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Life of a Grad Jag IU Indianapolis

5 things nobody tells you about starting a PH.D. in the USA

Posted on by grademis

By Radhika Bhaumik, Ph.D. Student Biology

As an enthusiastic and curious child, I had always been very interested in studying biology and its different aspects. I was very clear on making it in life by studying the different living entities that make this beautiful world what it is. Thus, when I started majoring in Microbiology during my undergraduate, I knew I had to move to the United States of America, as this place would allow me to acquire the best education in my field, provide me with a world-class infrastructure, and platform to give back to society. I am intrinsically very research-oriented. Not only was I aspiring to pursue a Ph.D. but I worked to research everything that I professionally needed to know to start things smoothly. So, I made sure I had a fully funded 5-year Ph.D. course, I had the savings to fend for a month before my salary was deposited, and I had a teaching assistantship that would support me to live in the USA. But I was yet to know certain aspects about pursuing my higher education in this country that no person gets ready for until one has started living in the states.

  1. You are as good as any other student– As an international student in the USA, the perception about people here is that they are smarter beyond reach. Students generally start going through imposter syndrome. They think that they don’t belong here, or that they don’t deserve it. Some students cope with this by working extra hard or even tolerating toxic behavior from colleagues. They feel they have been chosen from a different country to prove their abilities and thus torture themselves to establish their worth. This affects their mental health and well-being and further plunges them into darkness. Something I learned from staying about one and half years in this country is that every person should be treated equally. They should never tolerate any condescending and patronizing attitude from anybody just because they are from a different country or otherwise. Every student here is equal and different in their special ways. It is their talent, that paved way for the opportunities to study in the USA and it is with their remarkable aptitude, zeal to collaborate, and passion to grow that they will embark on their journey towards success.
  2. Living life as a student metamorphosizes you as an independent individual– Being a graduate student itself brings in its set of challenges. One is in a hybrid state of being a student and an employee. We are trying to learn, understand, analyze, and discover whilst also taking courses, doing assignments, and teaching undergraduate students. Life is tough, and sometimes striking a balance can feel arduous. But it was with my experience living here did I realize that, apart from handling my professional life, taking care of myself was also a mammoth job to perform. Indian students generally live with their parents, until they go to college. Even then, most of their chore is taken care of. We have college pantries to feed us, helpers to take care of our laundry, and easily available public transportation to move around places. Staying here made me realize how important it is to not rely on anybody to do our work. I had to learn to cook from scratch, learn to do my dishes and my laundry, and get my driver’s license quickly to move around places in a car. It might feel overwhelming in the beginning, but eventually, it will make you stronger. Thus, starting to live here, molds one into a complete, confident individual that can face any fear head-on, a journey that is ever so gratifying.
  3. A student in the USA makes way for holistic growth– As I previously mentioned, living, and studying in the states develops an individual personally, it also makes way for other growth opportunities. As a human, and that too having certain privileges brings upon anyone the responsibility of giving back to society. We should always strive to learn how we can give back to people through our knowledge and help others out in every way possible. There are numerous volunteering opportunities here that one can be a part of, to associate with others. I was the treasurer of Women for Change (Women4Change) which advocates for the right of women’s engagement, women’s education, and women empowerment. I was the School of Science Multidisciplinary representative and worked together with the Biology Graduate Organization in my department to help biology graduate students, navigate through any professional hurdles, and organize fun events that could make them relax, and relieve stress. I am currently the student representative of the Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology which makes me a liaison, addressing any concerns, of Microbiology students from different universities across Indiana to the authorities of the state branch. And there are ample organizations like these across campus that are waiting for eager students to join in and volunteer. It is something I did not come across in India, and therefore I highly recommend every student to get involved in making their student life a little more multifaceted than just books and assignments.
  4. Every result tells you a little secret– As Ph. D students we strive to present a thesis after 5 years that will be ground-breaking. A 3-chapter document that is hailed to be superlative research done, winning praises from every committee member. But in the real world, hardly that is the truth. Research feels like a never-ending journey comprised mostly of failures with sudden sparks of success. As I have habituated myself to this idea, people here have trained me to listen to the secrets of all my results. Just like my positive results reinforce the “might-be” story, my negative results also speak of a “different story”, an overlooked secret. It is important to think of why your experiment is failing, it is important to consider all the factors accountable and troubleshoot at every level. My PI made me repeat a PCR 15 times by changing 15 different factors to see which is failing me, just to reach my desired goal. Ph. D might be one of the few jobs that teach a person that “Failure is the best teacher”. Thus, rather than whining about experiments failing, patiently scrutinize them. It might shed the light on the unnoticed.
  5. Your PI is your colleague– As Indian students, we are normalized to treat anybody above us in rank to be our superiors. We have a hierarchy that we gladly maintain. We have our PIs that we regard and fear, who have the potential to make or break our careers. So, when I moved to the USA and met my PI, the biggest cultural shock to me was when he demanded I address him by his first name. Generally, PIs in the state do not wish to exert a hierarchical equation with their graduate students. They are very compassionate, they empathize with their students, high-five them on success, and sometimes also invite them over for dinner and drinks. They think of graduate students as their colleagues, going through a rigorous training phase to reach their position. Having said that they are extremely particular about getting result updates if and when required. So, the stress and worry stem more from juggling every aspect of graduate life rather than having a difficult boss.

