Graduate School

1
Graduate School

• How To Succeed

2
Sobering Statistics

• Women make up just 22 of tenured faculty at
  universities
• African-American only 3
• Hispanics/Latinos only 2
• Native Americans only 1
• Asians only 4
• First Generation Students only 12

3
Problems Faced by Women, Minorities, and First
Generation Students

• Climate
• Lack of Visibility
• Lack of Role Models
• Isolation
• General Lack of Understanding of the Academic Game

4
Combating the Problem

• Check out the university before you attendAre
  there any support groups?
• Learn assertive communication skills.
• Find an advisor who will be honest with you.
• Brag.
• Work on mainstream as well as newer topics.

5
Differences Between Graduate and Undergraduate
Education

• Consumer to Producer of Knowledge
• Indifferent Faculty
• Emotional Suffering Is Good for You
• Assertive Students
• Timidity and Passivity Are Destructive
• Responsible for Knowing Regulations

6
Different Attitudes

• Use of the best methods is important
• Accumulation of knowledge is its own reward
• Academicians are connected

7
The Unwritten Rules of Graduate Study

• Show no weaknesses
• Sell yourself
• Do not come empty-handedNo one will give you the
  degree. You have to take it!
• Find shared research interests
• Work in your field outside the academic semester

8
Unwritten Rules Continued

• Find an expertise you can share with the semester
• Realize the importance of self-management
• Speak up
• Read journals in your field
• Begin presenting at conferences
• Show respect

9
Unwritten Rules Continued

• Connect with Professors
• Avoid department politics
• Never bad mouth a professor