Alex Davies Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory College of Earth, Ocean & Environment A.R. DAVIES.

transcript

Alex DaviesAlex DaviesAir-Sea Interaction Laboratory

College of Earth, Ocean & Environment

A.R. DAVIES

OutlineOutline

• What is the What is the ProcessProcess!?!?

• Is Graduate School Is Graduate School right for meright for me!?!?

• SurvivingSurviving the first year the first year

Thanks to phdcomics.comThanks to phdcomics.com

OUTLINE

OutlineOutline

OUTLINE

What is the Process?What is the Process?

• The process The process alreadyalready began began

• The Dating Game: choosing an advisorThe Dating Game: choosing an advisor

• The application processThe application process

• Visitation Day(s)Visitation Day(s)

• Making the Making the rightright choice for you! choice for you!

THE PROCESSTHE PROCESS

The process already The process already began!began!

• What does the What does the FF in freshman stand in freshman stand for?for?

• Friends? Friends? • Fun? Fun? • Friday Nights?Friday Nights?• Football?Football?• Freedom?Freedom?

• First day of First day of youryour FUTURE!? FUTURE!?

Please, do not panic…Please, do not panic…

THE DATING GAMETHE DATING GAME

How to pick an advisor?How to pick an advisor?

Advisors to watch out for...

THE DATING GAMETHE DATING GAME

• How to choose:How to choose:

• Research InterestResearch Interest• PersonalityPersonality• FundingFunding• CredentialsCredentials• Experience/AgeExperience/Age• Former StudentsFormer Students• Ask aroundAsk around

The Application PacketThe Application Packet

• What is typically needed?What is typically needed?

• GREGRE• TranscriptsTranscripts• Experiences, Experiences, Publications/Presentations, Publications/Presentations, Research, HonorsResearch, Honors

• Personal Statement/Statement of Personal Statement/Statement of PurposePurpose

• Letter(s) of RecommendationLetter(s) of Recommendation

GREGRE

• Practice, Practice, Practice!!!Practice, Practice, Practice!!!» PS: I got PS: I got 10901090..

Personal StatementPersonal Statement

Requesting a LetterRequesting a Letter

• Ask people you know and trustAsk people you know and trust• Always give them an easy “no”Always give them an easy “no”• Reminders, reminders, reminders!Reminders, reminders, reminders!

Visitation DayVisitation Day

• They should cater to They should cater to YOUYOU!!

• It is HARD being talked atIt is HARD being talked at• Act interestedAct interested• Bring CVsBring CVs• Do your research!Do your research!

• Talk to the grad students!!!Talk to the grad students!!!

Visitation Questions:Visitation Questions:

Which is Which is RightRight for for MeMe??

• Advisor/Lab Group are KEY!!Advisor/Lab Group are KEY!!

• Research OpportunitiesResearch Opportunities

• Ask around…Ask around…

• Personal ReasonsPersonal Reasons• Location? Funding? Other?Location? Funding? Other?

Why did I choose Why did I choose UDUD??

• I could combine my research interestsI could combine my research interests

• I liked the work my advisor was doingI liked the work my advisor was doing

• I left comfortable with the faculty and I left comfortable with the faculty and studentsstudents

• It worked out personallyIt worked out personally

OutlineOutline

OUTLINE

IS GRAD SCHOOL FOR IS GRAD SCHOOL FOR ME?ME?

Just an FYI:Just an FYI:

Money aside, I’ll learn Money aside, I’ll learn A LOTA LOT!?!?

You You willwill learn a lot! learn a lot!

• Yes, you will learn a lot! Really!Yes, you will learn a lot! Really!• MastersMasters: : Broader focusBroader focus• PhDPhD: : Narrow focusNarrow focus

• None-science skills:None-science skills:• Data analysisData analysis• Computer programmingComputer programming• Technical writingTechnical writing• Lab experienceLab experience

Is it easier to find a Is it easier to find a job?job?

PhDPhD

Causation or Causation or Correlation!?Correlation!?

Is it worth it?Is it worth it?

• What What exactlyexactly do you want to do? do you want to do?• Maybe a Master’s is perfectMaybe a Master’s is perfect

• Enhance your science and research Enhance your science and research skillsskills

• Independent critical thinkingIndependent critical thinking

• Do you want to challange yourself?Do you want to challange yourself?

• For For meme? ?

YES!YES!

• Why?Why?• I like challenging research I like challenging research questionsquestions

• I want to teachI want to teach• I hope to make a I hope to make a realreal difference difference• It worked for my personal lifeIt worked for my personal life

OutlineOutline

OUTLINE

Welcome to Grad Welcome to Grad School…School…

SURVIVALSURVIVAL

First Semester Keys:First Semester Keys:

SURVIVALSURVIVAL

• Find a study groupFind a study group• And actually study!And actually study!

• Make a schedule or “To Do List”Make a schedule or “To Do List”

• Have one evening/night dedicated to Have one evening/night dedicated to YOU!YOU!

• Learn but also get good gradesLearn but also get good grades• Try to avoid research or teaching!Try to avoid research or teaching!

Typical Timeline:Typical Timeline:

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Typical Week:Typical Week:

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Typical Day:Typical Day:

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You’re a Dork:You’re a Dork:

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The Elevator Talk:The Elevator Talk:

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Survival:Survival:

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Newton’s Keys to Newton’s Keys to SurvivalSurvival

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Thank Thank you!you!

QuestionQuestion

ardavies@udel.eduardavies@udel.edu45

SURVIVALSURVIVAL

Alex Davies Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory College of Earth, Ocean & Environment A.R. DAVIES.

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