rleonard

This is purely from my own experience with grad school: Make sure you meet the grad program's minimum requirements. Then find the person(s) you want to work with and build a relationship. Ask what is important to them, find out if they're a good fit, show them you're awesome, etc. Then when you apply, they can vouch for you and your chances of getting in go up a lot. It seems to be a who-you-know game more than anything. Naturally, that varies by program. When in doubt, stalk some current or former students from that program.

Hi all! Just looking for some fresh POVs. I have recently finished my Master's in bio, and have landed a cushy lab job that I like but don't love. I have received word that I'm a finalist for Fulbright ETA (Poland) and will probably have to be making a choice soon. My concern with leaving the job is that flexible jobs like this one seem to be rare, and taking the Fulbright would pretty much send me down the path to a PhD program, something I don't want to do. Is it silly to pass up a good job for the Fulbright; or is it silly to pass up the Fulbright for a lab job? Are Fulbright ETAs so prestigious that I should take it no matter what? I won't be offended if someone tells me I'm overthinking it.