MS Wildlife Biology application help

[Tivera]

I'm currently looking into schools to get my masters in wildlife biology, but my anxiety has had me stuck and now I'm falling behind. I haven't actually contacted any professors yet

First, what exactly are my odds of getting into a program? Most are requesting GPA after the first 60 semester hours so 3.36 and I have an average GRE score, so I'm considering retaking. I got my B.S. in December of 2014 and unfortunately have not had any luck with a related jobs :/ I've been working food service to save up some money the last few years.

Second, When applying to a lab, all professors want a page written about my research interests. While this is a fair enough request, just how specific should I be? I find that I could very easily write several pages on an abundance of topics I find interesting. Would the professors like that I am so open to different topics that I would surely fit the needs of their grant? Or would they see me as unfocused and prefer a single topic that's practically a research project waiting to happen? 

[Psyentist]

So the programs you are looking at want you to apply for specific labs? Where are you applying? What was your major?

[Tivera]

19 hours ago, biowligist said:

So the programs you are looking at want you to apply for specific labs? Where are you applying? What was your major?

Here's the instructions for the department at the University of Florida 

"

Guidelines For Prospective MSc And PhD Applicants To WEC

Contacting faculty & obtaining their agreement to serve as advisor is THE key!

The path to admission into WEC as a masters or PhD student begins with finding a WEC faculty member who has funding,a project of mutual interest, and agrees to serve as your thesis advisor. A comprehensive list of WEC graduate faculty, with links to their homepages, can be found on http://www.wec.ufl.edu/people/faculty_new.php.

The prospective student will need to:

• Find appropriate faculty members by reviewing faculty web pages.
  • Read their recent research and any advice they may have for prospective students.
• Contact each faculty member who you find to be appropriate.
  • Include a CV and a well-written email letter of inquiry that clearly relates your interests and professional goals to the faculty member's program.
  • Include your GPA and your most recent GRE scores and percentiles.
• Await a response. You may or may not get one.
  • If you don't, then try a couple more times over a couple of weeks, and then move on.

"

Colorado State University (long shot there), Michigan State University, University of Florida, University of Minnesota, Iowa State University. 

My major was Natural Resources

[Pitangus]

Looks like you need to line up a faculty sponsor for your application. This is common with many Ecology/Evolution/Wildlife/Conservation programs: you are accepted into the program and directly into a lab. For some programs, including mine, your application will not even be considered by the admissions committee if you are not sponsored by a potential advisor.

In that case, your letters need to be tailored to your potential advisors. You need to demonstrate that you have read and understand the advisor's research, and that your interests fit in with the lab. If the potential advisor describes current projects on his/her webpage, then write about how you would be qualified to work on those projects. 

Advisors want grad students who will hit the ground running and not spend months waffling on ideas. They want their first-year students to be ready to develop research questions and plan their first summer field season (if applicable). 

Edited January 10, 2017 by Pitangus

[Tivera]

2 hours ago, Pitangus said:

Looks like you need to line up a faculty sponsor for your application. This is common with many Ecology/Evolution/Wildlife/Conservation programs: you are accepted into the program and directly into a lab. For some programs, including mine, your application will not even be considered by the admissions committee if you are not sponsored by a potential advisor.

In that case, your letters need to be tailored to your potential advisors. You need to demonstrate that you have read and understand the advisor's research, and that your interests fit in with the lab. If the potential advisor describes current projects on his/her webpage, then write about how you would be qualified to work on those projects. 

Advisors want grad students who will hit the ground running and not spend months waffling on ideas. They want their first-year students to be ready to develop research questions and plan their first summer field season (if applicable). 

Thank you! Very helpful

[fieldbióloga]

I often send a few sentences about my interests along with my CV in the initial email - I introduce myself, how I heard about their lab (if we have mutual connections), mention my goals/prospective research directions, and then attach a CV with GPA/test scores. Mentioning these things helps because PIs are realistic about admissions - I had an Ivy League professor tell me she'd love to have me but that there was very little chance I'd make it through admissions to save me the application fee.

I'd also recommend calling or Skyping with your professor of interest before applying - sometimes they will offer this themselves if they are very interested in having you as a student. It can help you define your personal statement and research goals before applying, and give you a clearer idea of possible projects in their lab.

As far as odds go, like Pitangus said, advisors want students who are ready to get work done. Masters programs are generally easier to get into than PhDs, and if you come off as a prepared and motivated student and can get an advisor to support your app then you shouldn't have any problems.