How to get admitted into a graduate program in forestry
So you have an interest in the forestry profession and are considering a graduate degree. There are a number of benefits and rewards for pursuing a graduate degree but also a lot of complexities. Admissions in graduate programs are very different compared to undergraduate programs. Maybe you’re the first in your family to pursue a graduate degree or want to know more about how the graduate application process works.
There are of course financial benefits to a graduate degree. Although accurate data are hard to find for the forestry profession, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that graduates with Master’s degrees earn a median of $228 more every week compared to those with Bachelor’s degrees. For those with PhD degrees, median weekly earnings are $570 more compared to graduates with only Bachelor’s degrees.
Those with graduate degrees also see lower rates of unemployment. One of the reasons that factored into my own decision to start a PhD program in 2009 was that there was not an ideal job market during the Great Recession. (Maybe that’s familiar to you from the COVID-19 pandemic.) In my own graduate program at the University of Minnesota, our highest enrollment in our graduate program was in 2010, immediately following the Great Recession.
There are certainly financial advantages to a graduate degree. But before applying to a graduate program, ask yourself if an advanced degree is what you want to do. I discourage you from committing the next two to five years of your life until you have enough evidence to know with near certainty that the skills you obtain in a graduate program will be rewarded in your career. Gather that evidence by talking with your current and past professors and professionals in your area.
Do not be hesitant in reaching out to others. Most graduate program alums have pride about the universities and programs they participated in and are excited when others ask them to share their experiences. The ability that you can narrow down the specific job title and role you are aiming for, the easier it will be to make a decision to apply to a graduate program.
The different kinds of graduate degree programs in forestry
While the Society of American Foresters lists over 50 undergraduate degree programs in its accredited degree program, only nine programs are accredited for Master’s degrees. These graduate degrees have names such as “Master of Forestry (MF)” and “Master of Natural Resources (MNR)”. These types of Master’s programs typically consist of coursework and are often linked with an undergraduate program, i.e., a student could receive an undergraduate and MF degree in forestry in five years. These programs are also appealing to students with degrees in other fields and want to do a career change to forestry. Writing a thesis is not always required in these programs. These programs can typically be completed in one to two years.
The other type is Master’s degree in forestry is the Master of Science (MS). These programs are not typically accredited from organizations like SAF because they are variable in terms of required coursework for a student. These MS programs also typically require a thesis or other significant document to be written to fulfill the requirements of the degree. An MS student will typically spend the first year taking courses and the second year working on a research project. The median number of years to completion for an MS student at my institution is 2.4 years.
A PhD is the research degree for a forester. Students that complete a PhD in forestry can obtain positions as researchers in industry, government agencies, and nonprofits, or can be prepared for faculty positions at colleges and universities. The dissertation and peer-reviewed research papers a PhD student writes are the ultimate measures of success for the degree. A PhD student will typically spend the first year or two taking courses and the following years working on their research project. The median number of years to completion for a PhD student at my institution in 4.9 years.
In forestry, most students entering a PhD program will already have an MS degree. Although not required, the research component of an MS degree can provide you the experience to decide whether or not you want to invest in a PhD program.
Your graduate program application
An application for a graduate program in forestry typically consists of four components: transcripts of past academic work, letters of reference (typically three), a written personal statement, and results from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Application costs generally range between $50 and $100 dollars depending on the program and are typically due in December or January for enrollment in the following fall semester.
Transcripts are an indication of past academic performance and are usually weighed heavily by your prospective faculty member. Usually unofficial transcripts will suffice for the review of your application, but official transcripts will typically need to be sent to the graduate school office prior to being admitted.
Letters of reference are essential for most job applications, and they have an important role in graduate school applications too. These letters are what I place the highest priority on when reviewing a student’s application. I encourage students to be diverse in terms of who writes them. That is, obtain a mix of letters from both past professors and work supervisors that can speak to your work ethic and experiences.
The personal statement gives you the opportunity to expand on your interest in a graduate program. It also allows you to describe your past experiences and highlight any perceived weaknesses in your application (e.g., “I received a C-minus in statistics because I was going through some personal challenges that semester.”) Important components include:
- Stating your career objectives (both short- and long-term),
- Highlighting your experiences in teaching and research, and
- Indicating which faculty members you are most interested in working with.
Some programs also require a statement of diversity in the graduate application. I have read several powerful statements from prospective students that have emphasized how this has shaped them as a human. One was from a foster child that questioned whether she belonged in academia based on her past experiences. Another was from a student who described how his faith and relationship with his church inspired him to be a steward of the forest.
There has been a national trend in removing the requirement of the GRE scores as a part of a graduate student’s application, so it’s best to check with the program you’re interested in. If it’s required, the best way to prepare is to take lots of practice exams. Non-native speakers of English are also likely to be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, or an equivalent.
Connect with faculty first
While having all of the components of your application is essential, one of the lesser known secrets is that if you make a connection with a faculty member first, it will likely increase your odds of being accepted in a graduate program. Including which faculty members you’re interested in working with in your personal statement indicates you’ve already considered the program in depth.
Finding a faculty member you’re interested in working with ahead of time can also allow you to learn about opportunities with research or teaching assistantships. These opportunities often focus on needs that faculty members have for specific research projects or teaching needs. At my own institution, graduate research and teaching assistants typically work for 20 hours/week, are paid around $22/hour, and oftent have their graduate tuition fees waived.
Highlight your soft skills, too
Getting A’s in all of your undergraduate classes will certainly make your graduate application appealing. I have never seen this in a prospective student’s application, but you might expect a straight “A” student would have attained a level of technical expertise fitting for a graduate program.
Employers have increasingly expressed their value in workers that are able to showcase their soft skills, those non-technical skills that reflect how you work in the workplace. The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities conducted a survey in 2018–2019 and identified critical growth areas for students transitioning to the workforce. In the Employability Skills in Agriculture & Natural Resources survey, employers and faculty ranked several critical growth areas highly, including:
- Recognizing and dealing constructively with conflict,
- Listening effectively, and
- Communicating accurately and concisely.
While soft skills are less “quantifiable” than technical expertise, you can highlight your experiences in these areas as you begin to talk about graduate programs with faculty. Find ways to mention examples of these soft skills in your personal statement within your graduate application. Technical skills will come across in your resume and transcripts and there is no need to repeat these in your personal statement. Providing examples and your experiences with soft skills will make for a more complete application.
Faculty, like employers, value students that have both technical expertise and soft skills. Deciding to enroll as a graduate student often involves joining a lab with a faculty member with other graduate students and researchers. The ability that you show your experience in working with others and navigating workplace culture is not just attractive to employers, but faculty, too.
My own experiences as a graduate student challenged me and prepared me for a rewarding career in academia. Any decision to apply and enroll in a graduate program should not be made on a whim, but after careful thought and commitment, your experience as a graduate student can reward you personally and shape your forestry career.
—
Matt Russell is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Forest Resources and the Director of Graduate Studies, Natural Resources Science and Management at the University of Minnesota.
