Are you considering applying to grad school but don’t have any idea where to start? Applying to grad school is one of the most challenging things I have done. These are the four checkpoints I used to navigate this hard but rewarding adventure!
Checkpoint 1: Ask Two Important Questions
Before rushing into browsing potential schools or supervisors, I asked myself two questions:
- Why do I want to go to grad school?
- What topics am I interested in?
When writing my personal statement and sending emails to potential supervisors, I always referred back to my answers to these questions. If you have clear answers, that is great! If you find these questions hard to answer like I did, do not worry, it is normal to be unsure about what you like and what you want to achieve! I had a hard time choosing which field I wanted to study in grad school because I was interested in lots of topics. What helped me was to reflect on the courses and projects I had done to find the subject that excited me the most. A field trip to the Sturgeon Bank in Richmond popped up in my mind many times. This helped me realize I want to study how to apply nature-based solutions to satisfy the need for both flood control and habitat conservation.
Checkpoint 2: Look for Potential Programs
Once I knew the field I wanted to explore, I started to search for programs. Browsing schools and programs can be both exciting and exhausting. There is a lot of information online so it is very easy to get lost! The key information I found helpful to take notes on include:
- Program focus
- Admission requirements
- Program length
- Application deadline
- Tuition
The following questions helped to further narrow down my choices:
- What are the missions and values of that program?
- What resources will the program offer to assist my learning and research?
- What is unique about the program?
I was attracted to my program because it has an interdisciplinary focus and advocates diversity and inclusivity. One of my friends chose the Forestry program at UBC because the Faculty provides plenty of field trips and research opportunities at their research forests. Having a good understanding of the programs also helped me tailor my application.
Checkpoint 3: Prepare Required Documents
Usually the required documents include the personal application package (e.g., personal statement, transcript, research proposal, writing sample, etc.) and reference letters. The first thing I did was send out reference request emails immediately. Professors usually have very busy schedules and may receive many reference requests from students. Contacting them early could increase the chance of getting a ‘yes’! Ideally, contact them 1 to 2 months before the reference deadlines to give them enough time to prepare. This website has some great suggestions on who and how you should ask for letters of reference. I liked to create a table with:
- programs
- school names
- application deadlines
- reference deadlines
This table makes it easy for references to note the important deadlines and also helped me stay organized throughout the entire application process.
Checkpoint 4: Approach Potential Supervisors
While some grad programs do not require students to contact supervisors in advance, it is mandatory for many research-based programs. I am glad I took the initiative to reach out because it allowed me to find a supervisor whose personality and mentoring style suits me. Here’s how I reached out to potential supervisors:
- Look through faculty profiles. If a professor’s research interests align with my own, I read some of their papers and check their personal websites to learn more about their current projects.
- Introduce myself via email. This website provides some good tips on how to write a polite and personalized email.
- Set up a Zoom meeting to discuss further. This gives both my potential supervisor and me an opportunity to get to know each other better.
Last but not least, do not lose confidence if you do not hear back from professors or are being rejected. I got a little upset when some professors did not respond to my emails. When I mentioned my frustration to my friends, I realized that it actually happens all the time to almost everyone. Apart from the applicant’s qualifications, many factors will influence a professor’s decision, including the available funding that year and how many students they currently have.
If you want to have a more detailed guide, I recommend reading the first chapter, “Choosing a program,” from the book A Field Guide to Grad School: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum, which is available via the UBC Library.
Overall, applying to grad school will be a journey filled with uncertainty, stresses, and surprises. Do you have other suggestions for applying to grad school and approaching professors? Share your tips below!
