Prospective Students
Hi there! Thanks for your interest in our work here at the Holbrook Team. Initially, you might wonder what it would be like to work with me. The way I see it, when I accept a graduate student my job is to do the best I can to facilitate success, which I define as a student achieving one of his/her career choices. One of the key ingredients to success is confidence. Thus, I will work hard to help develop intellectual confidence such that students are comfortable relentlessly pursuing questions. This means providing encouragement, constructive criticism, financial and logistical support, intentional attention, and opportunities for network building.
The rest, however, is up to you. Nothing worth having comes easy. It is your job to squeeze every ounce of opportunity out of your graduate program. Or, in the words of Vince Lombardi, "The price of success is hard work and dedication to the job at hand." This is what I expect from my students: hard work, timeliness, focus, willingness to fail, the ability to complete tasks, and unwavering persistence. In addition, we often deal with controversial issues in wildlife ecology and management, and effective communication on tough issues requires humility and empathy. Therefore, I expect my students to exercise both of these attributes in abundance.
Finally, there are additional characteristics most advisors look for in prospective students. These include: creativity, quantitative and analytical skills (e.g., experience with GIS and R), and demonstrated success in presenting and publishing research. These attributes are sought after by many, so working on these skills in your undergraduate studies is highly suggested.
I am not currently taking on any additional students, but should you contact me, at the very least include the following in your email:
A cover letter
A CV/resume
Example manuscript(s) (if available)
Names, emails, and phone number for 3 references
Unofficial transcripts
In your cover letter, please touch on: (1) Your top 3 career paths after graduate school, (2) Why are you interested in graduate school (and specifically UW), and (3) Why are you interested in working with me?
