gjdgjdgjd
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« on: March 28, 2009, 06:35:40 PM » |
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Hello -
I am close to applying to grad schools. I am looking for a PhD program in enviornmental science/ecology. My undergrad degree is in biochemistry with a minor in physics. My school didn't have an enviornmental program. GPA was 3.35 & GRE's were good . Will having such a technical science focus (bio, chem, phys) be a good thing or a bad thing? I originally didn't know what I wanted to do so I figured that I'd start with a good science base. Thanks.
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scampster
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« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2009, 06:44:05 PM » |
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So I am still a grad student, so you can take what I say with a grain of salt, but I don't put a lot of stock in many environmental science programs at the undergrad level (I think many fall victim to the "jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome but really I should only reference the programs at the three universities I have been at). So personally I think a hard science undergrad with an emphasis in environmental sciences is a good base to start from for grad school in environmental science.
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« Last Edit: March 28, 2009, 06:46:43 PM by scampster »
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When you are a scientist your opinions and prejudices become facts. Science is like magic that way!
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polly_mer
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« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2009, 07:20:50 PM » |
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I agree with Scampster that you are probably fine with a good science background that isn't specifically in environmental science or ecology.
If I were you, I would be more worried about your low GPA (3.5 is often considered a minimum for science programs in general). What have you done that will ameliorate that? Did you do undergraduate research? An internship? Do you have any publications or professional poster presentations?
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If you haven't got either the anatomical or metaphorical balls to post your own question on a pseudonymous internet forum, then academia is the wrong job for you.
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mouseman
Oh dear, how did I become a
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« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2009, 08:00:13 PM » |
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Remember also that environmental science and ecology are two seperate things. Environmental science usually deals with things that affect people, or things that people do that affect the environment, while ecology deals with the interactions between organisms are their environment. While these two have a wide overlap and much interaction, things like environmental engineering would fall in the env. sci. category, but has little to do with ecology.
Regarding you background - my PhD adviser did his undergrad in psychology, and a member of my PhD committee did his BA in English Lit. Both are well regarded ecologists. Anyway, you background is actually a plus for an environmental science grad program.
Your GPA is so-so (a good GPA is > 3.4/3.5), but you say your GRE's are good. Overall, in my experience, the most important parts of your application file are your experience (as seen in your resume), your letters of recommendation, and your statement of purpose. GPA is at the bottom of the list. A friend of mine finished her BS with a 3.0 GPA, but did well on her GRE's, and, more importantly, had lab experience with one of the top people in her field. This experience, and her LoR's, got her a place in a top program in a great lab. Another important think to do is to focus on your statement of purpose, since that is where many undergrad student fail. A colleague of mine, a mammalogist, regularly tosses applications in the trash because they go like this: "Dear Prof. Famous Mammalogist, I would like to be in your lab because I've always loved big cats and want to work with them".
If you would like to know more about application for Grad school in ecology, PM me.
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In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away -- -
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
Lewis Carroll
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sciencephd
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« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2009, 08:04:52 PM » |
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Hello -
My school didn't have an enviornmental program. You may have lucked out. Will having such a technical science focus (bio, chem, phys) be a good thing or a bad thing?
For good programs this should work in your favor. The fundamentals are harder to learn later. Of course, I'm quite biased in favor of cake at the expense of icing. |
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
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dr_mcmom
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« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2009, 09:38:19 PM » |
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How to pick good programs?
Do a lit search on the type of research you are interested in doing, and check out who the authors are and where they are. You'd be surprised that folks who do what you like may not be in what is traditionally considered "environmental."
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egilson
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« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2009, 09:51:45 PM » |
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I am close to applying to grad schools.
For admission in the fall of 2010, I hope. Admittedly I'm in the liberal arts, not the sciences, but I have a hard time believing that all programs haven't already started making admission and funding decisions for incoming grad students. "Being close to applying" right now doesn't make much sense to me; research now, then start applying in August/September or as soon as the schools you select will take your application for entry in 2010. |
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To anyone who is not a blockhead, all the sciences are interesting. - Marc Bloch
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polly_mer
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« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2009, 10:11:40 PM » |
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I am close to applying to grad schools.
For admission in the fall of 2010, I hope. Admittedly I'm in the liberal arts, not the sciences, but I have a hard time believing that all programs haven't already started making admission and funding decisions for incoming grad students. "Being close to applying" right now doesn't make much sense to me; research now, then start applying in August/September or as soon as the schools you select will take your application for entry in 2010. Some science programs do admit students for a spring start with those deadlines coming up in the early summer. However, I agree that now is very late to think of applying for programs for fall 2009. |
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If you haven't got either the anatomical or metaphorical balls to post your own question on a pseudonymous internet forum, then academia is the wrong job for you.
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frogfactory
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« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2009, 02:24:17 PM » |
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Also - both ecology and environmental sciences tend to be oversubscribed and extremely competitive. If you're applying for fall '10, it would be worth trying to get some practical (not necessarily field) experience between now and then, for example as a volunteer. Even doing basic data entry and admin on a local survey project would be good; if you can work up to using GIS or other mapping software, or statistical packages, that would be even better.
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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mouseman
Oh dear, how did I become a
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Posts: 7,103
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« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2009, 04:23:34 PM » |
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Where's the OP gone to? Posted a question and disappeared.
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In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away -- -
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
Lewis Carroll
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madhatter
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« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2009, 05:45:00 PM » |
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It's only been a day. On the weekend. Maybe the OP, as an undergrad, is out having the kind of life we old folks can only dimly remember (and exaggerate in the retelling).
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"I may be an evil scientist, but it doesn't take a degree purchased from the Internet with your ex-wife's money to know how special and important you are to me." -- Dr. Doofenschmirtz
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polly_mer
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« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2009, 11:01:21 PM » |
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It's only been a day. On the weekend. Maybe the OP, as an undergrad, is out having the kind of life we old folks can only dimly remember (and exaggerate in the retelling).
Well, grad school will beat that out of the OP. |
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If you haven't got either the anatomical or metaphorical balls to post your own question on a pseudonymous internet forum, then academia is the wrong job for you.
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gjdgjdgjd
New member
Posts: 4
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« Reply #12 on: March 30, 2009, 02:10:32 AM » |
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I'm still here. Thanks for all of the valuable information. I know it is late for the fall 2009, so I'm going to be applying for later entry.
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mouseman
Oh dear, how did I become a
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Posts: 7,103
The Validater/Validator-in-Chief
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« Reply #13 on: March 30, 2009, 08:29:48 PM » |
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Great to see that you're still around. Glad that we could help. If you need more info, feel free to PM me.
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In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away -- -
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
Lewis Carroll
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