Category Archives: Wellbeing

Navigating the Graduate School Admissions Process: Tips and Strategies for Success

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Graduate school can be a great opportunity to further your education and pursue your passions, but the admissions process can be intimidating. There are many factors that go into a successful application, and it can be difficult to know where to start. In this article, we will discuss some tips and strategies for navigating the graduate school admissions process and increasing your chances of being accepted.

Do your research

First, it is important to carefully research and choose the right graduate program for you. Look for programs that align with your academic and career goals, and consider factors such as location, cost, and program reputation. It can also be helpful to speak with current students or alumni to get a sense of what the program, teaching staff, and institution are like.

Check you qualify

Once you have identified a few programs that interest you, make sure you meet the admissions requirements. This includes having a strong academic background, with acceptable grades and test scores. Many programs also require letters of recommendation, so start thinking early on in the process about who you will ask. Additionally, a personal statement or writing sample might be required; these will probably go through several drafts, plus a proofreading stage, so it is important to start working on these materials as soon as possible.

Get organized

This will be a lengthy process, with many moving parts, so it’s vital to be organized. For example, consider creating a calendar or timeline to keep track of deadlines and to-do items, along with a checklist of each stage, its components and required materials. It can also be helpful to keep all of your application materials in one place, so you can easily access them when needed.

Complete your application—carefully

When filling out your application, pay attention to the details. Make sure to complete all necessary forms and include all required materials, such as transcripts and test scores, and don’t include anything that hasn’t been expressly requested. A checklist can again be helpful here to ensure you haven’t overlooked anything. It is also a good idea to have someone proofread your entire application to catch any mistakes or typos.

In addition to your application materials, the admissions committee will consider your extracurricular activities and work experience. Be sure to highlight any relevant experiences, such as internships or volunteer work, and consider how they have prepared you for graduate school.

Prep for the interview

Another important factor in the admissions process is the interview. This can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it is also an opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and why you are a strong candidate. Be prepared to talk about your academic and professional goals, as well as your relevant experience and personal interests. It’s also a good idea to create a list of questions to ask the interviewer, since this shows that you are engaged and interested in the program.

For more information on the topic, check out the following websites:

https://hireacane.miami.edu/options/grad-programs/index.html
https://www.gradschools.com/
https://www.princetonreview.com/grad-school-advice

Making the Transition: How to Move from PhD to Professor

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Academics are used to hearing horror stories about their career prospects: that the job market is oversaturated, that the majority of available roles are adjunct positions, that only one in five PhD graduates will actually end up working as university professors. But what distinguishes a successful from a failed academic? And how can you set yourself apart from other qualified applicants and land that coveted position?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee success in this field, and different studies have reported conflicting results. That being said, you can safely bet that having a number of first-author publications under your belt, as well as a strong teaching and research record, will be a major help when it comes to getting the job.

The good news is that once you receive that first faculty job offer, it becomes much easier to get hired again. With that in mind, read on for some insights into landing that first position.

“Publish or perish”

It’s true what they say––one of the most consistent indicators of career success is a robust portfolio of published academic work. While many PhD candidates struggle to publish while working on their dissertation, it’s imperative to do it now, rather than wait. According to an article in The Conversation, the number of publications you rack up before graduating has proven a better predictor of your career success than even the prestige of your institution.

Write clearly and simply

Nothing demonstrates a lack of professionalism like typos and grammatical mistakes. Be sure to closely edit your documents for the “three C’s”: correctness, clarity, and consistency. Ask trusted peers or your supervisor to look over your written materials and point out any errors, flawed logic, or weak wording. Utilizing a professional copy-editing service can be a wise investment here, since even the most seasoned writer can become blind to their own language mistakes or inconsistencies.

On that note, be sure also to write as simply and clearly as possible. Many academics believe that the search committee will be experts in their field, but this isn’t necessarily true. When possible, avoid jargon and always keep your work easy to understand. Don’t muddle your meaning for the sake of sounding more “academic”—in fact, the best way to show off your writing chops is by using simple, concise language.

