Envision EEB expands to shine light on graduate school pathway

This year’s Envision EEB Graduate Preview event broke out of its weekend format by expanding to include online workshops to offer more resources to help demystify graduate education.

This fall marked the fifth time Michigan State University’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB) Program offered prospective graduate students an informative peek at the finer points of apply for and succeeding in pursuing advanced degrees.

About 70 students applied for the program, with 19 joining from as far as Florida and North Carolina. Over the summer, three new online workshops covered topics such as the graduate school application process, how to contact potential advisors, funding opportunities, and strategies for writing strong personal and research statements. These workshops were led by members of the EEB community.

“This was the first year we offered these online sessions, and they effectively achieved our goal of helping participants become familiar with the graduate school process and prepare to apply this year,” said integrative biology PhD candidate Carol Rosenbaum, who co-chaired the event with plant biology assistant professor Lauren Sullivan and integrative biology PhD candidate Alex Lewanski. “The EEB community was amazing in its support of the event by participating in all the activities, connecting with the visitors, and providing advice regarding graduate school.”

“I am really excited that this program can help students get the information they need to make the best decision for their futures.”

Thirteen students attended the in-person weekend at the EEB Hub and KBS, and activities included:

• A graduate student panel, where participants could ask current EEB graduate students about graduate school and student life.
• A tour of MSU’s main campus, with a stop at the Dairy Store.
• One-on-one meetings with EEB faculty, which allowed participants to meet potential advisors and practice professional conversations.
• Social events with the EEB community — about 60 people attended on the main campus and 30 at Kellogg Biological Station.
• Small-group statement workshops, where students received feedback and refined their personal and research statements with current graduate students.

“This experience was an incredible way to feel more comfortable with the whole idea of graduate school, from applying to being confident in my own abilities,” said one attendee.

“It felt like a necessary first step in deciding whether I could make a meaningful next step in connecting with professors at MSU and if I feel like I could commit the next several years as a student here.”

“I have no knowledge of any other resource that comes close to being this thorough with explaining graduate school and how it all works,” another attendee said.

“It is extremely rewarding to organize and contribute to Envision EEB," Rosenbaum said. "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.”

"Expanding an already strong program helps to showcase both EEB’s strengths and the tremendous power of the community,” EEB Director Elise Zipkin said. "This is another way to keep our emphasis on strengthening the next generation of scientists, and in the process, it makes us all better and more engaged."

In addition to co-chairs Rosenbaum, Lewanski and Sullivan, the event was organized by EEB members The MSU Graduate School and the Office for Inclusive Excellence and Impact supported the weekend.