How do I enjoy and succeed in grad school?
From Anita Borg Institute Wiki
Contents |
Blog Entries
Charna's Blog: Speaker Profiles
Session Notes
Speakers: Elizabeth Mynatt Ga Tech Erika Poole Penn State Jane Prey Microsoft Research
PhD Student Timeline
Interesting but almost always the same (with some variation). Your advisor is critical, start thinking of them the day you walk in. Don't wait till you finish your class work. Yrs 2-4 are the hardest years, you need to find direction. Be mindful of exams. Work with good groups. Encountering rejection its not personal.
During the last mile, it should be easier to get things published. Your Advisor should be able to give you things and you finish them with out explaination.
Its not to early to put in your resume for positions at any level... undergrad, or grad any level.
Observations
Demands come in waves, and all three waves peak at the same time. (life school work etc) Understand your goals and you insecurities, they are not unique. It's normal and its O.K. to be insecure. How to manage time, I am going to do it or im not going to do it, not i should do it. IT IS OK to say NO. Erase "I Should" from your vocabulary.
Goals and Expectations:
Some problems are self inflicted. When you start it is understandable to be scared out of your mind. Do you fault babies for not being able to walk immediately? Nobody expects you to be the best. Know why you are here even if you came for another reason be sure to understand your current reason. Know when things are getting different not better. Play with the fonts for 5 hours, but why? If you are a super perfectionest try doing something 50% Learn to enjoy the process. Savor what it is. Appreciate your achievements. Celevrate it with your dogs. Make sure your goals are achieveable Baby steps and that they match your
Managing Insecurities
For two years of teaching she got sick before every class. The first thing to realize is we all have it one way or another. All of us are bedeviled by their insecurities. Its normal.
FIND your insecurity buddy (person or pet) what is your ritual, power music, secret sauce. Find very trusted people. Who you can comfortably say I'm really having trouble today. Kitchen Cabinet. It stays in Vegas. Talk about whats really going on.
Treasure your accomplishments. Treasure notes, keep your good file. Especially when they go back to your core values keep it in front of you.
Imposter Syndrome it doesn't naturally go away, there is this vision that some point you will be an adult and things will be clear etc but in your 30s you realize there is no magic switch.
When you take something extremely personally. American indian culture what are the 7 normal reasons that this could be happening. When full of righteous anger check this 7 reasons.
Be organized!!!!
Beware fake productive moments such as "I will delete all my email, organize kitchen, oh my gosh the semester is over... oops I was watching tv."
Calenders and todo lists are your friends!! Stick with them and review regularly. Put in special times . Use the morning people time. Think about your times. Figure out the rhythms of your lab. Sometimes we're just too nice. Find a place that is away from your lab where you do really good productive work. (Starbucks call this the third place). Write about why you are stuck for 10 minutes then go on about your day.
keep a list of your crazy ideas. at the time they look like disconnected points in space. comeback in two years.
Recommended reading "getting things done david allen, "finis you dissertation once and for all allison miller.
Time management
Find a NO buddy, renegotiate unmanageable commitments, be honest. "crucial confrontations" Work with people who are getting things done. identify your guiding principles.
Homework
Write down the three most important things in your life and put it in your wallet! ()()*(*)(*)
Slides will be posted online.