Know why you’re the right candidate  

This goes beyond having an impressive CV and well-written application documents. Hiring decisions are often based on whether you’re a “good fit” for a particular role and for the institution more broadly. So do your research: know what they’re looking for––whether a particular line of research, or a skilled teacher with a strong personality––and be ready to convince them that you’re the person who can offer it to them.

Ultimately, remember that they’re not hiring out of the goodness of their hearts. This is about their needs, not your interests.

Get comfortable with rejection

Perhaps your application package was stellar and the position was seemingly tailor-made for you. The hard truth is that you still might not get the job. Academia is a competitive field, and there are plenty of other overqualified candidates vying for every open position. You’ll need to get comfortable with rejection and continue to vouch for your abilities regardless. After all, being rejected doesn’t mean you’re not qualified––it’s a normal part of the academic journey!

 

If you’re getting tired of rejections, however, you might consider taking on a post-doc position. This will help you make some money in your field while you wait for a professorial gig to pan out. Plus, it will strengthen your CV and sharpen your research skills.

Tips for Achieving a Healthy Work–Life Balance in Academia

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Like many do-what-you-love industries, academia leaves little room for free time. Between preparing lectures, teaching, researching, grading, emailing, writing, networking, and presenting at conferences, many academics feel lucky if they get a single afternoon off each week.

Things are even worse for part-time or adjunct academics, who may feel pressured into taking on more work than they can manage, and for female academics and people of color, who are often saddled with extra mental and emotional labour, such as planning office parties or leading unpaid diversity workshops.

Some of this is due to a toxic “workaholic” culture, in which academics take pride in being overworked and burnt out. However, many academics simply don’t have much agency over their predicament and feel forced to work themselves to the point of exhaustion just to keep the hope of a tenure track position somewhere on the horizon. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that a whopping 70 percent of U.S. academics regularly feel stressed and fatigued, according to a 2020 study by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Plus, this trend has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which introduced a whole new dimension of anxiety into academics’ lives.

As remote work becomes the norm and boundaries between the home and the office collapse, it’s become harder than ever to maintain a healthy work–life balance. However, academics can still cultivate fulfilling personal lives alongside their professional ones. Read on for some tips on how to achieve a healthy work–life balance in academia.

Say “no” as often as you can

Of course, many of your academic duties can’t be avoided––but some can. Take stock of which of your tasks are negotiable and consider saying “no” to these extra requests the next time they come up. This could mean choosing not to revise a paper for publication or give a talk at an upcoming conference.

Not sure which tasks to cut? Start with getting rid of tasks that seem small and easy. The key word here is “seem,” since in academia few tasks are truly as simple as they appear. These tasks tend to consume more of your time and mental resources than you accounted for––and, more often than not, they go uncompensated and underappreciated.

Only work the hours you’re paid for

Many academics report the feeling of “never quite being done” working. This is partly due to their flexible schedules, which can feel like more of a curse than a blessing when their work hours start bleeding into evenings and weekends.

A downside of flexibility is that you don’t have a set time when you log off and go home––so you might find yourself chipping away at a project well into the evening. This is especially true when you’re heavily invested in the end product, which you likely are when you’re working on your own research.

Instead, treat your schedule the same way a benevolent employer would: hold yourself to it, while allowing for moderate flexibility when other things come up. Start work when you say you’re going to––and end work according to this philosophy, too.

Take time to rest

Contrary to popular belief, taking breaks isn’t a sign of laziness¬¬––quite the opposite. In fact, taking time to rest could actually help you get more work done. Studies have shown that rest, including getting enough sleep and taking time for breaks, makes people more productive.

That being said, it’s important to rest in ways that will leave you feeling energized and ready to do more work. Scrolling through social media for half an hour, for example, might leave you feeling distracted and depleted, rather than ready to tackle a new task. Taking a walk, on the other hand, promotes creativity and divergent thinking, according to a Stanford University study.

