Summary: <br> Do you hear it? It’s the sound of hopeful scientists frantically typing out their grad school applications! <br> <br> <br> <br> They’re pondering the best format for a CV, scouring University websites to learn more about each graduate program, and begging their research advisors to PLEASE make the time to write that letter of recommendation!<br> <br> <br> <br> The silence you hear is the sound of trepidation as they sit down to write their personal statements….<br> <br> <br> <br> This week on the show, we unpack the essential elements of a grad school application, and what you need to know before you begin.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> During application season, you might be short on time and long on things to do. We get it.<br> <br> <br> <br> That’s why we’ve condensed our application advice into one, easy to listen, episode. Here are the essentials:<br> <br> <br> <br> Where to Apply?<br> <br> <br> <br> Grad school applications are expensive: they cost both money AND time.<br> <br> <br> <br> Even if you happen to have enough money to apply to 20 or 30 schools, you probably don’t have the time. <br> <br> <br> <br> And we recommend that you limit your applications to places you’d actually like to go. Graduate school is a multi-year commitment, and you shouldn’t apply to schools that can’t teach you what you want to know.<br> <br> <br> <br> It’s better to apply to the few programs you really want to attend than to get into a school that doesn’t match your interests. Even if you get in, you’ll be stuck in a research track you never really wanted.<br> <br> <br> <br> For more on this important subject, see Episode <a href="http://hellophd.com/2018/09/101-hellophd-guide-to-grad-school-application-knowing-when-and-where-to-apply-with-dr-beth-bowman/">101: HelloPhD Guide to Grad School Applications – Knowing When, and Where, to Apply with Dr. Beth Bowman</a><br> <br> <br> <br> The CV<br> <br> <br> <br> Applications will require your CV. It should be composed in reverse-chronological order, with your education and most recent research experiences first.<br> <br> <br> <br> Remember: any lab experience you list in your CV should have a matching letter of recommendation later in the application.<br> <br> <br> <br> And if you happen to have publications or presentations at major conferences, be sure to list those with your own name in bold font so that the reviewer can quickly spot your name in the longer list of contributors.<br> <br> <br> <br> Your Transcript<br> <br> <br> <br> Here’s some good news: biomedical PhD programs are less focused on your GPA than other programs might be. Reviewers are MORE interested in whether you have experience doing research in a lab or in the field.<br> <br> <br> <br> That said, they want to see that you’ve gained the background you need to succeed. That usually means coursework in advanced sciences like molecular biology, biochemistry, and organic chemistry.<br> <br> <br> <br> If you don’t have this experience, or your GPA is lower than you’d like, it’s not the end of the road. Use the Personal Statement to make a case for your readiness, in spite of some gaps in your transcript.<br> <br> <br> <br> For more, check out Episode <a href="http://hellophd.com/2021/03/152-how-do-i-explain-the-bad-grades-on-my-transcript/">152. How Do I Explain the Bad Grades On My Transcript?</a><br> <br> <br> <br> Personal Statement<br> <br> <br> <br> This is the trickiest section for most students. How do you describe your interest in research and affinity for the program without resorting to flowery language or flattery?<br> <br> <br> <br> We recommend describing the overarching theme your prior research lab has fo...
