Applying for Ph.D. Programs -Information Session

Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

October 9, 2012

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

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.

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?

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

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

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?

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED RESOURCES

Jennie Miller’s incredibly complete and helpful web site- http://www.jennie-miller.com/tips-on-applying-to-grad-programs.html

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED RESOURCES

1. Some Modest Advice for Graduate Students - Motivation from Dr. Sterns at Yale EEB to take with a grain of saltReply to Sterns: Some Acynical Advice for Graduate Students - More (positive) motivation from Dr. HueyThe Graduate School Essay I Wish I Had Written - A sample application essay by Dr. Thomson at the Claremont CollegesProfessor 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 well

2. Dave Keiser (david.keiser@yale.edu) – informal mentoring for PhD and masters students

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

To see a copy of this presentation:http://environment.yale.edu/careers/workshops/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT:

Peter Otis and Kathy Douglas, Career Development OfficeKroon- Rooms 105 and 107

peter.otis@yale.edu; 203.432.8920kathryn.douglas@yale.edu; 203.436.4830

Elisabeth BarsaDoctoral Program Coordinator

Sage Hall Rm. 7elisabeth.barsa@yale.edu; 203.432.5146

Dr. Dave SkellyDirector of Doctoral Studies

Kroon Hall Rm. 208david.skelly@yale.edu