In conclusion, a Ph.D. or Master’s life is multifarious. It is stressful on its own but beautiful when you gain so much in the end. It is also important amidst everything, to take care of your mental health and give yourself the necessary time every day. Remember, the motto of riding a Ph.D. journey is not to endure but enjoy to its last bit.

 

Six things I realized in my third year of graduate school

Posted on by grademis

Aishat Motolani, PhD Candidate, Pharmacology and Toxicology

 

Every year, I like to reflect on my past academic year experiences to assess my personal and professional growth. This past year has been a hodgepodge of high and low moments. Nonetheless, in those moments, I have learned a few things that I will be applying to the rest of my graduate school journey and beyond. Below are six things I realized as a third-year graduate student.

  1. Deep focus enhances productivity

There are so many productivity-related hacks out there intending to make you do more with less time. The cornerstone of these hacks is your attention. When you channel your undivided attention toward a task of interest, you get things done. The book, Deep Work by Cal Newport, covers the topic of intense focus in detail. I highly recommend! The idea is to focus on a priority task with undivided attention to the point where you achieve a state of flow. In this state, the task becomes automated and effortless, and the rate at which you churn results grows exponentially. I experienced this many times when I started writing more in my third year of grad school. I often get stuck at first and have no idea what to write. However, once I have read a number of articles in a pin-drop silent space, the ideas start forming, and like magic, the previous sentence births the following sentence. I become in sync with my thoughts, and the words begin to flow easily. I am constantly amazed by my output after exiting the state of flow.

  1. What encompasses self-care can be different for you

Recently, mental health has become an important topic of discussion among graduate students and institutions. Given the different stressors that graduate students face daily, self-care should be a non-negotiable. There are different mainstream approaches to improving self-care, such as therapy, meditation, exercising, good nutrition, and so on. I try to incorporate some of these methods into my daily routine to improve my overall well-being. But I learned that sometimes they are not enough to alleviate my stress. As an international student, I realize that indulging more in my faith and culture, talking to my family and friends, and engaging in acts of service make me feel ten times better. So, if self-care for you looks like playing sports, spending time with family, a spa trip, having dinner with friends, cutting out a bad habit, or other unique activities, please immerse yourself in it. Personalized self-care is the best!

