How do you get into a graduate science program? What
challenges will you face in school? What do you do after school—how do you get
a job?
These are some of the questions facing you as you consider traveling to the United States to study science at the graduate level. Answers to many of your questions are available in the vast realm of cyberspace, but they can be difficult to find. Here are some pointers to help you find the information you need:
- PhDs.org. Founded by Geoff Davis (Ph.D. in Mathematics, New York University), PhDs.org offers a variety of resources posted by graduate students and scientists. Visitors to the site can post article links and rank the existing articles, which are broken up by subject (including getting into graduate school, succeeding in graduate school, finding a job, and a handy section of visa issues for international students). The site also allows you to investigate graduate programs to find the one that's right for you and includes links to blogs and discussion groups on science and graduate school topics
- National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS) serves as an advocacy group for graduate students' needs and rights at all levels, including a committee that focuses on international students' concerns. The international listserv feature of the site allows you to communicate with other international graduate students via e-mail.
- Association for Support of Graduate Students provides a news bulletin for graduate students and general help on writing a thesis or dissertation.
- When you decide on a school to attend, you will likely find a graduate students' association on campus. These organizations aim to enhance the experience of graduate students by seeking solutions to student problems, promoting new programs, organizing social activities, and communicating with faculty on behalf of the students. Check out some examples of these organizations: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan Technological University, and The University of Texas at Austin.
