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It’s grad recruitment season in a very “special” year. Here are some takes and advice for geo applicants based on my own experiences navigating both sides of this conundrum (1/N)
Be honest: we all know that you are applying multiple places (or should be at least), there is no need to hide this fact, doing so can be really awkward (2/N)
If you know your top choice, tell them. This knowledge may change your odds of getting an offer. If you are honestly torn, tell them that too. It’s a small world, we can help (3/N)
Some schools accept and then have a visit, some interview and then decide who gets an offer. Know which schools do which and act accordingly (4/N)
Even in the case of interviews this is a two-way street. Gather the information you need to decide if this is a place you can spend the next 5-6 years (5/N)
Be available: Zoom interviews are going suck, but scheduling zoom interviews with many students in 10 time zones (with equally unavailable faculty) sucks more. Be glad that isn't your job and be nice to us (6/N)
Remember that if this was a normal year we would be flying you here and asking you to take time off school or work. I missed a solid half of classes during this period my senior year of college. It wasn't pretty, but it was worth it (7/N)
Yes, I know that the previous two reek of privilege and will exclude some… I am not sure of the solution, we have to talk to you. If this is you then talk to your PI, being open is better than appearing disinterested (see 3) (8/N)
Funny story @jj_marlow and I were taking an antiquities class during this time (all overheads and lecture). We were both traveling a ton and traded notes where we could. Content we both missed? we just guessed on about 1/3 of the content on exams…(9/N)
Put your best foot forward during visits and interviews. It will be harder to mess up this year (no getting drunk and peeing on the El...), but prepare. Most importantly, have questions about both the school and the science! (10/N)
Be yourself. I know this is potentially different than above, but if you can’t be your authentic self, do you really want to spend the next 5-6 years of your life with these people? (11/N)
Talk to the students! Who really knows what it is like to work in a given lab, the students (grad and undergrad). Lab managers also are a wealth of knowledge (12/N)
Decline as soon as you know. You have until April 15th technically, but the longer you wait, the less likely that school can fill that spot. Remember that we as PIs often need to fill a position for funding reasons (13/N)
Seriously though, this is complicated for both students and faculty. You have more power than you think. Some students get offers everywhere, others get none, don’t be a jerk. I say this because no one told me this when it mattered, Roger Summons was mad at me for years! (14/N)
Waiting on an offer from your dream school? The first round is going out now, if you don’t hear in the next few weeks, ask. An honest PI will tell you where you rank and if the possibility exists for a late offer (15/N)
Know this is a weird year. It’s all virtual. We are all (faculty and students alike) taxed beyond reason. Funding is particularly tight at both the lab and university levels. There seem to be more applicants than ever (16/N)
Finally, speaking for myself, I sincerely want each and every applicant to land in the place that is best for them. This is how we can all do our best science! I hope this helps! (17/N)
I forgot one! Keep in touch with the people you meet. It was during recruitment that I met @geobiorox @phantomBugs @RikaEAnderson and many others! These are your people, they will keep appearing
