If I had to answer why I chose U-M in one sentence, it would be my program. U-M is one of the only schools in the nation that offers a Program in Chemical Biology (PCB), is one of the most competitive schools across the nation in biochemistry research, and has an impressive list of faculty who could accommodate almost any research interest. Naturally, considering my background in biology and chemistry and little understanding of how to connect the two, Michigan ranked pretty highly solely because they offered a program to accommodate the category-less oddballs like myself.
For Ph.D. programs in science, you typically get flown out to the school to meet/interview with professors. It's a whole day of talking about science, sciencey stuff, and what kind of beer you like most (this last part happens when the professors leave you alone with the current grad students, though I'd like to note here that I am not a huge fan of beer). It was at these interviews that I met and spoke with my current professor and really got excited about the work I am now doing.
When I was applying to graduate school, I already had in mind a couple of criteria the school had to meet. One, I needed some guarantee that I would not have a prolonged grad school experience (a tip I was given by a few former grad students I know who went through an agonizingly long Ph.D. experience). Two, I needed to have some sort of passion for the research I would be doing, or I certainly wouldn't be driven enough to complete my thesis. Three, I had to get along with the peers I would come to consider my cohort in following years. I hate to think of how taxing this experience would be on me if I did not have the supportive cohort I do. I lucked out in that department.
As an undergraduate, I applied to many grad schools and was (fortunately or not) accepted to a good number of them. But U-M was the only place that truly fulfilled all my criteria. I think I knew that this would be the place for me after I met and spoke with my professor. I was so anxious about the interview weekend here since it was the last of all the schools I visited, and none of the other places really struck me as being the right place in which to spend five years of my life. Needless to say, it was a huge relief when all the pieces clicked together here, and I turned over the other options in my mind for only a day or two before sending in my acceptance letter.
Yes, it really was that straightforward.
I was really lucky in finding exactly what I was looking for in grad school here. Looking back, there are some things I wish I could have done differently about my Ph.D. experience. I can say in all honesty that coming to U-M was not one of those things I would have changed.
Published in: Student Voices
Keywords: phd career planning academics