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- Prepare your statement of research interest with care.
We are looking for students who have a fairly specific idea of what
kind of research they want to pursue in graduate school.
- Think about which specific faculty members you might like to work with
and on what types of specific projects. Use the references cited in
their journal articles to learn more about the faculty member's research
and whether it appeals to you. Again, it would be helpful if you could
identify the specific faculty member(s) you are interested in working
with in your statement of research interests (usually one to three different
faculty whose interests closely match yours) and note them on the application
and information form. This will ensure that these faculty members see
your application.
- Feel free to write to the specific faculty member(s) that you are most
interested in. Tell them about your interests and reasons for wanting
to work with them, ask them what kind of projects are currently going
on in their laboratory and ask if they are taking additional students
in the coming year. Ask for reprints of articles covering their most
recent research. We like to receive these letters and usually answer
them promptly. Realize that our application procedure relies heavily
on how well a student fits our program. It helps to have a specific
faculty member interested in having you come here.
- Prepare for the GRE test, especially the advanced Subject test. Scores
on these tests are very important to us in making decisions among applicants
in diverse fields. Review your old class notes or read through your
textbooks before taking these exams.
- Consider visiting the campus. There is much about the fit between a
student and a particular program that is difficult to evaluate from
the application. A visit allows you to sell yourself directly, puts
a "face" on your application for us and allows you to evaluate
our program more closely. Without an application for a potential advisor
to view, it may be difficult for you to make appointments to meet with
some faculty members.
- Do not be afraid to ask the tough questions. Make comparisons among
the places you are considering and do not hesitate to ask us for more
information. We want to continue to admit good students for Graduate
Study in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. We
are confident that the more you know about us, the greater the chances
that you will select our program for your graduate studies.
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