Helpful Information for Students! 

undergraduate & graduate level


last updated November 2023

content is in-progress and frequently updated!

Overview

This page contains useful professional and career information for both undergraduate (UG) and graduate students! 

Applying for Graduate School (Masters & PhD)

The graduate school application process can be opaque and there's not always someone to share this information with you! 

Below are some resources to help you navigate the application process and the experience :-)

Podcast: Grad School Deconstructed

"This podcast explores the graduate school experience from unique and diverse perspectives where we highlight the good, the bad, and the funny. Meet Dylan, Rose, and Jorge, as they join Stephanie as your grad school guides. Hear what each host brings to the show and how their unique perspectives shed light on the grad school experience."

Start listening! 

"Modest Advice for New Graduate Students"

"Throughout the course of my years in graduate school, I kept a running list of the best advice given to me, and the strategies that helped keep me sane. I hope it will prove useful to others." - Dorsa Amir (12 min read)

https://dorsaamir.medium.com/modest-advice-for-new-graduate-students-b0be6b8dbc22 

Instructions about the Application Process

Written by me!

This includes a timeline, information about funding and red flags to avoid, an example script to send to potential advisors, and questions to ask your potential advisor and their graduate students!

ApplyingGraduateSchool_ECahoon_April2022.pdf

Written by Sarah Brehm 

Assistant Professor at St. Lawrence University



Applying to Graduate Programs_SarahBrehm.docx

Other information...

State Licensure Information (ASBOG: FG & PG)

The "ASBOG" stands for the Association of the State Board of Geology and oversees a 2-step testing process to become a licensed* geologist (https://www.asbog.org/). This certification process is important for geologists working in industry, and less valuable in academia (university professors). 

The 2-step examination process involves the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) Exam and the Practice of Geology Exam (PG). You are able to take the FG during your senior year of college and the PG once you have 3-7 years of experience. The length of experience varies depending on the state and if you have any post-graduate schooling (masters or doctorate).

*After passing both the FG and PG Exam you are considered "licensed", but the specific terminology used to describe this credential is not consistent. Depending on the state, you could be referred to as a Professional Geologist (PG), Licensed Geologist (LG), Registered Geologist (RG), or Certified Geologist (CG). 

Resume/CV, Cover Letters, & Other Resources 

Resumes

•Emphasize skills

•Used when applying for a position in industry, non-profit, and public sector

•Is no longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications and/or poster presentations if highly relevant to the job

•After 1 year of industry experience, lead with work experience and place education section at the or near the end, depending upon qualifications


Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

•Emphasizes academic accomplishments

•used when applying for positions in academia, fellowships and grants

•Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications, posters, and presentations

•Always begins with education and can include name of advisor and dissertation title or summary

•Also used for merit/tenure review and sabbatical leave

Other notes

•Your college courses are listed on your transcripts, do not waste space adding them on your resume or CV!

•Entire abstracts do not belong here, if someone is interested these details they can look it up online!

•DO NOT list your address, it may add bias (most company's don’t want to pay for relocation if they can avoid it)!

Sections to include in your CV or resume

Action Verbs for Resume/CV Writing

ActionVerbsResumesWriting.pdf

Cover Letters 

Email Signatures

One easy way to level-up your 'professionalism' is to make yourself an email signature and include it at the bottom of all your emails (outlook, gmail, etc.)

Example (with a land acknowledgement):


--

Your Name, Credentials such as Ph.D., R.G. (pronouns)

Your position (this could simply say 'Student', 'Geology UG', Geology Student' etc.)

Department / College

University

m:(phone number if desired)

website (if you have one)

Oregon State University is located within the traditional homelands of the Mary's River or Ampinefu Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Please take a moment to reflect on the legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and colonization that have led to our presence here today.


Salary Negotiations (section in progress)

JUST DO IT

yes, I know it's awkward and uncomfortable... but financial security is 150% worth it!!!

Undergrad Research Opportunities

Research experience is primarily valuable if you think you want to go to graduate school! Getting some research experience as an undergraduate student will make you much more marketable to professors looking to bring on a masters/ PhD student. 

When looking for undergraduate research opportunities, consider:

Research Guidelines & Expectations

for positive collaboration between students and research advisors/ faculty


Establishing clear research expectations and guidelines encourages strong project management skills and reduces misunderstandings about individual obligations, deadlines, and project tasks. 

This also creates an inclusive working environment by promoting and valuing clear communication, mutual respect, and diversity of working styles/ perspectives! 

Important topics to consider:

Collaboration in science

Collaboration is the way that much of science is now done! Each person has a stake in some aspect of the work, and each person benefits from the ideas, perspective, and hard work of the others on the project. The research also benefits from the synergies that arise from researchers working together and arriving at more creative and robust interpretations than simply working alone. But collaboration can be frustrating if different people have different expectations. If you were working alone, much of this would not be necessary! However, since you will be working with a research advisor (and likely with other students), you should have a clear understanding from the beginning about expectations and your contributions to the larger team.

Content modified from Barbara Tewksbury, Hamilton College

Software Recommendations

for making scatterplots, drafting figures, and making strat columns

These programs are almost all free and run on almost all operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux)


MagicPlot (plotting software): https://magicplot.com/ (recently started charging students, but have a discounted rate of $19 for a year license) 

Inkscape (drafting software): https://inkscape.org/ 

PSICAT (strat column software): https://cse.umn.edu/csd/psicat (MacOS & Windows only)

Jobs & Internships 

Previously I included job postings here, but now I send them out in blast emails! 

If you would like to be added to my 'listserv' where I send out opportunities please email me at emily.cahoon@oregonstate.edu

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Below are examples of jobs I send out:


Handshake (a job/ internship resource): https://joinhandshake.com/