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Applying for Ph.D. Programs - Information Session Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies October 9, 2012
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PRESENTERS: Peter Otis, Director Of Career Development Elisabeth Barsa, F&ES Doctoral Program Coordinator Dr. Dave Skelly, Professor of Ecology; Associate Dean for Research; Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Director of Doctoral Studies David Butman, MESc 2006, PhD 2012; Postdoctoral Associate at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) & Yale University Gabriel Grant, PhD expected 2013, Industrial Environmental Management- Leadership and Sustainability Ashley Keiser, PhD expected 2013, Ecosystem Ecology
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WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU EVEN START APPLYING TO SCHOOLS? You should be able to state what you want to do AND the specifics of how a Doctoral Degree is going to advance your career and life.
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IS APPLYING TO A DOCTORAL PROGRAM THE BEST MOVE FOR YOU? Do you the love the field enough to get a Ph.D.? Is a Ph.D. required to enter a particular profession or obtain a certain employment level within the field? Are you burned out academically? Are you fired up to study? Are you postponing some tough decisions by simply entering a doctoral program?
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HOW TO EVALUATE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS? Funding issues / financial support structure Cross disciplined vs. focused programs Ability to choose own project vs. working on assigned advisor projects Culture and work environment Faculty reputation & strength of department, school or university Facilities/ resources/ libraries – size, location Academic pre-requisites Program’s history and future Students’ opinions Career activities of program graduates
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WHAT ARE THE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS ? THESE CAN VARY FROM PROGRAM TO PROGRAM Identification and contact with faculty members that you would like to work with if accepted General application and a fee Test scores – GRE GPA TOEFL Exam – if from outside the United States Transcripts with prerequisite courses Curriculum Vitae Statement of Research Letters of Recommendation: references that can comment on your research abilities/potential
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OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER How important is it that I have already published articles before applying? The personal statement- its importance relative to other application materials, and how to write a strong one. What is the role of my F&ES advisor in my application? How do I approach a professor with whom I would like to work? Are there issues relevant for U.S. students of color or international students- both as a student and in fields that one might be entering afterwards?
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ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED RESOURCES Jennie Miller’s incredibly complete and helpful web site- http://www.jennie- miller.com/tips-on- applying-to-grad- programs.htmlweb site- http://www.jennie- miller.com/tips-on- applying-to-grad- programs.html
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ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED RESOURCES 1.Some Modest Advice for Graduate Students - Motivation from Dr. Sterns at Yale EEB to take with a grain of salt Reply to Sterns: Some Acynical Advice for Graduate Students - More (positive) motivation from Dr. Huey The Graduate School Essay I Wish I Had Written - A sample application essay by Dr. Thomson at the Claremont Colleges Professor Singer's Advice to Prospective Students - General tips from a professor at the University of TexasOn Graduate Studies in the Biological Sciences - An overview of the process for biology programs in generalSell Yourself: Guidance for Developing Your Personal Statement for Graduate School Applications - Tricks on writing your application essays and representing yourself wellSome Modest Advice for Graduate Students Reply to Sterns: Some Acynical Advice for Graduate Students The Graduate School Essay I Wish I Had Written - Professor Singer's Advice to Prospective Students On Graduate Studies in the Biological SciencesSell Yourself: Guidance for Developing Your Personal Statement for Graduate School Applications 2.Dave Keiser (david.keiser@yale.edu) – informal mentoring for PhD and masters studentsdavid.keiser@yale.edu
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To see a copy of this presentation: http://environment.yale.edu/careers/workshops/
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Otis and Kathy Douglas, Career Development Office Kroon- Rooms 105 and 107 peter.otis@yale.edupeter.otis@yale.edu; 203.432.8920 kathryn.douglas@yale.edu; 203.436.4830athryn.douglas@yale.edu Elisabeth Barsa Doctoral Program Coordinator Sage Hall Rm. 7 elisabeth.barsa@yale.eduelisabeth.barsa@yale.edu; 203.432.5146 Dr. Dave Skelly Director of Doctoral Studies Kroon Hall Rm. 208 david.skelly@yale.edu@yale.edu
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