Grad School Advice

[CrossCuT]

Where do I even start?

Grad school isnt for another 3-4 years for me, but I just want some advice for getting ready from people who have already experienced it.

I really dont know much a bout grad school or what it takes to get in.

I feel like I am too stupid for grad school but all the things I want to do pretty much require it :(

 

I will likely be about 30 years old by the time I apply and hopefully get started...is that normal? Do they not like old(er) people in grad school?

 

Im also terrified of the GRE! :(

 

Maybe Im just super stressed, but blah! I have very little confidence in myself as far as acceptance into a program. I need to just calm down and make a plan.

[HisChildForever]

I don't do standardized tests well. Did awful on the GRE - only took it once - but got into my #1 school. A lot of programs list what they're looking for when it comes to GRE scores so keep that in mind. Otherwise it's like applying for undergrad. You have the application, the fee, an essay, recommendations, transcript. It's normal to see older people in grad school but it also probably depends on the program. I went for psych - a BA in psych is pretty much useless if you want to go into the field - so most people go straight to grad after undergrad which is what I did. 

[CrossCuT]

I do terrible on standardized testing as well. :(

[Basilisa Marie]

As far as older people go, they didn't care in my program. Most people had been out of school a few years, so I was the weird one who went straight to grad school.  

 

Ignore EVERYTHING that says "100 reasons why you shouldn't go to grad school" or whatever.  Those people are stupid and bitter and bad.  :)   What's important is whether or not grad school is right for YOU. 

 

What kind of program are you looking at? 

[Era Might]

How do you plan to make money after grad school? IMO that's the first question to answer before any others.

[CrossCuT]

Money? Eh I dont care how much I make I guess.

What I want to get into is Biochemistry and molecular biology sorts of studies. 

Id love to do research with things like gene therapy, cancer biology, etc but from what I know, these sorts of studies are exclusive to the academic world.

Soooooo, I need to get into the grad programs to be a lab rat! 

I feel very confident in my abilities to do this type of research however I need to degree to recommend me. =/

 

I need a golden ticket!

[Gabriela]

I can think of 100 reasons not to go to grad school in under 5 minutes. But if you're in the sciences, then it really is pretty necessary.

 

I assure you that, especially if you're in the sciences, you need the degree to learn how to do the research. Or at least, you'll learn a whole ton about how to do research from a grad program.

 

I recommend you start studying a little bit every week for the GRE now. The longer you expose yourself to the kinds of questions they ask, the more it will sink in, the better you'll do. Just get a GRE study book and commit to spending one or two hours on Saturday doing some problems in it. If you start doing that now, and stick with it, then by the time it comes for you to take the GRE, you will KILL it.

[Gabriela]

Oh, and there are more and more people entering grad school "late". I started grad school at 30. I'm now 33 and just starting a PhD program. It's more and more common.

[CrossCuT]

Thanks! That does help quell some of my fears! I will look into getting a book on taking the GRE! Since I know I wont be applying for a few more years there is no point in wasting that time!

[BG45]

I got a decently high score on the GRE without studying, but that was mostly luck I think.  They offer study materials online and you can order books and such to prep.  30 isn't that bad as a starting age, though the demographic is starting to curve towards younger people with the horrid economy.  Keep up the GPA, make sure some profs will love writing you a letter of rec. or three.  Also make sure when you apply, to apply for a Graduate Assistantship if they're offered; they pay at least part of your tuition and stipend usually. 

 

A Masters is essentially teaching you how to do research, or it should.  And as Curiosing said, if you're in the hard sciences, you probably need one to get a decent job. 

[hoosieranna]

In my program, the older and returning students actually did best.  They worked the hardest because they knew exactly how much it was costing them.  I don't know if there's one signature piece of advice for every prospective grad student.  I would just say it's very different from undergrad.  You've got a bunch of smart people who care about the same subject and it can be exhilarating or tense.

 

When I took the GRE (I think it's changed a little) the difficulty of each question was determined by the one before it.  If you got a hard question right the next would be difficult as well.  If you missed it the next question would be simpler.  I don't remember exactly how question difficulty affected your scores so I can't speak to that.  Most programs look at the combined score rather than individual scores, BUT it's a good idea to strengthen your weak areas.  It improves your overall score.  I got a 720 Verbal and 570 Quantitative.  I then had to use a calculator to figure the difference, but I'm also in geography and not biology.  My quant score wasn't as important.

 

If you visit, departments always ask if there is a particular professor you want to work with.  Do your research and find people whose work looks interesting to you.  I attended my school because of a professor who does really cool stuff with GIS and got to work with him on my final research.  In your essays and personal statements ("statements of purpose" sometimes) make sure you answer the question they ask.  It's easy to get tangential when explaining your awesomeness and why they should admit you.  Always have someone else look it over, too.

[Luigi]

What it takes to get into grad school is MONEY. Education is an industry; all colleges (including their grad schools) are trying to fill seats. 

 

Now they won't take just anybody who walks in off the street - they do screen. But they have flexibility in admissions - if it's a top-rated school with tons of applicants, they can be very selective; if it's a decent school they won't (necessarily) be as selective. If you really do think you might not be able to get into grad school, start researching (along with your test prepping) schools that have a good name but a small program, or a school that's trying to build their reputation and is in the process of recruiting stronger faculty. In other words, look for a school where you can get in on the ground floor. 

 

As far as the GRE, you probably don't have to do terrifically in all three categories - Language, Math, and Logic. As HFC said, a lot of schools publish the benchmarks they're looking for. In a science program, they want BEST:Logic, DECENT: Math, and they may ignore the language altogether. In my (humanities-type) program, they told me they didn't even look at the math scores - except to see if you did worse than they did and get a laugh out of it. 

[Lilllabettt]

http://www.amazon.com/CliffsNotes-Review-Standardized-Edition-CliffsTestPrep/dp/0470500778/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

 

1st time I took the GRE I didn't study. I thought: I never studied for standardized tests before, so why start now.  On the verbal I scored better than 99% of my fellow test takers ... and like better than 10% on the math.  Bomb-o, brought shame on my family, etc.

2nd time, I worked through the above book. Did 1 section a week (There are 7 sections). math score came up to 90%.  Please understand how badly I stink at math. The above book basically retaught me all the math I supposedly learned in high school in a language I could understand.

 

... that said, most programs don't care that much about the GRE. #1 is a good "statement of purpose" or "essay" or whatever they call it.  A good SOP covers a multitude of application sins.

 

 

[Amppax]

Well I'm ou of luck. I suck at application essays. :( also Lilllabettt I did the same thing except I was a practice test. Same scores too.

[CrossCuT]

Ive been looking into various books for studying and this one seemed to have strong recommendation online

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007179123X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER