The other day I found myself going over my mental checklist of steps taken and yet to be taken on my path to graduate school. I had narrowed down a wide range of schools to a select few, secured my letters of recommendation, and finished my applications on time. The next phase would be interviews, but first I have to hear back from my prospective programs and see if they even want me, then set up travel arrangements, etc., all of which could add up to at least a month of downtime.
I don't like to sit on my hands and wait, so I figured there must be something I can do during this lull in the application process. There is. Before my schools get to interview me, I plan to interview them, and the internet makes this incredibly easy.
Research the Faculty
I know, I know. The reputation of a school's faculty, as well as their individual research interests, are things that should be looked at when determining which programs to apply to, not once the applications have been sent. However, there's only so much information one can gain from a brochure or recruiting packet. I'm sure every mention will be made of how many Nobel laureates a school has, or of any other accolades that have been garnered by distinguished faculty members. What might not be mentioned is that the Nobel prize winner you're dying to study under may be swamped with starry-eyed grad students already and doesn't have the time/space/money to take on another.
Also, think about this: if a person has received awards for his or her research, chances are that person has spent a considerable, and I mean Considerable, amount of time and effort on that research-- time and effort that wasn't spent mentoring a graduate student. Furthermore, while you may know everything professionally about the faculty, at this point you probably don't know them well as people. It's a sometimes overlooked but still very important aspect to take into account, since you will be spending 4-5 years in close contact with these people, and ideally you would want them to be people you will get along well with.
So, while waiting expectantly for responses on my applications, I plan to find out as much as I can about the faculty members I'm interested in working with. I'm not planning on rummaging through their garbage or anything, just a social e-mail or two inquiring about current research projects and the social atmosphere in the lab, as well as any supplemental information about the graduate program in general that they might feel I should know. If this leads to an extended dialogue, great; if not, at least I've had some contact with the person prior to visiting the school.
Now, at first glance this simple process of just writing e-mails might not seem very time consuming. However, I am applying to four graduate programs, and each has at least three faculty members whose research I am interested in. That makes a minimum of twelve unique conversations to be carrying on at once, which I think will be more than enough to keep me occupied-- After all, I just want to stay active, not kill myself.
Should you decide to follow the same course as myself, just remember to keep it cordial, concise, and conversational. If you don't get a response, any follow-up e-mail should be short and should have no hint of pestering in it. If still no response, it's best to just let it go (it may be a busy time for the faculty member in question), and wait until the interview where perhaps a personal meeting can be scheduled. Good luck! ~~~~~~~~~
Tory Priputin has a bachelor's degree in Zoology at Michigan State University, and plans to continue on to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular genetics. He is more than willing to field any comments or questions at priputin@hotmail.com