  1. Being involved improves your graduate school experience

As a graduate student working in the lab, my daily routine can be mundane. I used to have the same meme catchphrase when anyone asked how my day was: “It’s fine. This is fine.” It is easy to be engulfed by lab work. But I have learned to do other things that I am passionate about without compromising my research progress. I love writing, creating social media content, mentoring, gardening, among many other things. As a result, I sought opportunities that helped me cultivate these passions. They kept me levelheaded when things were not going as well with my research. They have also helped me become well-rounded as I have been able to connect and network with people outside my school and develop important skills relevant to the professional world. I still can’t believe I wrote a large part of the script for a major award ceremony on campus. It was fun! Also, I remember volunteering with my fellow emissaries at an undergraduate research event. It was such a great boost to start the day, interacting with students and sharing diverse experiences. I think in a couple of years from now after I graduate, many of my fond memories will be those that had nothing to do with my research project.

  1. Share and celebrate little wins

This is one of the good problems that people with type A personalities and a boatload of humility have. I used to disregard this point earlier on in my academic journey. But ever since I read Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, I have had a change of heart. In my third year of grad school, I realized that sharing your wins is not about bragging but about celebrating your incredible value as a professional. Did your work get published? Please be thrilled to announce it. Did you get an award or get accepted for a conference? Do prepare a thank you speech for any audience you may have. Did your experiment work after a thousand tries? Feel free to tweet about it and order your favorite dessert. In both my school and my department, the culture of celebrating and sharing the wins of graduate students is widely practiced. This helps if you don’t like shining the spotlight on yourself. Also, these announcements and celebrations can bring unexpected and great opportunities your way. A bonus point: it also crushes imposter syndrome. Sometimes although I cringe when announcing my graduate school-related wins, I still do it because my future employers may just be on the sidelines watching.

  1. Experience is the best teacher

Once upon a time, I studied my class lessons, took my tests/exams, and aced it all in one try. I soon realize that this process occurs in many iterations in a laboratory. Experiencing failure several times while conducting research is a hard pill to swallow. You feel stuck, frustrated, tired, unmotivated, and doubtful about your decision to attend graduate school. I had all these feelings as I did not have an extensive wet lab experience. However, the tides began to turn at some point. The more the repeats and reruns of an experiment I did, the better the results. I started to develop something I termed “experiment intuition,” or in a less fancy term— better judgment. Although the protocol says X, the intuition I had developed from several repeats and literature search informed me to try Y. Through experience, I have been able to discern loopholes in my experiments, plan my tasks efficiently, and perform experiments with great care and patience. So do not beat up yourself too much in the beginning. Experience is truly the best teacher of all!

  1. Lower your expectations for things you can’t control

Put a finger down if you have ever applied for funding, did everything so meticulously, got feedback from the experts, and eventually came back empty-handed. I will assume your finger is folded. Otherwise, congratulations! I have realized that there is only so much I can control. As a biomedical graduate student, I pipet and mix transparent liquids all day with the hope of getting a glimpse of the unknown and proving/disproving my hypothesis. Naturally, we are biased towards a particular outcome. When the intended outcome is not observed, we repeat the experiment several times to eliminate self-made errors or chance. If the intended outcome is still not observed. Then, it is what is. It is outside one’s control. Lowering my expectations for things beyond my control has done wonders for my mental health. It has also helped me dissociate my self-value from my work output. I try to do my best in whatever is within my control, and the rest,  I do not worry about it. I will try again or look in a different direction.

 

Are there any lessons you have learned in this past academic year? Feel free to share them below in the comments.

 

It’s a Self-Care Summer

Posted on by grademis

By Yue Stevenson, M.A. English

I, like many students, had a pretty rough semester this Spring. In the second semester of my time as a graduate student, I had big expectations for myself after my fall term went quite well, all things considered. That momentum quickly fell apart after Winter Break, as I pushed myself to keep with the pace I had done before, regardless of the circumstances I might have found myself in. I ended up doing better than I originally feared by the end of the semester, but I recognize now that had I focused more on self-care and being realistic with my needs as a student alongside the expectations I had academically, the past five months of classes could have been much more manageable.

Rather than looking ahead to Fall 2022 and the stressors that will come with it, I urge readers to take some time to themselves during summer break. By no means am I suggesting that people shirk the responsibilities they have, or that they aren’t planning for the future, but not every day has to be focused on your academic career, I’d like to think. You have to take care of yourself physically and mentally as a person before being a graduate student of Academia. I say this both as advice to other students in similar situations and as a reminder to myself to practice what I preach.

