuals who know you well and can vouch for your intellectual tenacity. While your research interests will likely change with increased exposure to different scientific fields, it is important to dedicate yourself and get familiar with the arena of academic research. For more strategies to prepare for graduate school, listen to our episode on Spotify.
References
1) “The Limitations of the GRE in Predicting Success in Biomedical Graduate School”. Moneta-Koehler L et al., 2017. PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166742
2) “GRExit or retain”. Rao R, 2018. ASBMTODAY. www.asbmb.org
3) “A wave of graduate programs drops the GRE application requirement”. Langin K, 2019. Science Insider. www.science.org