academic success presentation
Post on 21-Oct-2014
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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