FAQ
Answers to questions I get asked a lot either by my followers on my main blog, or people in real life.
Feel free to also check out the other links in my Navigation menu to find previously answered asks/masterposts/etc.
And if you see something that’s not here, or would like me to expand on something, my inbox is always open!
How did you become interested in pursuing cancer biology?
I’ve always liked human health and biology, and I gained an interest in studying cancer in particular after working in a cancer research lab after college. I have more detail in my About page.
How did you know a PhD specifically was right for you?
Did you have to complete a Masters before your PhD?
Nope. A Masters degree before pursuing a PhD is not required for my program here in the United States (a common theme among many STEM programs in the US actually). If that’s an option, here’s a post I made regarding the pros and cons of doing a Masters before a PhD.
How do you pay for grad school?
I don’t! The school pays me! Most (if not all) PhD programs provide an annual stipend (usually between $13 - $35k depending on the cost of living in the area). They do take tuition and health insurance from that though, so your paycheck will be lower. However you can always apply for outside funding (in the form of grants or scholarships) to supplement.
A Masters program is different however, and most of the time you’ll need to pay for that (but there are some that give stipends, depending on the program/school).
How long does it take to earn a PhD?
In the US, it varies between 4-7 years depending on the field, program, university, and your personal timeline. The average for my program is 5.5 years (so 6th year PhD students are the ones finishing up).
Any tips on getting into grad school?
Firstly, you have to know this is exactly what you want to do. It has to be your Plan A. Do not waste these 5+ years of your awesome life! Grad school is tough, and you need to really love what you study.
Know the requirements and all the deadlines. This includes exams (such as the GRE–and know what scores you have to get for the program), how many letters of recommendation you need, deadlines for applications, what kinds of experience you need, etc. Make yourself an Excel spreadsheet that you can check-off and keep track of all the schools you’re applying to. Unlike undergrad, there is no common app, so you’ll have to fill out every single application for every single school separately.
Speaking of experience, make sure you have at least 1 year of lab work under your belt! It’s pretty much a requirement as it shows the school you know what you’re getting into. It’ll also give you something to talk about in your personal statement (if appropriate) and during interviews.
Start writing your personal statements at least 5 months in advance, and give it to multiple people (preferably someone who has gotten into your grad program) to edit. Do the same for notifying professors for letters of rec. Hell hath no fury like a professor being told they only have 1 week to write a recommendation letter.
Know the school and program, and why it’s a good fit for you! You’ll be asked this during interviews, so have a good sincere answer.
I have a masterpost on grad apps here.
How do I go about narrowing down a list of grad schools to apply to?
Check out my answer here!
Any tips on CVs and cover letters?
Yup! Check this post out.
How about letters of rec?
What’s grad school like?
Ok, this is for grad school in the life sciences, in a US program, from my experience. It may differ some, or a lot, for others.
You take classes your first 2 years, along with lab rotations to figure out which lab you want to park your butt in for the next couple years, and then you take your pre-lims/qualifying exams during your 2nd or 3rd year, and if you pass, you become a PhD candidate and spend the next 2 - 3 years working on your research and dissertation.
Classes aren’t bad. You don’t take that many (you can see my schedules here), and the ones you do take hopefully you have an interest in. Also, no one’s here to be “weeded out”–as in they classes aren’t challenging for the sake of being challenging, the info you learn is actually relevant, and most professors (at least in my experience) genuinely want you to understand the material and do well.
I thought finding a thesis lab was the most challenging part. You have to find a lab where you like the research, get along with the PI/lab members, and has funding for your stipend and research project. So pick your rotations carefully! You typically get three 8 - 10 week rotations, but students are allowed to do 4th and 5th rotations as well if necessary.
After you pass your qualifying exams and advance onto candidacy, you basically just do full-time research, with a few seminars or journal clubs peppered here and there. You also get to go to local and national conferences (to attend or even better, present at), so the traveling aspect is pretty neat.
So far it’s been pretty chill for me. I still get to sleep 7 hours/night, have a social life now and then. Definitely less stressful than my undergrad experience!
How do I come up with a research project during grad school?
Check out these posts: here and here, and more specific to a PhD thesis project, here
How much Calculus will I need to take in order to be successful in cancer biology (or just regular bio) field?
It depends, but sometimes none!
Colleges may have different math requirements for individual undergraduate degrees, but in graduate school, and in the field of biology itself, you really don’t need to know calculus if you don’t want to. The cool thing about science is you don’t need to be a genius in everything. You just gotta be good in what you choose to specialize in, like a certain cancer or biological pathway, and if your research requires something you’re not a whiz at like calculus, you collaborate with someone who knows calculus. And plus, nowadays with all these biologist-friendly software out there like GraphPad Prism, most mathematical calculations needed for data analyses can be done with a button. There is basic math involved in every day biology though, like conversions of molar this to microliters that, but nothing complicated.
Is there a specific GPA that is required for applying to a science related PhD?
Yes, and it varies between fields, universities, and departments. It’s usually 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and above (I have yet to see programs accept anything under a 3.0). More prestigious schools will require higher GPA’s. Of course, graduate admissions will also look at your science grades. If you have all C’s in your core science courses but A+’s in unrelated electives which bring up your overall GPA, they’re less likely to consider you. All applications will ask you for your science GPA separate from your overall GPA anyway. There definitely are exceptions though. It’s best to check the universities and programs of your choice for these requirements and others, as every program is different.
I’m interested in scientific research. How do I know if it’s right for me, and if so, how do I get started?
The best the advice is always to experience that career path before committing to it. Something that sounds great on paper may not be suitable in person, and vice versa. So if you’re a college student (or have graduated already), volunteer or work in a research laboratory setting. See if it feels right.
Some ways to experience a “day in the life of” in a potential career path
I have a FAQ for undergrad research opportunities here.
Also keep in mind that each lab has its own personality or “culture” almost, so if you don’t necessarily get along with one lab doesn’t mean it’s the end of your career! If you have questions about how to find these opportunities, or what to write in an email to a PI, shoot me an ask and I’ll be happy to help!
Hey what does “PI” stand for?
Haha not “Private Investigator” in the cases I use it. It means “Principal Investigator”, and is the professor or scientist who owns the lab.
Do you have any blog recommendations?
Sure do! Check out my recs page!
Can I contact you if I have any other questions or need advice?
Yes of course!! My askbox and private messaging are always open.