By Danielle Mac Rae, MSc Student at Concordia University

With the social pressure to continue higher education, young adults are entering graduate degrees in a rush. Before jumping into the first biology lab you can find, in a hurry to start the long and strenuous journey of graduate school, here are some things to consider. 

Do’s

1. Check out the job market in locations you are interested in living. Having a background in biodiversity is broad, but job requirements can be specific to where you are living. 
2. Know the qualifications for entry-to-intermediate level jobs. Higher education doesn’t guarantee a job in biology/biodiversity studies. Requirements like GIS, advanced statistics knowledge, extensive field experience, can all be essential to land a gig. 
3. Talk to current graduate students in the lab you are interested in joining. Learn about their research and their relationships with the supervisor and department.
4. Get involved in extracurricular activities. Building a foundation or support system while in graduate school is essential for survival. Also having extracurricular activities could be helpful when looking for a job someday.

Don’t

1. Rush in. It’s okay to take your time choosing a lab and finding the right fit. It’s important to feel passionate about the research you are going to do, because you’ll be wrapped up in every minute of your life for the next 2-3 years. Taking time off to gain work experience before starting your degree can be extremely valuable, and you may find that having a graduate degree isn’t even necessary (see Do’s 1-2)!
2. Accept a masters position without understanding your prospective supervisors expectations. How much guidance will they provide? Do they have the appropriate amount of funding for you? What are their strengths in regards to biodiversity topics?
3. Expect to breeze through. Take all the free workshops you can, attend the seminars, take courses that will help you establish as a scientist or pertain to your project. 
4. Ignore your mental health. Take breaks, enjoy your evenings and weekends, do your best to create a work-life balance that allows you to decompress. Grad burnout is a real thing.

Biodiversity is a broad topic, from field studies to simulations and beyond. Choosing a project that will keep you motivated and interested will help keep you sane as you sift through the endless databases of articles and data that is now available at our fingertips. As I’m sure you’ve heard it before, networking is a huge part of how you will learn about opportunities in your field. Keep your head up and talk to your labmates, professors, committee members, and other students studying biodiversity topics.