In addition to the general GRE test, some schools require you to take GRE subject tests. Check the requirements of the universities so that you have enough time to prepare and plan for all the required tests, especially since the subject tests are not administered throughout the year. Even if your prospective graduate institution does not require GRE subject tests, it might not hurt to take them if your grades in a particular subject are not up to standard. For example, if you don't have stellar grades in Biology, it might be advantageous to take the GRE Biology subject test to prove your capabilities (for a list of GRE preparation books, see the "Resources" section on www.SL2College.com).
Choose graduate programs that provide a good fit for you
Selecting prospective universities that fit your requirements is always a challenge. Every university / department has both positives and negatives. Therefore it is important to do extensive background research on a number of universities before you can narrow them down to a list of universities / grad programs that fit your requirements.
A good starting point for your background research is the U.S. news website (http://www.usnews.com/). Choose universities from the 'Ranking' section of the website and make a comprehensive list of the best graduate programmes/ best universities. Initially select a number of universities that you think might be a good fit. Determine if you fulfill all the requirements for the programmes before you apply - if not it would just be a waste of time and energy.
While academics are a priority, it might also be a good idea to consider the location of the schools if you are concerned about aspects such as safety, campus life, etc. Consider if the university is located in a state or area that you would be happy living in for the next 5-6 years!
In addition to the website, U.S. News and World Report Inc. publishes America's Best Graduate Schools handbook that has an expanded list of universities which are grouped into tiers according to their relative ranking. This yearly publication is available in most school libraries and Fulbright Commission offices. This book also provides rankings for subdivisions within a specific field of study, e.g. best molecular biology programmes.
To come up with a list of prospective grad programmes / universities, do some online research on the universities and their departments, visit the Fulbright Commission library, or talk to your school advisors. Make sure to read about the research projects/ papers of specific faculty that you might be interested in working with. Graduate school (especially PhD programmes) in the biological sciences is research intensive so having professors that you would be interested in working with is key.
E-mail or meet with faculty to inquire about their research. Professors might be slow at responding and you will definitely have to be persistent.
It is critical that you read the website of the faculty before contacting them so that they know you are familiar with their research.
Current graduate students are also an excellent source of information (department websites usually provide a list of their graduate students). Graduate students are usually more than happy to answer questions since they have already experienced the rigorous process of applying to grad school. They might not be able to answer all your questions (e.g. funding opportunities) but they can provide useful information about labs, facilities, student life, etc.
Having done your background research, make a comprehensive list of prospective universities (20 to 25) based on their relative tiers/ rankings and your personal preferences. Since applying to graduate schools is expensive and time consuming, it is important to narrow this initial list down to 8 to 10 schools after doing more research. For e.g. If you have decided to apply to a maximum of 10 schools, you can choose 3 schools from the top tier (schools ranked between 1-20), 2 schools from the 2nd tier, 2 schools from 3rd tier, and finally a couple of back-up schools. Remember to include 1-2 dream schools in your finalized list, even though you might not meet all the requirements.
About the Author
Nimna Ranatunga is a first Year PhD student at the University of Southern
California's department of Molecular and Computational Biology. Nimna graduated from Concordia College in Minnesota last year with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.
"SL2College is a global community that provides FREE advice and guidance to Sri Lankan students. SL2College was envisioned in 2005 with the primary goal of helping Sri Lankan students access relevant information that would assist them make informed decisions about their education goals overseas. Visit us at www.sl2college.com for access to more articles."
Part 2 of this article will be continued next week |
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