In a Harvard Business Publishing article, Exequiel Hernandez urges academics to “maximize insight, not time.” Hernandez argues that instead of squeezing work into every spare second, which will likely lead to rushed, subpar results, academics should set aside blocks of time for focused, fruitful work. Basically, don’t work more––work better.

Cultivate hobbies outside of work

Finally, while academics are lucky to be doing what they love, it doesn’t mean that they can’t love other things, too. It’s important to take time to engage in leisure activities that have nothing to do with your professional life (which means that reading the latest academic articles in your field of study probably doesn’t count!).

Need another reason? Studies have found that having hobbies can lead to better performance on the job, too.

5 Alternative Academic (“Alt-Ac”) Careers for PhD Graduates

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Every year, colleges churn out far more PhD graduates than can possibly replace retiring professors. It should thus come as no surprise that only a small percentage of PhD graduates land coveted tenure-track positions. In fact, according to the National Science Foundation, less than 17% of PhD candidates in the sciences manage to obtain tenure-track jobs within three years of graduation (this might seem like a tight timeline, but most people can’t afford to job-hunt indefinitely).

This situation is exacerbated by the prevalence of precarious and part-time work in academia. Roughly 50% of all faculty teaching positions are now part-time, as tenured professors are rapidly being replaced with sessional lecturers or adjuncts, and over 70% of academic appointments are non-tenure track. Yet, despite this marked decline in available tenure-track positions, the number of PhD graduates continues to rise each year, making stable academic jobs extremely difficult to land.

In response, many PhD graduates are turning to alternative academic, or “alt-ac,” jobs. Below, we’ve collated a list of five possible alt-ac pathways for graduates, all of which offer highly skilled, stable job opportunities that might just beat sticking to academia.

1. High school teacher

Teaching high school students can be a fun, rewarding, and challenging job. Plus, as a PhD graduate you’re already a trained teacher: your work as a teaching assistant has prepared you for lecturing on difficult material, explaining concepts clearly and patiently, marking coursework, and offering students feedback and support. You’re also at an advantage for finding employment, since you’re an expert in your field—especially if you earned your PhD in a core high school subject like math, history, or English.

2. Academic publishing

Chances are that if you’ve graduated from a PhD program, you’ve had several papers published. You’re thus likely familiar with the academic publishing world and well-versed in the conventions of your field, including jargon, citations, reference lists, and peer review processes. This makes you a great candidate for a job at an academic publishing house or scholarly journal, especially if you enjoyed the writing and editing side of your dissertation.

3. Non-profit organization (NPO)

NPOs tend to look favourably on high levels of education, especially for research- or communication-related roles. Not only do PhD graduates excel in this kind of work, but many also love it: NPOs offer plenty of new learning opportunities, along with career mobility and the chance to work with interesting people from diverse professional backgrounds.

4. Government jobs

As it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a stable job with health insurance and a pension plan, the competition for government jobs has grown fiercer than ever. Fortunately for you, government employers often look for candidates with impressive academic backgrounds. Moreover, communication, research, and data analysis skills are invaluable for a career in policy-making—and are skills that every PhD graduate likely possesses.

5. Academic administration

Even if you don’t want the pressure of working in academia, you may still crave an academic environment. With a job in academic administration, you get the best of both worlds: a stable career, but without having to leave campus.

Further resources 

While this is not a comprehensive list of possible alt-ac career paths, these suggestions can be treated as jumping-off points for further exploration. It’s best to tailor your alt-ac job search to your specific area of expertise, and there are several tools that can help you narrow down your options. For more information, check out alt-ac blogs such as VersatilePhD or Alt-Academy or read some of the useful books available on this subject.

 

Take a Better Break: How to Boost Your Writing Productivity Using Breaks

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We talked about the Pomodoro Method of writing—which is a strategy combining 25-minute increments of focused writing with five-minute breaks—in another post. But what exactly should you do during writing or study breaks to maximize your productivity once you’re back behind the keyboard?

