graduate school

Not-So-Distracted

Published: 5 June 2013
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Ask the PhDs
Tags: graduate school, masters degree, phd, phd after college, phd after undergrad, phd student

My dissertation advisor talks excessively and rarely lets me speak during our individual meetings. He also gets distracted and the conversation goes off topic, often talking about my assistantship/lab work and not my individual paper or research project. I am looking to have more structured and organized meetings with my advisor. How can I take control of the meetings with him being OK with it? What works and does not work? What are PhD students allowed to do (and what would be considered unfair if my advisor said No)? –Not-So-Distracted Dear Not-So-Distracted, I can definitely see where your frustration is coming from. 

Read More

Deciding Masters or PhD

Published: 24 May 2013
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Ask the PhDs
Tags: graduate school, masters degree, phd, phd after college, phd after undergrad, phd student

I am currently trying to decide on whether I should get a Master’s degree prior to my PhD, go to a PhD program that offers an en route Master’s, or go straight into a PhD program from my undergraduate degree. –Deciding Masters or PhD Dear Deciding, This decision is tough for many students to make because they want to earn their chosen degrees as soon as possible, but they want to gain the right kind of education and experience needed in the field after graduating.

Read More

Lost in Publication

Published: 24 April 2013
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Ask the PhDs
Tags: dissertation publication, graduate school, how to publish dissertation, phd student, publish my dissertation

I have recently graduated with my PhD and I want to publish the findings of my dissertation, but I don’t even know where to begin in turning a 300 page dissertation into a 30 page manuscript. –Lost in Publication Dear Lost in Publication, One step that might make things easier is to identify journals that would be a good fit for your research project. You can then begin to model the piece of your dissertation off articles that are currently being published in your field.

Read More

Things They Don’t Teach You in Grad School: Part 1

Published: 5 April 2013
Written by John
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: funny, graduate school, psychology

As graduate students we are taught a lot, and I do mean A LOT! This is often most evident by the 300-500 pages per class per week we are often required to read. Additionally, our education is often a combination of both didactic and experiential learning. While there is a lot that we are taught in grad school, if there is one thing I have learned over my course of…

Read More

New Grad Student? Become a Great Job Candidate Now! Part 1

Published: 16 March 2013
Written by Sara
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: career outcomes, first-year grad student, grad school advice, graduate school, job advice

Perhaps you’re anticipating entering your first year of grad school or maybe you’re just starting your graduate career. There’s a lot to take in during your first couple years, but now is the perfect time to become the superstar job candidate when you graduate. Picture your first day of graduate school. Maybe you planned out what you’re going to wear and you show up to school bright-eyed and ready to soak…

Read More

Preparing for a Skype Interview: 10 Tips for Success

Published: 15 February 2013
Written by Sara
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: graduate school, interviews, private industry

With the economy on the mend, everyone is trying to cut back expenses—including your potential employers and/or graduate committees. Because of this, Skype interviews have become increasingly popular. You’ll want to make sure you present yourself in the best possible light (literally). Here are 10 tips that will ensure you look your best. Practice, practice, practice Like any interview (phone or in-person), anticipate what questions you may get,…

Read More

Advisor Won’t Respond to Your Emails? Avoid Inbox Oblivion with these Seven Tips

Published: 4 February 2013
Written by Amanda
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: advisor email, first-year grad student, grad school advice, graduate school, how do I get my advisor to respond to my emails

Your graduate advisor is a human being (I have scientific evidence to confirm this…in an unpublished manuscript) and as is common for human beings, they tend to avoid things that are difficult or aversive.  Your long, rambling, obsequious, and convoluted emails with statements disguised as questions and vice-versa qualify as both difficult and aversive to address, and so will be avoided.     There are a…

Read More

So You Want to Go to Graduate School?

Published: 31 January 2013
Written by Sara
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school advice, graduate school, preparing for grad school

Going to graduate school has received a bad rap from the people who are in graduate school. If you are an undergraduate who wants to go to grad school or a first-year grad student just starting out, there is no doubt that graduate school is a long-term commitment that involves a lot of hard work. There are plenty of grad school humor websites poking fun at the hopelessness of graduate…

Read More

The Imposter Phenomenon

Published: 11 January 2013
Written by Sara
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: first-year grad student, grad school advice, graduate school

During our graduate orientation, our program director told us, “You may feel like comparing yourself with each other throughout your time here, but let me assure you: compare your success with yourself and no one else. Your success depends on you and you alone.” Even though I remembered this advice, I still found myself comparing myself to others in my program. There always seemed to be the “golden boy” or…

Read More

Sick

Published: 31 December 2012
Written by John
No comments
Categories: blogs
Tags: graduate school

I’m sick…I have the flu.  Okay, well, I don’t anymore, but a week ago I did.  My mind automatically wonders back to a conversation I had a few weeks back with my clinical supervisor… “You know, John, the hospital provides free flu shots for everyone who sees patients here.” “You know, I haven’t had the flu since I was 9 years old; I think I’ll be fine.”…

Read More