Currently, I have been practicing self-care by trying to undo the damage I typically do during academic terms. On any particular night during the school year, I might keep myself up until 2 or 3am, working on readings, catching up on assignments, or just overall spending time on things where it would have been wiser to get rest. I have never been a morning person, but I am trying to change that by heading to bed earlier and working on a healthy schedule that fits my class and work schedules. I’ve also been diving back into some hobbies of mine that I typically don’t have the time for when flooded with readings for class, like collecting Pokémon cards, catching up on my backlog of books to read for pleasure, or just playing games with my friends. I’m sure you can think of some unique ways that you can practice self-care in your own way! There’s no one size fits all for caring for yourself, especially when we all have our own unique, individualized situations that can cause for stress.

Indiana’s weather is always unpredictable, it seems, but heading outside for a breath of fresh air is always something I think students could do more. Whether you’re walking or biking through the Monon Trail, visiting any of the beautiful parks Indianapolis and the nearby cities have to offer, or just stepping outside for a moment to sit and feel the Sun on your skin, avoiding being cooped up can do wonders. I know we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, and I still hesitate to head out in public at times, myself, but the open greenways in Indy are plentiful, and you might discover one you’ve yet to visit!

Helpful Resources:

https://graduate.iupui.edu/support/health.html

https://www.indy.gov/activity/find-a-park

 

The Finish Line is Here Before You Know

Posted on by grademis

By Yone Edegbele, MS Health Informatics

May is finally here, congratulations! You made it to the end of a school year. Wherever you are in your graduate career; from the first semester of a first year, to third year, or like me in my final semester (two-year program) about to graduate; we all probably share a common thought: What a rollercoaster experience. As I reflect on my graduate years, I cannot help but think how fast time flew. I know it’s easy to say when my program is short, however, I recently just came to that conclusion after always thinking that for a two-year program, this is long and draining. There is much advice I would love to share in dealing with potential hardships in graduate school.

Come prepared…. Besides researching the school and program you want to study, also research graduate student experiences to know what you will likely experience. I did the former and not the latter. Another mistake was believing graduate and undergraduate school to be similar. WRONG. They are two completely different arenas. You go from a large auditorium of hundreds of students to a small classroom of less than 20 students. I was shocked by the large number of assigned readings, assignments and same week quizzes (that heavily influence your grade) my professors delivered. I cried myself to sleep the night of my first day of being a graduate student.

Find the Balance…. It’s easier said than done and took me a while to get right. It was important for me to do because I had both an internship and school. Buy a planner; it will change your life because dates are important. Find that balance by performing effective time management strategies. I had a 9 to 5 virtual internship that made life a bit easier. When are you most productive? I’m most productive early mornings (5 am to 8 am) and late nights (8pm to midnight). Don’t cram information in preparation for an exam. Set goals. For example, I would study for one class for 2 hours and another class for 3 hours and 45 minutes, with a timer set and a single 15-minute break. Remember to take some time for yourself, it’s important to get a break. What relaxes you? Exercise is very therapeutic for me. If I get overwhelmed or frustrated, I jog.

Stop Comparing…. Imposter Syndrome is real. Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone is in the same boat. Most students in your program are seeking their first graduate degree. You are all at the same learning level. If you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be in the same class. My bachelor’s and soon to be master’s degrees are opposites of one another. I majored in theatre in undergrad and am now completing my MS in Health Informatics. I initially believed that I didn’t deserve my spot at IUPUI. I constantly questioned if I was a diversity token? I’ve heard the saying many times “you only got that opportunity because you’re black.” I also assumed I would be the only person struggling in my classes. I was wrong. Though I have classmates whose undergraduate degrees are similar to the graduate degrees we are seeking, they’ve also struggled in some areas of the program. We’re all learning together and happy to help each other cross the finish line.

Involve yourself…. