Session 2: How to Apply & Timeline (8/18)

The process of applying to ecology and evolution graduate programs often differs from most university applications because applicants are expected to make connections with potential faculty advisors. In this session, we cover how to be successful at each step of the application process, from contacting potential advisors to your written application to your in person visit (and everything in between). 

Session Slides & Recording

Link to slides
​Link to recording
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Supplementary Resources

Link to folder containing example CVs and example emails to potential advisors.

External Resources

General advice on applying​

• Applying to Biology PhD Programs (Medium)

Finding mentors

• EEB Mentor Match for people from underrepresented groups applying to graduate school or a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Master’s programs with funding

• Masters programs encompassing ecology, evolution, and/or organismal biology that provide tuition waivers and stipends (organized by Stacy Farina)

Application fee resources

• Application fee waivers for graduate students (GradSchools.com)

Awarded research grants

• National Science Foundation
• National Institute of Health

Servers with posting for advertised graduate student positions

• ECOLOG-L: listserv with postings relevant to members of the Ecological Society of America
• EvolDir: directory of postings related to evolutionary biology
• Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Job Board

GRE resources

• Schools that do not require the GRE (may not be complete list)
• GRE fee reduction program
• GRE accessibility accommodations
• Free GRE studying resources

GRE and success in grad school are NOT correlated

• A test that fails (Nature)
• The GRE over the entire range of scores lacks predictive ability for PhD outcomes in the biomedical sciences (PLoS One)​

Preparing for interviews

• How to Ace Your Graduate School Interview: Communicating Your Research Competently and Confidently (Científico Latino)
  
• PhD Interviews: How To Do Well On Your PhD / Doctorate Program Interview (r3ciprocity)
• What to Do When They Say, ‘Tell Us About Your Research’ (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
• How to Prepare for a PhD Interview (Academic Positions)
• To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ask—these key questions (Science Magazine)​​

If you didn't get into graduate school

• Didn’t get into graduate school? Here is your plan B (American Psychological Association) ​
• What if I am not accepted into a PhD Program (U.S.)? (Astrobites)