Advice for potential
graduate students
We currently have room in the lab for more
graduate students. Before you apply to this lab or any other,
there
are a few things to keep in mind. First, be realistic about
graduate school. Graduate school in biology is not
a sure path to success. Many students assume that they will
eventually get a job just like their advisor's. However,
the
average professor at a research university has three students
at a time for about 5 years each. So, over a career of 30
years, this professor has about 18 students. Since the total
number of positions has been pretty constant, these 18 people
are competing for one spot. So go to grad school assuming
that you might not end up at a research university, but
instead
a teaching college, or a government or industry job. All
of these are great jobs, but it's important to think of
all this
before you go to school.
Second, choose your advisor wisely. Not only
does this person potentially have total control over your
graduate career for five or more years, but he/she will also
be writing recommendation letters for you for another 5-10
years after that. Also, your advisor will shadow you for the
rest of your life. People will always think of you as so-and-so's
student and assume that you two are somewhat alike. Finally,
in many ways you will turn into your advisor. Advisors teach
very little, but instead provide a role model. Consciously
and unconsciously, you will imitate your advisor. You may
find this hard to believe now, but fifteen years from now,
when you find yourself lining up the tools in your lab cabinets
just like your advisor did, you'll see. My student Alison
once said that choosing an advisor is like choosing a spouse
after one date. Find out all you can on this date.
Finally, have your fun now. Five years is a
long time when you are 23 years old. By the end of graduate
school, you will be older, slower, and possibly married and/or
a parent. So if you always wanted to walk across Nepal, do
it now. Also, do not go to a high-powered lab that you hate
assuming that this will promise you long-term happiness. Deferred
gratification has its limits. Do something that you have passion
for, work in a lab you like, in a place you like, before life
starts throwing its many curve balls. Your career will mostly
take care of itself, but you can't get your youth back.
If, after reading this, you want to apply
to this lab, we would love to hear from you.
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