A few thoughts on the Ph.D. process

Mark ToddAssociate Dean for Graduate Programs

USC College

Welcome to USC“If Socrates was right that the unexamined life is not

worth living then to be devoted to such a place as this is to have a love affair with life”

Dean Howard Gillman, USC College

Your Journey…

From… To…

USC’s vision for Ph.D. programs

Recruit the best graduate students Help students thrive at USC Provide professionalization

opportunities Expect students to become stewards of

their discipline Expect students to graduate in a timely

manner Position students to land a great job

Ideal Timeline for Ph.D.

Year 1• Take

courses• Get

familiar• Pass

screening exams

Year 2• Take

courses• Look for

an advisor

• Establish Quals. committee

Year 3• Pass

Qualifying Examination

• Establish Diss. committee

• Formulate research

• Begin research

Year 4• Continue

research• Attend

conferences

• Apply for external funding

Year 5• Write

dissertation

• Publish papers

• Defend dissertation

• Interview for job/postdoc

• Graduate

Tips from current students

Based on my observations, the "successful" students have done the following: established a research topic early; worked as a Research Assistant; cultivated relationships outside the department – Edson SOCI

Talk to the other students in your class. The sooner a new student does that the sooner you realize that it is hard for everyone and you are not alone in this – Jessie MATH

Find an advisor that compliments your personality and who you can get along with personally... just because you're interested in the same things academically doesn't mean you will be a good match – Rowan GEOL

Stay on top of things but don't forget to give yourself time off. Just because you're a grad student doesn't mean you can't take the weekend/evening off – Rowan GEOL

When in doubt, ask a senior student in your department – Seth COLT Be humbled by the infinity of knowledge out there, understand that there

will always be more to read, research, and do than can be humanly done, and appreciate the magic of the tiny piece you got, Accept it: We're all idiots! – Sharon ASE

Find a work-life balance

Get Professionalized

You’re doing your future…

Present at important conferencesPublish in good journalsApply for external fundingEnter scholarly competitionsWrite a grantDevelop curricula as a Teaching AssistantDevelop networks with non-USC faculty

Work harder…

Read until your brain hurts, and then read some more.

Ramen. Ramen. Ramen. Girlfriend? I think I had one of those once.... – Seth

COLT

Keep in mind that nobody is impressed with your ability to get by while doing as little as possible.

Given the long time scales of grad school, regular consistent performance will mount up rapidly.

Fun is good. Too much fun is bad.

http://totaldrek.blogspot.com/2007/09/unhelpful-hints.html

Graduate Already!

Commencement ceremony, Alumni Park

Get a Job…

…a good one!

You can too!

Recent Faculty Positions

Yale Harvard Ohio State Kansas Georgia Tech University of

Missouri UC Irvine UC Santa Cruz

Recent Postdoc Positions

Harvard Stanford MIT Brown USC Cambridge (UK) UCLA Cornell

What is a Trojan?

Faithful Scholarly Skillful Courageous Ambitious