Essential first steps in the admissions process. Graduate students in Natural Resources and the Environment enter our research degree programs (MS, PhD) having already identified the faculty member that they will be working with. Therefore, it is essential that all applicants correspond with, and obtain sponsorship from, a faculty advisor during the application process. Applicants will be required to provide their prospective advisor’s name on the application at the time of submission. A faculty member must sponsor and present a student’s application to the admissions committee in order for the student to be considered for admission.
Tips for contacting potential advisors. We recommend exploring potential advisors’ websites to read about their research, interests, publications, and labs. Be sure to check if websites provide information for prospective students and follow their directions for reaching out. You can find out which faculty in our field are considering accepting students for the 2024-2025 academic year at this link. (will be available May 2023)
Note that we often give preference to students who have work experience beyond the bachelor’s degree and to students who have research experience. This is not a hard and fast rule but most of our students have had some experience beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Note that if you have funding (e.g., through an NSF or Fulbright fellowship), you should mention that in your email.
When to start? Contact potential advisors in summer or early fall (for a subsequent fall matriculation date), to have enough time to determine if there is a good fit in terms of research interests between you and your prospective advisor. The most effective means of contacting advisors is generally by email, but please follow directions on the advisor’s website, if provided. There is a sample email structure provided below to assist you in beginning correspondence.
The complete list of field faculty is provided on the Cornell University Graduate School website here: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/field/natural-resources-and-the-environment/
What to say? In your email, briefly introduce yourself and then describe your research interests and why you are interested in working with this advisor. Advisors do not expect you to have a specific research project in mind but rather want to know the kinds of research topics you are interested in and why. The ability to articulate why you are interested in a certain research topic in your own words (i.e., what you find exciting, how your interests have grown from past experience, why that topic is important) is what advisors are looking for.
The length should be two short paragraphs.
You will also want to briefly describe your educational background and past research experiences, if you have them. If you do not have research experience, you can include information on past work or personal experience, especially if it is relevant to your research interests.
If you know your career goals, such as working in government, the nonprofit sector, or as a faculty member, you can include this information as well.
Attach a CV or resume with your email.
Follow-ups? If you do not receive a response, feel free to email the advisor again after two weeks. Do not take it personally if you do not hear back! Advisors can be very busy and your first email may have caught them at a bad time. For your second email, it is fine to resend the first email, adding to the top something like “Dear Dr. ….I am following up to make sure you received my earlier email inquiring about graduate work… “
If, after two emails, you do not get a response, it is probably best to move on, and assume the advisor is not taking students.
Timing. The Field of Natural Resources and the Environment has rolling admissions, but generally uses the following application submission guidelines.
Spring admissions: Submit application by September 30th
Fall admissions, to be considered for university fellowships: Submit by December 31st
Fall admissions, not considered for university fellowships: Submit applications by February 1st.
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Example email to potential advisor.
As an example, you can adopt the following email structure. Make sure, however, to use your own words to describe your research interests, why you are interested in the advisor’s lab, and your background. It is essential that you convey a genuine interest in what you would like to research!
Dear Dr. X,
I write to express my interest in your research and inquire about the availability of PhD positions in your laboratory beginning ___. Currently, I am completing my MS degree at X University, and plan to graduate in ___. [If applicable: I have received a XXX fellowship that will fund three years of my PhD program.]
I am broadly interested in researching ___. My past (related research/work/coursework/personal experience) has involved ___. For my PhD, I would like to study ___.
My research interests in ___ align with your own described interests in ___. I am particularly fascinated by your work on ___ because ___.
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss a PhD opportunity with you by email or over the phone. I have attached my CV, and would be pleased to provide more information upon request. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
X
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