Resources for undergraduates

For an amazing and thorough resource, particularly for non-academic jobs, check out GROW (Geoscience Resources on Opportunities in the Workforce).

I’m not sure what I want to do, but an internship seems like a good way to test the waters…

And there are lots of options!

Jobs, how do I…???

Facing family at holidays with the dreaded ‘so what are you doing next?’ Yup, been there. Here are some resources if you are thinking about getting out into the workforce. Also, check in with GSA GeoCareers site to hear about webinars and job opportunities:

  • What kind of job can I get? I am most familiar with environmental consulting, which is where you are likely to go if you are interested in geomorphology. Under this route, you can work for federal, state, or county agencies, such as Departments of Transportation (every time a bridge or culvert is put in, a geomorphologist has to assess river/stream stability and flood size) and the US Geological Survey. There are also many private consulting firms that provide services such as:
    • landslide hazard analysis before building permits can be issued,
    • groundwater contamination monitoring and remediation,
    • streambank stabilization,
    • development of riparian corridors across freeways (sounds silly for a geomorphologist, but this is the project that got me into this field!);
    • geotechnical investigations.
    • For a broader list, consider this great infographic from The American Geosciences Institute that includes jobs outside of the science sector where the skills you’ve gained in your degree will transfer.
    • A really great resource on careers in geoscience can also be found on the PROGRESS page with a handy list of jobs and degree requirements.
  • How can I prepare for a geoscience job? 
    • American Geoscience Institute has a set of Career Compasses showing the skills, experiences, and competencies helpful to launching your career. Note that these graphics extend through a PhD; however, you do not need to complete a PhD or even a Masters to launch your career.
    • While at CC, consider applying for a Witter Internship through the Geology Department (call will go out at the Winter Major’s Meeting). These internships are intended to develop career skills that can help you find an industry job, and include partners such as the US Geological Survey, Los Alamos National Lab, and local consulting firms.
  • Do you need to be licensed? In many states, practicing geologists need to be licensed through the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG). This is a two-stage process with a fundamentals exam (relevant after your coursework) and a practicals exam (after you’ve held the job for 5 years). If you live or are interested in working in a state that requires the ASBOG, you will want to look into taking the fundamentals. I took this exam after my undergrad, and am happy to provide pointers.
  • Resume and cover letter. Unlike academic jobs (aka everything I know), industry uses a resume and cover letter with different objectives.

Interested in applying to graduate school?

Whether you are my advisee or not, I am always happy to talk to you about graduate school – how you know whether you want to go, where to go, and how to prepare and apply.

Important things to note:

  • How do I prepare for graduate school while in undergrad? Take advantage of the research and coursework opportunities while at CC! These include:
    • Senior thesis or project with a faculty member. Get in contact the winter or early spring of your junior year. We will also put out a call for research opportunities at the Winter Majors Meeting. While having undergraduate research experience is not required for graduate school, it will help a lot in showing future advisors that you can carry out a project. Sharing your research at national meetings is also a good way to meet potential advisors.
    • External summer research internships
      • Keck Gateway Program. If you are just starting college, and maybe have one geology class under your belt but want to learn more about geology, then this is a great summer program. It is paid, and includes an opportunity to present at a national conference.
      • Keck Advanced Program. For rising juniors and seniors. A paid summer research experience that includes presentation at a national conference.
      • NSF REU Program. Research Experience for Undergraduates, typically at large research institutions (compared to Keck, which is hosted by small liberal arts colleges). This is also paid, with opportunities to present at national conferences. Projects for lower and upper level undergraduates.
    • Structure your coursework! Many graduate programs have unique requirements.
      • Besides the courses you need to graduate, consider taking Calculus 2 (MA129), the second Physics series (PC142 or 242), and General Chem 2 (CH108).
      • Some schools will require a field camp. Our Regional Studies (GY445) is our equivalent of a field camp, so consider taking this.
  • The GRE is required at many institutions to apply; however, with COVID-19 and a rush of what is oddly called ‘GRExit’ (hopefully this isn’t the disaster Brexit is…), many school are now going GRE-free. You can find an updated list of those schools here.
  • How do I apply to graduate school?
    • Step 1 (One year before start date): Contact your potential MS/PhD advisor. Unlike undergraduate admissions, your acceptance is up to your advisor, not the school. This can be daunting to cold-call professors – I (and everyone in the department) is happy to work with you on drafting emails and facilitating introductions at conferences.
      • Brian Romans, at Virginia Tech, has crafted a good do’s and don’t’s for contacting grad school advisors (from the perspective of someone who receives lots of those emails).
      • Some faculty may ask for a CV or curriculum vitae. Likely you haven’t drafted one before (and it differs from the resume you would use for non-academic jobs). Here is a good guide for how to create this document.
    • Step 2 (Fall/winter before start date): Apply! Each school will have its own admission process, but most include a personal statement.
      • Recommendations: Your faculty at CC, any internship/job supervisors will be happy to provide letters of recommendations. Please give at least three weeks of notice, and always ask first – this ensures you get a willing recommendation and a well-thought out letter.
      • Personal statement or Statement of purpose: These can vary by department, and may include prompts. These can also be a good opportunity to talk about any setbacks or bad grades.
        • In doing so, be honest. Don’t blame the teacher. Many times, programs are looking for signs of growth – getting a graduate degree is challenging, and signs that you have met adversity and been able to overcome it (or otherwise deal with it), will help your application.
      • Application Fee: Each school has one, but many offer fee waivers. Always check to see if you are eligible for a fee waiver.
  • I’m accepted to schools, now what? Once you are accepted, graduate schools host ‘open houses’ where you are flown out to meet with other prospective graduate students, faculty advisors, and current graduate students. This is a good way to gauge the ‘fit’ of the school, and is a must-do (if you miss the official open house window, still try to get your potential advisor to fly you out for an informal open house).
    • Look for more than just the science advisor – are the other grad students happy? Is your future advisor willing to help you achieve non-academic career goals (many PhDs go on to jobs outside of universities)? Will you be the only graduate student, or is there a reasonably-sized lab with fellow grad students to support you? What is the scientific support network? If your relationship with your advisor sours (not that you should expect this, but it happens), do you have other faculty who can help you?
    • What is the financial support system? Are you guaranteed funding for the full time you are there? Is it an RA or a TA? While teaching assistantships can be extremely rewarding, they also take up a lot more of your time and don’t come with money to fund your research. You may end up spending a lot of time writing small grants to fund your project. **Note: this is what I did. But I went in to grad school knowing that I wanted to push myself into that role – it was not a role that fit my other labmates and I saw many of them struggle and leave as a result.
    • What is the role of graduate students in your future department/school/university? You will be there for a while (5-7 years if a PhD) and will provide mentorship to years of undergraduates in your lab and classroom, and often will shoulder most of the diversity work, in addition to being paid close to minimum wage. Is that commitment reflected in the representation and power of the graduate student body? Do you have a voice in the department – representatives on committees? Are the graduate students unionized across the college/university?
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