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Join Mike Borowczak in this insightful presentation aimed at UC Engineering graduate students. The talk covers essential topics such as managing student life, finding balance, and effective research habits. Delve into advice on maintaining a positive relationship with your advisor, choosing your research topic, and the importance of proactive habits in achieving academic success. Discover how to set realistic goals, timelines, and the best practices for organizing your academic journey. This is an essential guide to surviving and thriving in graduate school.
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You’re a UC Engineering Graduate StudentNow what? Mike Borowczak September 16th 2010 Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Outline* • Introduction • Talk • Questions *Outline taken from Jorge Cham; Author & Cartoonist behind PhD Comics Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Warning! Non-UC Data Ahead… Surviving Grad School Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
A Little Motivation Source: Council of Graduate Schools Completion and Attrition Program Data http://www.phdcompletion.org/ Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Student Life in 15 Minutes? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Student Life in 15 Minutes? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
It’s a balancing act… WHY IS GRAD SCHOOL So Difficult? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
We may not be good balancers Full-Time Students Full-Time Students Most Part-Time Students It’s all about reaching a reasonable and obtainable balance… Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
THOUGHTS ON BALANCE Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Decide when to do it. Do it Now! Dump it! Delegate it. The Four Quadrant To Do Matrix The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic, by Stephen R. Covey, Simon and Schuster, 1989. Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Random Thoughts • Organize Your Inbox • Learn how to create and use filters and/or rules • Fast tip (using Gmail) • borowczak+ta+ece+780@gmail.com • borowczak+ta+ece+535@gmail.com • borowczak+intramural+flagfootball@gmail.com • borowczak+ddelwebmater@gmail.com • These all go to borowczak@gmail.com but now I can create filters quickly, based on +ta, +ece, etc Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Student Life in 15 Minutes? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Other Opportunities? “Resume Building 101” • Assistantships • Teaching, Graduate, Research • Industry Partnerships • Graduate Student Governance Association (gsga) • UC wide, Departmental • http://www.uc.edu/gsga • Student Organizations (sald) • http://www.uc.edu/sald • http://www.uc.edu/sald/Student_Organizations/Org_Listing.html More on this later! Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Student Life in 15 Minutes? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
What about Academics & Research? • Habits • Advisor • Topic • Tips Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Research Habits • Be proactive • In coursework, reading, writing, etc • Organize yourself • Electronic Tracking of important and relevant works + summaries • Journal Entries of thoughts, important works, failures etc. Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Research Habits • READ (it’s up to you to do so) • Set up automated notifications of new works • Take ownership • You’re the one working towards your degree • Not your advisor, your friends, or your family • Do not expect your advisor to spoon feed you your next steps Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Your Advisor & You • *Keep your advisor happy • They’re the one, with vested interest, who will be there to stand up for you! • Communicate • Often*: One-on-One is best* • Goals: Personal, Research, Publication • Issues*: Lab, Research Related Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
“A Good Advisor” Is a mentor that will: Is an employer that will: Look out for your interests Help you graduate Be respected in their field Maintain Connections Speak well of you/your work • Motivate • Invest time on you & your research • Give Credit • Defend • Critique Your Work Vaughan Pratt http://boole.stanford.edu/pratt.html
Choosing A Topic • Where to start? • Conference Publications in your general area of interest (Relevance) • Current works by current students (Foundations) • Something to INTERESTS You! • PhD – 3-7 years of your life • MS – 1-3 years of your life Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Topic • Listen • To current students • To professors • In you weekly seminar class! • READ • Effectively & Efficiently • Quality Publications from reputable conferences & journals Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Tips • Reading • Locate Solid Works • Abstract & Conclusion First • Skim literature review & background • After locating theses, dissertations, & papers • Review and Read Papers in their Entirety • Use Reference Section • much easier & specific than a generic Google Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Tips • Progress • Begin with the End in Mind • Set Goals • Set a Timeline • Add Meetings & Presentations to help maintain Timeline • Use project management techniques to advance • GTD: Get Things Done • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done • Scrum: Agile Product Development Technique • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrum_(development) • Multi-task & Balance! Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
A Little More on Scrum Waterfall Approach Scrum Approach Images from http://scrumreferencecard.com/ Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Student Life in 15 Minutes? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Social Life • Get Involved • Join, Participate, Lead, Found • Explore & Visit • Cincinnati & Beyond • Burst Your Bubble • Go beyond your comfort zone Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Get Involved & Make Connections • @UC • Over 300 Student run groups • Find them all at http://www.uc.edu/sald • Everything from local sections of professional organizations to Cricket to amateur radio club to karate • Create your own group! • 10 students + an advisor • Volunteer & Give Back • Through Student Groups • In the College, University, Cincinnati • Google Search Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Explore & Visit • Cincinnati • General • cincinnati.citysearch.com • 365cincinnati.com • www.cincinnatiusa.com (UC provides this one..?) • Radial Search Outward • Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington, Cleveland, Nashville Chicago… Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
Burst Your Bubble • Try something new • Sporting Events • goBEARCATS.com ! Football, Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball … • Reds, Bengals, Cyclones, Crew (Columbus) • Food • Culturally Diverse (Japanese, Korean, Indian, Thai, German, etc) • www.bearcash.com (coupons for food + misc stuff around UC) • Experience(s) • Museums (Many are free / reduced cost to students) • Rec Center: Rock Climbing, Martial Arts, Swim in an Olympic Size Pool etc. Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl
borowczak+GSL@gmail.com http://www.mborowczak.com This Presentation: http://tiny.cc/ucgsl QUESTIONS? Presentation Available at http://tiny.cc/ucgsl