Graduate school is distinct from professional schools such as law, medicine, and education. Admission to a graduate program leads to a Master's of Science Degree (M.S.) or Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.).

Graduate school is for people who want to conduct research and study a subject in-depth. One way to find out if you like research and if you have an aptitude for it is to get involved in research as an undergraduate. This experience will help you in making a decision and be an asset in your application for graduate studies. While a graduate degree will help many people to obtain a wider array of positions, it is not for people in a hurry to get a "real" job. Making a decision to go to graduate school may take up to a year or more.

Consult your college professors and other individuals you respect for their advice concerning graduate study. Think about what subjects interest you the most and what type of career is important to you.  

If you have been doing research and asking for advice about graduate school, then you may have some ideas about which universities have good graduate programs in your area of interest. The scientific societies of each discipline have lists of universities around the country that have graduate programs in their discipline . The American Phytopathological Society has a list of plant pathology programs.

Write to these programs the September before you want to enter graduate school to obtain information about how to apply. Expect to apply to five or more programs depending on how competitive your area is. At the same time, begin applying for graduate fellowships at these universities. Individuals who apply early for graduate fellowship are more likely to be successful than those who wait until they have been accepted into a program.

Investigate the faculty of these departments to find out what their research interests are and if they match your interests. Write to the professors whose research sounds intriguing to you and inquire as to whether they expect to have openings in their laboratories for new graduate students. If at all possible, you should try to visit the universities whose programs are of greatest interest to you.

Some programs have a general recruiting event of one or more days in which they invite potential students to visit, while in other programs individuals can arrange personalized visits. During the visit, you should explore the facilities at the institution and meet with as many faculty and students as possible. Find out as much as you can about the graduate program, its flexibility, what kinds of educational opportunities outside the classroom and lab are available (seminars, internships, attending professional meetings, etc), and how successful past graduates have been in obtaining postdoctoral positions and permanent jobs. Most importantly, find out if you are compatible with professors that may end up being your thesis advisor.

In many areas, the boundaries between academic departments and graduate programs are becoming less defined. For example, at the University of Minnesota, identification and characterization of plant genes involved in disease resistance are being carried out by faculty in Graduate Programs in Plant Pathology, Applied Plant Sciences, and Plant Biological Sciences. So, be sure to look for research that interests you beyond the traditional program divisions.

Admission to the Graduate Program is a three-stage process. First, you must meet the qualifications of the Graduate School and be accepted. An application and the payment of application fees does not guarantee admission.

Next, you must be accepted by the Graduate Program(s) you are interested in. Lastly, you must be awarded a graduate fellowship, research assistantship or teaching assistantship that will pay you a stipend and in most cases provide health insurance and tuition benefits. The availability of the fellowships and assistantships fluctuates each year depending on how many students graduate in a given year and how many faculty members obtain outside grant funding to support graduate students. Being awarded an open University or Departmental fellowship will allow you more freedom to choose your research topic rather than being tied to a specific topic with a research assistantship from a individual professor. Contact the program Director of Graduate Studies for current information on numbers of applicants and openings.

First, there is probably no "typical" graduate program! One of the great things about graduate studies is its flexibility. You will have greater latitude to select coursework that fits your interests and goals than you would in an undergraduate program. Different programs will have different philosophies on the number and type of courses to take and the format of preliminary and final exams. Depending on the program, when you start graduate school you may already know which professor you want to have as your advisor. This is the person who will help you select coursework and guide you in your research program. In some programs, you will be able to "rotate" though two or three different laboratories during the first year to help you in the decision of choosing an advisor. This also gives you an opportunity to learn a number of different techniques and see different laboratory research styles.

Most M.S. programs take between 2 to 3 years to complete. Ph.D. programs take an additional 2-3 years, depending on the level of previous research experience and other factors. Some students complete both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs at the same university, while others change universities to expand their graduate study experience. Depending on the program and the student, it may be possible to enter a Ph.D. program without obtaining an M.S. degree.

