<p>I have my undergraduate in Biology and I did fairly well. It's been years and years since I completed that. I'm now getting my master's. I want my phd but I was hoping my masters would give me a chance to stand out more and get into a better school for my phd. With that being said I am soooo confused - not about anything regarding science but about the whole process. First I have the option of doing a thesis or a non-thesis approach. After I figure that out how do I go about doing that? What do I do? I have been emailing PI's to see if I can get an opportunity to work in their laboratory, but that is just to get into their lab. Is that what I have to do to complete my masters as well? Is that how i find an Advisor to work with me on my thesis research/ paper or non-thesis paper? With that being said, if I do get into a lab, will my thesis research or non-thesis paper be about an assigned topic or am I allowed to have my own research/ topics I want to pursue? I'm sure these are stupid questions as they haven't been covered in the graduate orientation, a course on intro to graduate studies or come up naturally in any of my conversations with staff and faculty. Any information or if someone can point me to a site that is helpful would be great. I'm seriously lost but I want to resolve this so I can fully understand what is expected and accomplish that.</p>
<p>Hi Character.</p>
<pre><code>I think you should first check out the book Graduate Admissions Essays, Fourth Edition: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice Paperback by Donald Asher. It’ll covered all the important subjects in getting into graduate school as well as recommend you what books to delve further into learning graduate life.
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<p>I’m already in the program. Already taking classes…</p>
<p>Ok, check this book out then: Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D. by Robert Peters (Author).</p>
<p>So I guess you were accepted into the program without a Supervisor? What school is this?</p>
<p>Your department should have a handbook that outlines all of the requirements for completing the graduate degrees offered. My department has separate handbooks for master’s students and doctoral students.</p>
<p>There should also be a professor appointed as the Director of Graduate Studies who you can ask these questions. The handbook usually lists who this is; you can also ask any professor and they will know who it is.</p>
<p>Generally speaking whether or not your thesis topic is assigned to you will depend on the lab you’re in. Most often thesis topics are nominally up to the student, but sometimes advisors will only agree to let you use their research if you are doing a specific project that they want to publish on. Once you are in an advisor’s lab, you will typically work with that person on the thesis project.</p>
<p>Thanks juillet</p>