What advice do you have for those considering a master’s?
Ask a Biologist Monday 2/12/24
Answers from Biologists:
Don’t just consider the PI. Consider the rest of the committee too as they can balance things out.
Do. Tech. Work. First.
Make sure the courses offer match what you want to learn. Mine taught outdated stats.
Make sure you pick a topic that can be completed in your time frame.
Make sure you can complete your project in house. If not, make sure you will have funding available.
Think long and hard about potential pitfalls of relying on other collaborators to complete a project.
Make sure your advisor has some degree of expertise regarding the topic you want to study.
Getting one because you need it for a job is enough reason to do it if you have the means to do it.
Realize it will be your job and income for 2-3 years.
If you have a very specific goal it’s okay, but if not, then really focus on experience and networking.
Go to as many conferences as possible while doing it.
Don’t just do it to do it. Do it to help you achieve a specific goal or explore an interest of yours.
Ask where the program’s past students ended up in their careers after graduation.
Ask if conferences and travel are fully funded by the program.
Identify what you are hoping to gain from a master’s ahead of accepting a position.
Don’t just take the first project that comes along. Find something you are passionate about.
Do it because you want/need to, not just because you feel it’s the next step.
Choose committee members that will support you.
Ask if the committee has already been formed and who is on it.
Find out where the funding for it is coming from, what it covers, and how solid/safe it is.
Talk with current and former lab members, vet out the school, and people/program, look into classes.
Take a gap between undergrad and grad school to develop your interests and field experience.
Study a species that will give you lots of data. Carnivores are really hard to get strong statistics from.
Make sure you have a top-notch support system in place outside of school. No one gets through alone.
Don’t rush into it. Make sure the school/project/advisor are right for your career goals and lifestyle.
Funding. Does the project have funding?
Really understand your working style and level of supervising you need to succeed.
Reach out to previous or current grad student’s about the advisor’s expertise.
Talk to your potential advisor’s current and former students.
Reach out to your prospective advisor’s current and former students. You’ll get an idea of what to expect.
Discuss available funding with all potential advisors before committing to anything.
Funding. Does it cover tuition, supplies, summertime pay, travel/registration for conferences? Is it solid?
The project you do doesn’t lock you into working on that subject after grad school.
The school itself doesn’t matter all that much. Advisor and specific program are more important.
Find out how many of their students successfully defended and how long it took them.
Find out if your potential advisor is still connected and well liked in the field.
