blogs

Note-Taking Methods for Grad Students

Published: 27 March 2015
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: adjusting to grad school, first-year grad student, grad school advice, note-taking, Rene Paulson

Graduate school can be overwhelming, as most of you already know.  There are classes and seminars to attend, research to do, labs to complete, exams to study for, and comps to take.  I’m sure if there was something that could make your routine easier, you’d be up for it, right?  Well, here’s your chance to simplify your life, if only just a little bit, by learning which method of…

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Looking for Jobs in Graduate School

Published: 11 March 2015
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: academic jobs, career fairs, graduate employment, graduate school, networking, Rene Paulson

Wherever you are in your grad school process, it can be nerve-wracking to think of future plans. Are you going to be able to get your dream job, or will you have to settle for something less until you get your foot in the door? Or do you already have your foot in the door, but you’re unsure about what exactly you want to do the rest…

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Responding to Your Graduate Advisor’s Negative Feedback

Published: 27 February 2015
Written by Sara
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Categories: blogs
Tags: advisor email, depressed, grad school advice, graduate school, research

Sent a draft to your advisor and got it back dripping with red ink? Does it mean that you should quit? Not at all! How, then, should you handle negative feedback from your advisor? Don’t take it personally. If your advisor is highly critical of your work, you should not take the criticism as an attack on your academic aptitude, intelligence, or abilities. It’s not like your advisor is…

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Should You Stay Or Should You Go? Academia vs. Real World

Published: 23 February 2015
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: academic jobs, graduation, job advice, professional development, Rene Paulson, teaching

Making the decision to either stay in academia or venture out into the real world is a big one, to say the least.  There are so many variants to think about in this decision, but I’ll go over a couple that you should carefully consider. However, I’d like to first point out that post-academia is still part of the “real world,” so I hope no one takes offense…

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Should You Encourage Students to BYOD?

Published: 13 February 2015
Written by Sara
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school advice, smartphone, student interactions, teaching

Teaching has changed dramatically with the advent of the smart phone. Perhaps you actively encourage students to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), or maybe you’ve given up on trying to police students’ behavior in the classroom. Either way, your educational goals may ultimately be tempered by this one course policy. Problems with BYOD Some college professors have long battled the use of cell phones or other electronic devices in…

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Best Grad Apps to Get Organized

Published: 12 February 2015
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: apps, grad apps, organization, planning, Rene Paulson, smartphone

Grad students have so many things going on at the same time: school, work, family, and friends.  I definitely remember those times of feeling like I would never be able to catch up and get organized, so I wanted to see how some apps might help alleviate some procrastination and disorganization.  With all these handy mobile apps and tools right at our disposal, we have plenty of ways to…

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Grad School Probs? Use Personality Differences to Your Advantage

Published: 30 January 2015
Written by Sara
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school advice, graduate school, personal connections, psychology, student interactions

There is no question that you will need to work with others in order to be successful in grad school. If you know a little bit about personality theory, you will not only be able to predict how people will react in various situations, but you will also be able to use your own personality tendencies to increase productivity. Before you run a personality assessment on yourself or your advisor,…

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Best Financial Apps for Grad Students

Published: 26 January 2015
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: apps, finances, financial apps, grad apps, graduate school, Rene Paulson

With tuition, housing, groceries, and gas costs, it’s no secret that grad students have money struggles.  One of the keys to staying above water financially is being educated and knowing how much money you have at a particular time.  If you use these apps well, they’ll help you figure out how much money you spend and where via budgets and other tools.  Each of the following…

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A Pep Talk to the Overworked Grad Student

Published: 16 January 2015
Written by Sara
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Categories: blogs
Tags: adjusting to grad school, avoid burnout, first-year grad student, grad school advice, graduate school

Feel like your advisor is working you into the ground? Perhaps you have come to the conclusion that graduate programs have complete disregard for their students’ personal lives and that they intentionally and ruthlessly work their students like slaves. I won’t attempt to deny these accusations, but I do believe in seeing the bright side to any unfortunate situation. Below I’ve outlined a little pep talk to encourage you on…

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Educational Apps for Grad Students

Published: 15 January 2015
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: apps, educational apps, grad apps, grad school advice, Rene Paulson, smartphone

Sometimes, graduate students want to learn something new and step back from the monotony of their field of study.  Apps like the ones I will discuss can provide opportunities for you to learn something new in an environment that is conducive to your lifestyle. You might recognize the following apps from previous school subjects (or present, in case you see your own major here), but don’t let this…

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