Integrated Plant Sciences
Access Preview Week
Our mission is to recruit and retain a diverse workforce within the plant sciences.
Program Overview
This program was started by UGA graduate students affiliated with the Plant Center in 2022. The purpose of the program is to increase the diversity of applicants to the Integrated Plant Sciences program, and to demystify the graduate school application process. This is a free online event open to US domestic students or international students at US Universities who are interested in pursuing graduate school in the plant sciences.
This program offers prospective students guidance on applying to the IPS program. Selected applicants will participate in the following virtual events:
- Individualized application feedback by current IPS Graduate Students
- One-on-one zoom meetings with potential faculty mentors
- A live Q&A session with graduate student panel (via Zoom)
To accommodate as many students as possible, faculty meetings and application feedback will be scheduled based on the student’s availability! Additionally, the live Q&A panel will be based on the availability of the group selected to participate in this program.
Individuals who participate in this program will have their application fee to our graduate school covered for application to the Integrated Plant Sciences Program.
Who should apply?
- Students studying in the U.S. interested in pursuing graduate school in the plant sciences
- Those from marginalized or historically excluded groups
- Those lacking mentorship about graduate school
- Those with barriers to access regarding graduate school
Applicants will be selected based on interest, availability, and need. You will NOT be evaluated based on your level of research experience or traditional academic merit (e.g. GPA, coursework, statement of purpose, CV).
Deadline to apply:
October 23, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Faculty Meetings
Prospective applicants will be able to meet one-on-one with faculty whose research they are interested in. Meetings will be coordinated by the committee.
Graduate Student Panel
Selected applicants will share their availability with the organizers to pin down a date/time for a live Q&A panel with current graduate students via Zoom.
Individualized Application Feedback
Prospective students will submit drafts of their statement of purpose and curriculum vitae and current graduate students will provide individualized feedback on the student’s written materials. Each applicant/graduate mentor pair will meet over Zoom to discuss their application materials and anything else about the application process, IPS, or UGA!
All of our graduate student mentors are provided with the rubric used by the IPS admissions committee and receive a one hour training on best practices for providing writing feedback.
Meet the Team
Questions?
Do not hesitate to reach out with questions at ugaipsaccesspreview@gmail.com.