The search for my future graduate school begins. In late April, I took the GRE without knowing which schools to send my scores to. Since I didn’t have time to dive deep into research and faculty, I selected four schools based its location and its US News rankings.
Over the summer, I slowly gathered more information on different graduate school programs. I used US News as a starting point for determining my reach, match, and safety schools. I narrowed my search for schools that specialize in bioinorganic, chemical biology, or analytical chemistry. I compiled information such as application fees, deadlines, and benefits onto a Google Spreadsheet. I looked for possible application fee waivers. I browsed lab websites and noted possible skills and potential opportunities available in each lab. I looked up rent prices for the surrounding area, bookmarking those within a graduate student’s budget.
Now August is almost over and applications have been open for nearly a month. With most deadlines in early December, I have only three more months to select and apply to the graduate programs. A brief timeline for myself:
- September
- Narrow down list to 6-7 schools
- Visit UW-Madison through their CHOPS program
- Apply for UMich MCORE program
- October
- Fill out basic information on applications for 4 schools
- Write/modify SOP for 3-4 schools
- Submit NSF GRFP
- November
- Visit UMich?
- Fill out basic information for 3 schools
- Write/modify SOP for 3 schools
- December
- Finalize applications and submit
- Celebrate with a nice dinner
While I still want to earn a Ph.D., my mind vacillates between going to grad school immediately and working an entry-level job for a few years. I’m not sure about what I want to do, despite telling many people that my next step is graduate school. I’m not sure if a Ph.D. is completely necessary what I want to do either. I’m not sure which path is “right” for me right now, but I know I am committed to applying for this cycle.
Alt-academic, or alt-ac, is a new term that I recently learned. It refers to those who pursue a career outside of academia. In academia, those who get a Ph.D. complete a post-doc and aim for a tenure-track position as a research professor. However, I’m not sure if I want the insularity of academia. I always pursued additional activities outside of academics and I don’t intend to give that up in the future. I heard about the stresses of grad school and I don’t feel emotionally ready for it. Maybe I will be ready in a few months.
For now, despite any fear, I continue to move forward.