Welcome to the School of Biological Sciences. The ultimate goal of graduate students is to obtain a graduate degree and prepare for a professional career in science. Self-motivation, self-discipline, and guidance from faculty and peers are necessary ingredients. Attaining this goal is both possible and rewarding.
Graduate school in Biology is very different from undergraduate education, medical school, law school, or other professional graduate training programs. In graduate school you will become your own teacher and your own motivator. There are few formal courses; most training is done informally in laboratories and/or in the field rather than in the classroom. The few quantitative assessments of your performance (e.g., exam grades, course grades) are, nevertheless, of critical importance. Your graduate advisor will help guide the overall course of your project, especially at the beginning, but your rate of progress will depend largely on your own initiative and hard work.
The relatively free-form nature of graduate education, the necessity to become a self-motivator, and the diverse challenges can cause stress, anxiety, and lead to self-doubt. Experiencing self-doubt is typical and is best countered by keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and fellow students, and between yourself and your advisor.
I encourage you to meet with Graduate Program Coordinator Shannon Nielsen early and regularly. I am also available for consultations. We want you to succeed and, ultimately, to meet your goals!
Again, welcome.
Sincerely,
Richard Clark, Professor
Graduate Program Director
Welcome to the School of Biological Sciences. The ultimate goal of graduate students is to obtain a graduate degree and prepare for a professional career in science. Self-motivation, self-discipline, and guidance from faculty and peers are necessary ingredients. Attaining this goal is both possible and rewarding.
Graduate school in Biology is very different from undergraduate education, medical school, law school, or other professional graduate training programs. In graduate school you will become your own teacher and your own motivator. There are few formal courses; most training is done informally in laboratories and/or in the field rather than in the classroom. The few quantitative assessments of your performance (e.g., exam grades, course grades) are, nevertheless, of critical importance. Your graduate advisor will help guide the overall course of your project, especially at the beginning, but your rate of progress will depend largely on your own initiative and hard work.
The relatively free-form nature of graduate education, the necessity to become a self-motivator, and the diverse challenges can cause stress, anxiety, and lead to self-doubt. Experiencing self-doubt is typical and is best countered by keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and fellow students, and between yourself and your advisor.
I encourage you to meet with Graduate Program Coordinator Shannon Nielsen early and regularly. I am also available for consultations. We want you to succeed and, ultimately, to meet your goals!
Again, welcome.
Sincerely,
Richard Clark, Professor
Graduate Program Director
