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Tips on Applying to Graduate School

Danaus-plexippus.webp
Danaus-plexippus.webp

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Finding a lab

  • Start researching labs you find interesting during the summer before applications are due

Stay Organized!

  • Create an excel sheet with schools, labs, application requirements, and due dates

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Advice on initial emails

  • Contact principal investigators (PI's) you're interested in working with 2-3 months before applications are due

  • ​Send each PI a personalized email detailing your research background, how it connects to their research, and what you would like to do if you joined their lab

  • Attach your CV to the email​​​​

  • Ask to zoom and discuss their research more

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Don't get discouraged!

  • You will soon find out that many of the labs you were excited about are not accepting students. Don't get discouraged! For example, I reached out to around 30-40 PI's and only ended up applying to 6 programs (keep in mind that everyone's experience is different) 

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Personal and Research Statements ​

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Tips on Interviewing

Do your research

  • Familiarize yourself with the research of each of your interviewers

  • Read over their abstracts and skim their research website ​

Make an elevator pitch

  • Practice summarizing your research background in 2-3 minutes 

  • Have an elevator pitch (2-3 minutes) prepared about your research interests 

Ask questions!​​

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