In the Plant Pathology Graduate Program, most M.S. students take 3 semesters of course work during which time they begin their research. Summer breaks and the final two to three semesters are usually spent conducting research and writing a thesis. After defending the M.S. thesis, students may enter the Ph.D. program. An additional semester of course work is usually required. After the completion of course work, students take the written preliminary exam. This exam tests the student's ability to synthesize the knowledge they have gained in classes, from seminars, and from independent reading. After passing the written preliminary exam, the student schedules an oral preliminary exam with their research advisory committee. This exam focuses on the student’s general and special subject fields. Upon passing this exam, the student becomes a Ph.D. candidate and focuses all energies on doing research. As the research is nearing completion, it is written in manuscript form for submission to scientific journals. The last 6-8 months (sometimes more!) is spent completing the writing of the thesis, which documents your original research. When your thesis is written, you will present a seminar to the department and research advisory committee. After the seminar, you will defend your thesis before the research advisory committee. Once you have passed this final exam, you will be awarded a Ph.D degree! A hardbound copy of your thesis will be archived in the university library and made available on-line.

One of the least known facts about graduate studies in the sciences is that the Graduate Programs PAY YOU TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL!!! Yes, you read that passage correctly! Once you are admitted into a program, you will be supported by a fellowship, research/teaching assistantship or by other means. The current take-home salary or stipend is about $18,000. This money is for you to pay rent, buy groceries, and purchase other necessary items for living.  In addition to this stipend, the department also pays for all of your tuition costs as well as most of the health insurance benefits.

A research assistantship is a common way for graduate programs to support graduate students. The number of RAs available each year will vary depending on the number of students graduating in a given year and the funding obtained by faculty from grants. The expectations of a student awarded an RA may vary by program and the philosophy of your advisor. In general, if you are awarded an RA, you will be expected to do research for at least 20 hours/week. If the RA is from your advisor, you will be expected to do research that supports your advisor's research interest. Often, this research also will be your thesis research.

A teaching assistantship is a way for graduate programs that have undergraduate courses to support graduate students. The teaching assistant helps teach undergraduate courses, often by proctoring the laboratory or discussion sections, and assists with writing and grading examinations and other course exercises. Being a teaching assistant can take a significant amount of time from your class work and research, but is a great way to get experience in teaching. You will find that you really learn material well once you teach it to someone else! In most graduate programs, Ph.D. students are expected to have at least one semester of teaching experience and may be supported by a TA during that semester. Most graduate students find their teaching experiences to be a very satisfying part of their graduate studies.

In many graduate programs, Ph.D. students are expected to have at least one semester of teaching experience, usually by serving as a teaching assistant in an undergraduate course. At the University of Minnesota, there are a number of ways that graduate students can get training for teaching. Several different one semester courses are offered that cover teaching methods. These courses help students to develop a personal teaching philosophy. Teaching enrichment workshops are held free of charge for graduate students and faculty in the fall, and specialized half-day classes on topics pertaining to teaching are held throughout the year. Workshops on effective grant writing are held annually.

In the Plant Pathology Graduate Program, we have several unique opportunities for graduate students to gain professional experiences. Students are encouraged to participate in an internship to learn new research skills and make contact with other scientists. Students are encouraged to take their internships in laboratories outside the University and, if possible, the United States. Biannually, the graduate students in Plant Pathology organize a full day scientific symposium. They decide on the topic, invite speakers from across the country, and solicit funding. The students have found this to be a very rewarding and enriching experience!

Having a graduate degree will open up many job opportunities and increase your earning potential! Jobs for graduates are available in universities, government agencies, and private companies. Some graduates have started their own businesses. In general, graduates with an M.S. degree obtain jobs in which they continue to do research or teaching. Graduates with a Ph.D. degree often seek temporary postdoctoral research associate positions that last from 1-3 years. Doing a "post-doc" allows the newly minted Ph.D. to hone their research experiences in a new environment, often in a slightly different area. A postdoctoral position is analogous to the residency done by Medical Doctors. Permanent positions for individuals with a Ph.D. generally involve supervising other scientists (technicians and postdocs) and teaching, if hired by a college or university. The amount of research that a Ph.D. scientist does varies with their job requirements. Some of the positions obtained by recent graduates are listed below.

M.S.: Research Technician (university, government agency and private company), Instructor for community college, Pathologist for seed company, Communications Consultant, Pesticide Application Trainer, Data Analyst (university or private industry), Disease Diagnostician (university or private industry), Scientific Editor, Science Writer

Ph.D.: Assistant Professor, Research Scientist (private companies, government agencies), Technical Writer, Private Practitioner

For more information about careers in Plant Pathology, see the web site of the American Phytopathological Society: http://www.apsnet.org/careers/