Students: HAVE A PLAN ! Avoid coming to researchers with willy-nilly attitudes such as "I love animals" (we all do) or "money grows on trees" (it does not). Read the research, and think hard about an interesting question. What are the hypotheses, what are the predictions? What are we learning from the research? Is the experimental design solid? Think about how you are going to collect data and how complex it will be to acquire. Think about how costly it will be to collect and analyse? Read up about your potential advisor: (will she/he be a good advisor? does she/he have the expertise to advise you properly?). Get in touch with previous students, make up your own opinion. Read about the lab and set your expectations. It is important to realise that this is a great line of work, but also one that requires commitment and time. Money is hard to come by, competition is tough and positions are scarce. So be prepared to help look for funding, and know what to expect. Don't be competitive in a territorial way. Get excited and not frustrated by others' research. A proactive, positive and cooperative attitude will go a long way... and you will feel good about yourself too !