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places to identify target advisers, and faculty TASK 7. SUBMIT APPLICATIONS 15 April for the national acceptance dead-
members often have personal websites with Applications typically require five things, line (CGS, 2019).
details on research and position openings. in addition to supplemental documents spe-
There are hundreds of graduate programs, cific to an institution: (1) undergraduate ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
each with many faculty members (Wilson, transcripts, (2) GRE scores, (3) recommen- We thank past and present faculty advisers, col-
2017), and prospective students should dation letters, (4) a completed application leagues, and reviewers for helping to develop the
develop a list of target advisers based on package, and (5) a statement of purpose context of this guide, including the editors of GSA
Today for their valuable feedback.
interest. Students can also explore network (i.e., personal statement). There is often an
and adviser connections. Target date: Late application fee, transcript request fee, and REFERENCES CITED
September, although the list will evolve as GRE score request fee. Applicants will also Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), 2019, Resolu-
new connections are made. be asked to select M.S. or Ph.D. program tion Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows,
consideration (Toké and Arrowsmith, 2009). Trainees and Assistants: https://cgsnet.org/
TASK 5. CONTACT POTENTIAL Applications are evaluated as a package; ckfinder/ userfiles/ files/ CGSResolution_
March2019Rv.pdf (last accessed 1 October 2019).
ADVISERS notable deficiencies should be reconciled Educational Testing Services (ETS), 2017, The
A contact e-mail is often necessary, as in the personal statement. Refer to Maher GRE General Test Accepted at top-ranked
®
many prospective students have never com- (2017) for extended details. Target date: schools worldwide: https://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/
municated with a potential adviser. Here, Deadlines are set by the department and gre_test_taker_brochure.pdf (last accessed 4 Feb-
ruary 2019).
the goals are to succinctly (1) introduce may be as early as 1 December. Maher, H.D., Jr., 2017, Applying to graduate schools:
yourself, (2) state the purpose of your http://maps.unomaha.edu/maher/GraduateSchool
inquiry, (3) communicate your overlapping TASK 8. VISIT CAMPUS .pdf (last accessed 4 February 2019).
interests and motivation, and (4) establish a Throughout the selection process, appli- National Center for Education Statistics, 2017, U.S.
secondary conversation. Some advisers cants may be invited for a campus visit. Department of Education, Institute of Education
Sciences: https://nces.ed.gov/ (last accessed 4 Feb-
may not respond immediately due to busy Campus visits help gain insight into depart- ruary 2019).
schedules, travel, or other various reasons; ment culture and further develop working Osmond, J., Meado, A., and Cheney, A., 2015,
relationships with prospective advisers.
anticipated reply times are about two weeks. Most visits include conversations with other Selecting and applying to geoscience graduate
Interested faculty will accept a request for a faculty and graduate students, a campus schools: http://docplayer.net/16107136-Selecting
follow-up conversation while others may tour, and extended time with an adviser. -and-applying-to-geoscience-graduate-schools
-by-jonathon-osmond-andrea-meado-and-alex
not be accepting students. If no response is Prospective students often find these visits -cheney.html (last accessed 4 February 2019).
received after two weeks, a polite follow-up to be one of the most critical deciding fac- Smidt, S., 2018a, Contacting a prospective gradu-
email may be sent. Refer to Smidt (2018a) tors in selecting their eventual program. ate adviser: https://www.geogradguide.com/
for a template e-mail. Target date: Late Target date: Early in the spring semester getting -into-grad-school/2018/6/2/ contacting-a
September to mid-October. for most institutions. -prospective -graduate-adviser (last accessed 4 Feb-
ruary 2019).
Smidt, S., 2018b, Writing a curriculum vitae: https://
TASK 6. NETWORK AT A TASK 9. ACCEPT AN OFFER www.geogradguide.com/general-tasks/2018/6/3/
CONFERENCE A graduate offer will typically include writing-a-curriculum-vitae (last accessed 4 Feb-
Attending a professional conference is three things: (1) tuition waver, (2) living sti- ruary 2019).
an efficient way to connect with advisers pend, and (3) health insurance. An offer will Stark, L., 2015, The Scientist’s Conundrum: CV,
Resume or Something In-Between: https://ocs.fas
and graduate students from prospective likely designate a teaching assistantship .harvard.edu/files/ocs/files/gsas-just-for-scientists
departments. Students can attend the pre- (TA), research assistantship (RA), or both. -cvs-resumes.pdf (last accessed 4 February 2019).
sentations of prospective advisers and Each can provide excellent opportunities, Toké, N.A., and Arrowsmith, JR., 2009, Selecting and
schedule in-person meetings. Department although having time for research is often a Applying to Geoscience Graduate Schools: http://
booths are also available in exhibit halls main priority for thesis-option students. arrowsmith310.asu.edu/Lectures/Gradschool_
ApplicationGuide_Toke_Arrowsmith.pdf (last ac-
for further information, and prospective Once a program has been selected, appli- cessed 4 February 2019).
students should make their interest known cants sign and submit the paperwork. In the Wilson, C.E., 2017, Directory of Geoscience Depart-
by leaving their contact information with case of multiple offers, applicants should ments and Other Geoscience Organizations: Wash-
the department sign-in sheet; some advis- notify rejected departments promptly. If self- ington, D.C., American Geosciences Institute,
ers may contact students using this list. funded, students may elect to enroll while 52nd edition.
Target date: October–December, although seeking external scholarships and grants or Manuscript received 10 April 2019
abstract deadlines are often several months forgo admission. Refer to Osmond et al. Revised manuscript received 2 Oct. 2019
before the conference. (2015) for extended details. Target date: Manuscript accepted 13 Feb. 2020

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