Take a moment to reflect on what a typical break from writing looks like for you. Do you chat with your colleagues or friends? Do you browse social media? Maybe you take a short walk. Ultimately, a productive break from writing is likely to look different for different people. However, new findings about the science of recovery suggest some rules of thumb to increase your chances of feeling replenished and ready to write after your breaks. Below, we explore three science-backed tips for taking a better break.

Spend a Moment in Nature

Studies show that taking some time outside may be more restorative than taking a break indoors. The reason for this is related to the effect of the natural environment on our attentional capacity. Findings indicate that when we spend time in nature, we tend to subconsciously focus on features of the environment, such as the calls of birds, the chill of the wind, or the sounds of rustling trees. This soft, nondeliberate focus allows your conscious attention to rest, meaning that once you return to the computer you’ll be better able to mobilize your attention and focus on your work.1 Additionally, getting some physical distance from your work will help you to psychologically detach and truly relax during your break.2

Even if you can’t physically get outside, studies show that just gazing upon natural scenery through a window is sufficient to rest your attentional capacity.3

Do Something Nonwordy

Be sure not to spend too much time during your break engaging in “wordy” activities, such as reading articles or responding to messages. These activities use the same language-processing parts of your brain that writing does, and may continue to draw on the same cognitive resources you need to get your work done.4

Instead, try something you enjoy that is “nonwordy,” such as light stretching or a short game on your smartphone.

Let Your Mind Wander

Stuck on your next paragraph? Take a few minutes to let your mind wander during your writing break. Findings from creativity research suggest that intentionally disengaging from problems and taking a moment to daydream can be an effective way to have those much-needed “a-hah!” moments. This is because our brains unconsciously work through problems when we’re not consciously thinking about them.5

To make this type of break work for you, physically distance yourself from your work for a few minutes and take that time to daydream about whatever comes to mind. The ideas will come flowing in no time.

Ready to be a more productive writer? Commit to testing out one of these tips today and see how your productivity improves!

How to Improve your Writing: Tips and Resolutions for the New Year

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The new year is almost here (!), and that means it’s time again to set resolutions and goals. With a clean slate, you can focus on revamping your writing routine for 2020. Below are a few ideas to help get the new year off to a flying start and realize your writing potential.

Set Realistic Goals for the Upcoming Year

Think about what you want to accomplish in terms of your writing in 2020. Is it to redraft a rejected paper that’s fallen to the wayside? To turn in your work well before the deadline? To finally start a project that you’ve been itching to get into? Whatever your goals, keep them focused and realistic so that they are easier to reach and feel less overwhelming. You might also find it useful to create a writing calendar to figure out what time of the day you work best, to get a writing accountability buddy to help you stay on track, or to use apps and online tools to stay organized and focused.

Incorporate Reading into Your Routine

While writing is an important part of any academic career, most people don’t realize how vital reading is if you want to write well. This new year, consider incorporating more reading into your daily routine. Reading is a great way to broaden your knowledge and skills and to hone your craft by absorbing others’ techniques. Whether it’s a journal a week or a few papers a month, setting quantifiable goals will make it easier to start reading in the new year.

Refill the Well

Another great resolution is to remember to take breaks and engage in self-care practices during your writing sessions. Taking breaks, especially when you’re working on longer projects, can help you refresh your mind and avoid writer’s block. Whether it’s a walk around the park, a yoga class, a long bath, or a cup of coffee, refilling the well is an important part of any routine.

Spend Time on Revision and Proofreading

Brainstorming and sitting down to write are both important parts of the writing process, but so is the often-forgotten job of revising and proofreading. Revision is typically a multi-step process that involves tightening your sentences, reworking ideas, and perhaps getting outside readers to critique your work. In addition, language errors and issues with clarity can severely hinder your chances of getting your paper published or receiving a good grade, and sometimes it’s hard for even the most accomplished writers to catch mistakes or unclear passages on their own. For this reason, utilizing a professional proofreading/editing service can be an extremely worthwhile investment. We’re always here to help, and we hope that our flexible, professional, and friendly approach will help you to meet your goals in 2020.

