What is the most critical factor for gaining admission to your graduate program?

 

The most critical factor is whether you have a potential graduate advisor when you apply. All graduate students must conduct a thesis project with the guidance of a faculty member who serves as the thesis advisor. Each faculty member selects applicants with whom he/she would like to work with. He/she also provides laboratory facilities for conducting research and often provides financial support. Those who apply without contact have little chance of being admitted or offered a graduate assistantship.

 

I encourage you to contact the faculty member in whose lab you would like to do research. For information on faculty research programs, visit our website (www.usm.edu/biology/) and click on the “Faculty” link. Contact them by e-mail.

 

Be selective in who you contact and be specific in explaining why you would like to work with that particular faculty member. We receive many inquiries and the more specific you are, the more likely you are to receive a reply.