As we’ve noted before, graduate school can mainly be distinguished from undergraduate school in terms of research. While in undergraduate school, many students do not take an independent study or research course to gain experience in the discovery of new knowledge. With graduate school, on the other hand, your success is largely determined on your research. Thus, one of the things that admissions committees look for, not surprisingly, is experience that you may have in assisting or completing research with professors or other college faculty. Many applicants do not have such experience to add to their resume; so if it turns out you are able to secure some, make sure to highlight it if you want your grad school application stand out!
1. Begin by browsing the web pages of the faculty in the field you are interested in.
Often times, professors will list their areas of current research, and perhaps even a section of their webpage entitled “assistants needed.” Take a look at the areas they are need assistance in. Professors want to hire undergraduate students or other people interested in their field; so, if you can demonstrate your interest, you would have a much better chance of gaining that position.
Make sure to note how many hours are expected of you and how long the research project is supposed to last so you will know if it fits your schedule. Also, make sure to note what kind of research you will be doing; the work may be lab work, surveying, or textual analysis, depending on the field. Be sure to choose something that would have at least some relevance to the graduate field you want to pursue. If you are planning on applying to graduate school in biology, for example, helping out an English professor with literary research from the 15th century might not be the best idea. But if you are planning on, say, a journalism career, the work with the English professor might be worth doing, if you can’t work with any journalism faculty.
2. If you are still in undergraduate school, make a point of developing a relationship with your professors.
Say hello to your professor before and after class. Getting your foot in the door to work with faculty really just requires basic social skills and initiative. Send him an email with a general question or observation about the material you are learning. Establishing relationships with your professors is always a great idea no matter what the area of study, whether you are considering a Master in Education or Masters of Engineering. Find a reason to go see him during office hours, even if you don’t have any “real” questions.
We have heard from university faculty that it is a wise move to go to office hours and ask the professor something even if you already know the answer… just to get the opportunity to build a relationship. The professors love to demonstrate their knowledge in answering your questions!
3. Get to know faculty by joining the departmental club.
Whether it is the philosophy club, the psychology club, or the young veterinarians club, be sure to join and get to know the folks in your field. Also, be sure to attend departmental lectures and the various departmental gatherings so that people will begin to recognize you. Even better, read up on the latest scholarship and research that will be presented so that you might ask an insightful question!
And — this goes without saying– always be on your best behavior– be courteous and respectful!
4. If you are not currently in school, email the department head to get your foot in the door.
Find out what lectures or other events might be coming up. Sign-up to receive their newsletter. Attend local professional events. Find every reason to be seen by the faculty.
You may even be able to schedule a meeting with someone in the department to talk about your career goals. Professors and older graduate students will generally love to offer you advice on accomplishing your career goals. Be sure to be open and transparent of what you hope to accomplish, and ask for the wisdom of these “elders.” You would be surprised how much they want to help you, especially if you convince them you want to go back to school.
Final Thoughts
When searching for research experience, it remains important to ask yourself the question, “What really interests me?”, and then see if there is research being done in that field. Do not simply discard your interests for the sake of gaining experience. If you are particularly plucky, you might even ask a professor how you could do research in a field where work is not currently being done. You never know– doors may open and you just might walk through!
In any case, make sure that you have a clear idea of the commitment you are making before embarking on a research project. Be clear on what the professor expects of you, and how long he expects you to assist. It is important to remember that you will work with multiple professors in your graduate years, and you want to maintain good working relationships with them. Your reputation is important, especially the higher up you go in education. If you build a name for yourself as a reliable, hard-working student who fulfills her commitments, you will have an easier time finding success!
So, use these tips to secure your first “professional” academic work. If you are able to do real research prior to your grad school application, you not only gain valuable experience in the higher academic world, you will also set yourself apart from the other applicants, and your career will thank you!
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Tags: admissions, grad school application, graduate school, gre graduate school, professors, research, self-ownership