Happy new year from the Stickler team!

7 Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Graduate School

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It’s no secret that graduate school can be a stressful time for many people, especially with mounting pressure on the appearance of perfection, productivity, and having it all together. These seven tips can help you to not only survive grad school, but thrive in an environment where you are learning about and researching the topic you are most passionate about. By focusing on things like mental health, understanding your work style, and self-care, you can make the most out of your grad school experience.

  1. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

If this is your first time in grad school, it can be a scary transition. Even though being a grad student can feel isolating at times, you should never feel like you’re alone—there are thousands of students across the world and in your own institution who are feeling lonely and maybe even lost. It’s important to reach out and ask for help when you need it, and this should not be seen as a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Whether it’s sitting down with current students, faculty, or a mental health professional, there are plenty of people and resources around you that can help you navigate your graduate studies and all the related pressures that come with them.

  1. Keep Your Goals Visible

Grad school can get hectic really quickly. From homework, to research and even teaching responsibilities, grad school suddenly becomes about much more than the thing you’re passionate about. It can be easy to lose sight of your original goals and reasons for wanting to come to grad school in the first place. By taking the time to write out your goals and post them somewhere where you can see them everyday, you can remind yourself of what makes all of this worth it when you’re having a bad day.

  1. Have a Life Outside of School

When you’re in grad school, it can be hard to think about or do anything other than school-related tasks. But it’s equally important to have a life outside of school as it is to be chipping away at your dissertation. This could mean finding a way to connect with friends outside of your program, or even taking up hobbies that interest you. Look towards your local community for things like classes, workshops, and groups that you can join to give your mind a break from school every once in a while.

  1. Focus Less on Grades

Grad school is less about GPA and more about focusing on a topic that interests you and working towards your thesis or dissertation. Yet it can be hard to break out of that mindset of grade-focused schooling. If you get less-than-perfect feedback on a paper, don’t let it throw you off track. Instead, think about your overall grad school experience in terms of the knowledge you’re gaining, as opposed to the grades on your transcript. This way of thinking will help you put less stress on yourself to perform and remind you of the joys of learning.

  1. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is an important part of anyone’s health, but especially those pursuing a postgraduate degree. It can be hard to justify carving out time to take care of yourself when you’ve got so many deadlines looming, but even something as small as one hour a day can really make a different for your physical and mental health. Self-care looks different for everyone, and can include anything from watching a movie on your couch, to hanging out with your friends, doing yoga, cooking your favorite meal, or getting some extra sleep. Whatever self-care means to you, dedicating time to it can help reduce stress levels and keep you sane.

  1. Maintain a Strong Support System

Grad school can be tough to get through alone, but creating or maintaining a strong support system of friends and family who care about your wellbeing is a great way to help you thrive in tough times. Find time to strengthen your relationships with your friends and family, whether that means calling them or hopping in the car for an in-person visit, and don’t be afraid to lean on them in challenging times—after all, they care about you and want you to complete your degree! We often don’t realize how important our support systems are until we need them the most.

  1. Learn How to Manage Your Time

You’ve probably heard this a million times, but time management really is one of the keys to success in grad school. There are countless methods and strategies for time management (check out our recent blog post on the Pomodoro method for an example) that can help you think about the best ways to use your time. But sometimes time management just means cutting out the less valuable commitments in your life and not overscheduling yourself. It can be hard to say no to things, but often that’s the best way to help yourself focus on what’s important to you.

Even though grad school can be stressful and hectic at times, that doesn’t mean that you can’t thrive your time in higher ed. We hope these tips get you one step closer to making your grad school experience more enjoyable!