Being a graduate student at the UofG was an amazing and rewarding experience. Fellow students and faculty create a friendly and supportive environment which made coming to the lab enjoyable, every day. Between presenting at conferences, writing papers and conducting research, UoG offers plenty of amenities to relax and unwind with friends.
You can walk from one end of campus to the other easily within 10 minutes, and only have to cross one major road if you’re headed east/west (none if travelling north/south). The arboretum is absolutely beautiful, and a great place to go for a lunch time walk on those days that you need an escape from the office/lab. The cafeterias are excellent, and cater to every type of eater. There are always vegan and vegetarian options available, and everything is labeled with potential allergens.
Grad school opens doors! SO many doors have opened up for me just in the last two years of my degree here.
Make sure you choose an adviser who is well-known in the industry because they will help you grow quickly in the field. I saw my adviser as a professional mentor and I'm able to go to her with questions about the industry. She has given me so much insight into the future of our professional field which has helped shape my future career goals. Take advantage of all the mentorship opportunities that you can. Grad school is the BEST place for that! Finding mentors when you're not a student is hard. Being a student is a great excuse to find mentors who will be so strategically useful to you, if you take advantage of your time here!
Graduate studies are a great experience. In my experience, it was much more practical learning to equip you with skills to use in work settings. You also get to meet so many people who are in the same field and diversify your network.
The Biodiversity Institute/Centre for Biodiversity Genomics is the IB departments best-kept secret, in my opinion! There are endless opportunities available if you take initiative.
Have really good time management! Being ahead on a project will do you wonders when deadlines start to creep up. And don't be afraid to make mistakes and not be entirely sure what you want to accomplish from the start. Faculty are there to help and guide you on your journey but you must also be willing to be challenged and accept productive criticism.
