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What's the best way to contact future grad school advisors?
#graduate-school #ecology
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Andrea’s Answer
When I was a junior in undergrad I started meeting with my mentor/favorite professor/advisor for regular 1 on 1s. It was through that engagement that I was connected to grad school profressors who are also the ones that make the acceptance decisions on the applications. If you are looking to go to grad school for anything that has a research component, those research communities are often pretty small and your professor probably has a lot of great connections to schools with great programs as a result. Before I knew it, I had interviews at IU, UMass, etc and was accpeted into Umass. That would not have happened if it wasn't for that connection, very much like networking to get a job.
Talk to your current professors and express your interests
Reach out to other professors for informational interviews (interviews where you bring a few open ended questions for them as a way for you to learn more about the job, process, opportunties etc)
Andrea recommends the following next steps:
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Tom’s Answer
My perspective is from the sciences -- you're mileage may vary.
I would recommend e-mailing the professors themselves. I'd suggest looking over their publication lists and seeing what matches your interests. CVs are like ads for the professors career, so they'll make sure they aren't too hard to find. Look on the department website and it shouldn't be too many clicks away. This gives you two advantages:
1) It lets you find an adviser who has research interests that match your own. At least in science you'll probably be working with your adviser in research, so this is a great place to start.
2) It will get the advisers attention. Look over some of their papers. You're just starting grad school, so you'll have questions. This next part is important -- you're adviser is a professor. Someone who has chosen devote a sizable portion of their lives to explaining their field. They all love to talk about their research, so reach out and ask your questions. You'll get their attention every time, and get that crucial foot in the door.
Also, remember to talk to the grad students in the same department. E-mail addresses for students should be easily found again on the department website, but are probably also listed in the publications of the faculty. If the grad students aren't listed on the professor's papers as first or second authors, this grad program may treating its students well. The grad students can give you good advice about prospective advisers, especially if you offer them food (like buying them a coffee or a beer). Grad students never say no to free food.
Also, don't worry about it too much. If you and your adviser aren't working well together, you can always change, even after the first couple years of grad school.
Read over papers
talk to professors
talk to students
Don't worry
I would recommend e-mailing the professors themselves. I'd suggest looking over their publication lists and seeing what matches your interests. CVs are like ads for the professors career, so they'll make sure they aren't too hard to find. Look on the department website and it shouldn't be too many clicks away. This gives you two advantages:
1) It lets you find an adviser who has research interests that match your own. At least in science you'll probably be working with your adviser in research, so this is a great place to start.
2) It will get the advisers attention. Look over some of their papers. You're just starting grad school, so you'll have questions. This next part is important -- you're adviser is a professor. Someone who has chosen devote a sizable portion of their lives to explaining their field. They all love to talk about their research, so reach out and ask your questions. You'll get their attention every time, and get that crucial foot in the door.
Also, remember to talk to the grad students in the same department. E-mail addresses for students should be easily found again on the department website, but are probably also listed in the publications of the faculty. If the grad students aren't listed on the professor's papers as first or second authors, this grad program may treating its students well. The grad students can give you good advice about prospective advisers, especially if you offer them food (like buying them a coffee or a beer). Grad students never say no to free food.
Also, don't worry about it too much. If you and your adviser aren't working well together, you can always change, even after the first couple years of grad school.
Tom recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi, Sarah!
With a little research online, you can find information regarding the graduate programs and their respective coordinators. If the Coordinator does not also serve as the prospective student advisor, then they would be able to get you in contact with the right person. Departmental administrative assistants are also a good starting point as they typically run the department! :-)
The first place I would refer you online is the graduate program website. For example, the University of Texas at Austin which has a top 10 program in Ecology can be located at https://cns.utexas.edu/eeb-graduate-program. You'll notice in the the lower left hand column of the page the name and contact information of the graduate coordinator. I would start there.
If you're unable to find this information as easily on a different website, look for a tab or link to the faculty/staff. It is likely that in addition to the names of the personnel, there are job titles. Continuing to use my UT example, here is the directory: https://cns.utexas.edu/directory/items/1-directory. Notice that you will see the faculty's area of expertise listed. That should help you contact the professor for whom you'd like to do your research.
Another place to look that requires a little more savvy is the graduate catalog under the Registrar's Office website. In the catalog, you will be able to find additional information that can help guide you in determining whether the program is a good fit, such as degree requirements and course descriptions. This is the most comprehensive place to find information regarding the program. For example, https://catalog.utexas.edu/graduate/fields-of-study/natural-sciences/ecology-evolution-behavior/.
I hope that these resources will be helpful to you! Good luck in your graduate studies.
With a little research online, you can find information regarding the graduate programs and their respective coordinators. If the Coordinator does not also serve as the prospective student advisor, then they would be able to get you in contact with the right person. Departmental administrative assistants are also a good starting point as they typically run the department! :-)
The first place I would refer you online is the graduate program website. For example, the University of Texas at Austin which has a top 10 program in Ecology can be located at https://cns.utexas.edu/eeb-graduate-program. You'll notice in the the lower left hand column of the page the name and contact information of the graduate coordinator. I would start there.
If you're unable to find this information as easily on a different website, look for a tab or link to the faculty/staff. It is likely that in addition to the names of the personnel, there are job titles. Continuing to use my UT example, here is the directory: https://cns.utexas.edu/directory/items/1-directory. Notice that you will see the faculty's area of expertise listed. That should help you contact the professor for whom you'd like to do your research.
Another place to look that requires a little more savvy is the graduate catalog under the Registrar's Office website. In the catalog, you will be able to find additional information that can help guide you in determining whether the program is a good fit, such as degree requirements and course descriptions. This is the most comprehensive place to find information regarding the program. For example, https://catalog.utexas.edu/graduate/fields-of-study/natural-sciences/ecology-evolution-behavior/.
I hope that these resources will be helpful to you! Good luck in your graduate studies.
Updated
Sharon’s Answer
I would direct your questions to the Chair of the Department. There is no “pool of advisors” in grad school like some colleges have. Degree requirements are in the catalog published by the Registrar.
Do some google-searching
Contact relevant parties
Sharon recommends the following next steps: