I didn't know you went to University of Illinois!! I applied to their integrative biology program earlier this year and I'm hoping to hear back from them sometime this month! What was your experience with the university like? Any tips for a (hopefully) incoming biology student?
So I didn’t do my undergrad here, but I’ve been teaching undergrads for... gosh, four years now. Well, three and a half. I’m also at the Chicago campus, so I’m not super familiar with UIUC (although, funny story, I’m actually super connected to the campus- my father’s best friend’s dad was the president of the university for many years, and we’ve gone on vacation with their family several times. I went down there for a conference once and there was this giant oil painting of Stan and his wife near the registration table and all I could think was “I’ve seen both of those people in their bathing suits.”)
Anyways, grad or undergrad? Because I’ve got VERY different advice for both. I’m gonna write to both of them because hey, maybe people could use this sort of thing!
UndergradOne of the biggest things I can say is this: Don’t be put off by the size of your intro class. This goes for all state schools, really- state schools are BIG and intro classes are taught in huge groups with lab/discussion sections. I’ve seen a lot of students try to impress the professor (who is nine times out of ten going to be a senior grad student) the first couple of days, but it’s really difficult to get their attention because there’s 300 other people in the room they have to work with. Instead, make friends with your TA. It’s easy. Ask us a couple questions about our research and then start talking about your interests. Most of us RELISH the opportunity to talk to interested undergrads- and that’s your “in.” Like, case in point- this year my advisor came to me and said “Caitlin, I have a student who wants to work with you at the museum. I know you’ve got one undergrad, but would you be interested in taking another? I’m not going to take her on unless you can use her because I’m super busy.” (Not her exact words, but that’s the gist.) And because that student was in my class and because I knew her, I was fine with the situation and my advisor was totally happy with it. Your TA will talk about their promising undergrads to their professors, and they’ll recommend classes and books and opportunities to their students- but they can only do this if they know you and know what you’re interested in.
Also, when you get in: Find out who’s your director of undergraduate studies and introduce yourself. The director of undergraduate studies is going to be more helpful to your life than the department head- they’ll be the first to know about undergraduate opportunities, research positions, internship positions, lab positions, etc. The department head has to juggle university demands, professors, grad students, and undergrads in that order; the director of undergraduate studies only has to deal with undergrads, so you’ll be more of a priority!GradALWAYS. DO. THE. READING. Professors know when you don’t. Don’t get freaked out if they have you TA- one of the best ways to reinforce your own knowledge is to teach. Talk to your professors outside of class- as a grad student, you’re not just a student anymore, you’re a colleague. If shit’s going down in your personal life, you don’t have to tell the whole department, but the profs working with you should often know, especially if it’s going to affect deadlines and your ability to meet them. Use your best judgment for that- professors will usually be sympathetic. (I know that dealing with my mental illness got a lot easier after telling my advisor, because now that she’s aware of it, she knows how to keep me on task if I fall into a depressive cycle.) Take advantage of your university health insurance policy. Go to the doctor regularly and eat a vegetable from time to time. Don’t get trapped in a departmental bubble; do stuff at the university level sometimes, just to get a pulse on what’s going on outside your department. Read 57 Ways to Screw Up in Grad School and get a copy of The Craft of Research and use it. It’s a phenomenal book. They’re both really good. Try not to postpone your prelims too much. Be kind to the undergrads; they are new to this. Breathe.
Either way...Good luck!
