Michigan State University’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program offered prospective graduate students an informative peek at the finer points of crafting successful applications with a preview program this fall.
Envision EEB: Graduate Preview Weekend showed undergraduate students from historically excluded groups what life in MSU's EEB program can hold for them. The 13 students from across the United States had a weekend of resources, professional development, and collegiality in the fourth annual event.
“This program really helps shine a light on the hidden curriculum of applying for and attending graduate school,” said plant biology assistant professor Lauren Sullivan, who co-chaired the event with integrative biology doctoral candidate Ben Kline and PhD candidate Carol Rosenbaum. “We invite students who vary in the degree to which they have worked in research labs and feel prepared for applying to graduate school, but all walk away saying they learned a lot from the weekend.
“I am really excited that this program can help students get the information they need to make the best decision for their futures.”
The undergraduate students engaged with more than 70 EEB graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty for social events and tours in East Lansing and at Kellogg Biological Station. Another 15 students developed workshops and participated in student panels, sharing knowledge and experience about applying to graduate school and being a graduate student in the EEB program.
Workshops drilled down on the finer points of applying to graduate school, including reaching out to potential advisors and how to craft compelling personal statements.
“Envision EEB gave me a map to graduate school - I was really interested in graduate school, but it really was in the "realm of dragons" before that weekend because I didn't have a network, resources, or information to draw,” said one attendee. “Now graduate school doesn't just seem like the name of a faraway destination - it might still be a journey to get there and thrive, but I now have more direction in getting where I want to be in the future.”
Attendees also learned about choosing the right graduate program, how to find and apply for fellowships and what makes a successful fellowship application.
“I think it is great to see so many professors, post-docs, and graduate students interested in meeting the cohort and sharing some academic wisdom with them,” Rosenbaum said. “It is extremely rewarding to organize and contribute to Envision EEB. Throughout the weekend, it is noticeable how much students learn and connect with each other, with EEB faculty, and with graduate students. I am positive their experience here helped them become better equipped to apply to graduate school and I hope to see some of them joining the program in the future.”
"Envision EEB continues to be an amazing effort that dives deeply into EEB’s strengths and tremendous effort of its members,” EEB Director Elise Zipkin said. "The preview week puts the considerable strengths of MSU on the center stage and makes us stronger as we build a tight community of early career scholars. Everyone benefits from the relationships made at this event."
In addition to co-chairs Kline, Rosenbaum, and Sullivan, the event was organized by EEB members Jim Moran, Nadya Mamoozadeh, Annabelle McCarthy, Alejandra Martínez Blancas, DeShae Dillard, Alex Lewanski, and Rajanikanth Chowdanayaka. The MSU Graduate School and the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion supported the weekend.
“Inclusion is about the community coming together not only to create a place for people from diverse backgrounds but also help create a pathway to that community,” said Jabbar R. Bennett, vice president and chief diversity officer. “The EEB community has been a strong partner in making connections and freely sharing wisdom, passion, and joy. We are proud to support this annual effort and look forward to the success it reaps.”
This story originally appeared on the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior website.