As the summer winds down and the cooler weather takes hold, graduate school hopefuls are gearing up for application season. It’s a time of excitement, uncertainty and important decisions for many.
Aakash Natarajan, who is in his second year of a Master of Science program with Karen Maxwell, professor of biochemistryat the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, remembers that feeling well. He spoke with writer Sarah McMahon about his experience choosing a school, finding a supervisor and what it’s really like to be a grad student.
How did you choose biochemistry for your graduate degree?
I first came to biochemistry at Temerty Medicine as a participant in the Amgen Scholars Program, which is a research opportunity program for undergraduates. I still remember feeling awestruck at the beauty of the campus and how full of life it was. The opportunities at U of T are unrivaled; we have experts and resources at our fingertips.
However, the real highlight for me was the people. The staff and students in biochemistry were kind, intelligent and welcoming. I knew I wanted to be a part of this group.
What factors are important to consider when choosing a supervisor?
Surprisingly, lots of factors go into this decision beyond just the research topic you want to study. It’s essential to consider the lab culture and environment too. For example, the mentorship opportunities in the lab, how well you and your supervisor’s work style and schedules match, and even whether the lab members eat their lunch together, will greatly shape your day-to-day experience.
It sounds like it’s important to get to know the lab and supervisor before you apply. What advice do you have for prospective students who are unsure of how to meet a lab group or potential supervisor?
I have a few suggestions. First, start early. It’s best to set up meetings several months in advance and well before relevant deadlines. Second, read some of the lab’s recent papers to get an idea about the kind of work they do. Third, when meeting with the supervisor, be honest about your interests, goals and preferences because you could be working with this person for several years. Last, but not least, spend time with the current graduate students. They can tell you what it’s like in the lab from the student perspective and share some of their experiences.
What advice do you have for people who are applying to grad school this year?
Focus on writing a powerful statement of purpose, getting strong letters of recommendation from people who know you well, and crafting a professional CV. Those things tell the admissions committee so much about who you are and how you’ll do in grad school.
What has been your favourite part of grad school so far?
For me, grad school is way more fun than undergrad because I can devote the bulk of my time to one big, meaningful project instead of juggling classes and tests. I really enjoy what I do. But what truly makes it great is the community. The friendships and camaraderie you build with other grad students gets you through tough times and makes the good days even better.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in grad school?
In wet-lab research, hard work does not guarantee immediate results. You can go months without making significant progress. Learning to cope with this and not burning out has been the hardest part. I’m still working on this, but every day I show up, and I get a little better at it.
What does success in graduate school look like to you?
I think success in grad school is personal and depends on your goals and priorities. For me, success means putting my heart into the work I’m doing, keeping a consistent schedule, staying active outside the lab, keeping up with my hobbies and having a social life. For someone else, success in grad school might look different, and that’s okay.
What’s one myth about grad school you’d like to debunk?
Some people think that you need to be a genius to go to grad school. You don’t. You aren’t expected to know everything going in – you will learn. Grad school, like so many things in life, is about showing up consistently and doing your best. It’s challenging, but with the right mindset and hard work, anyone can do it.
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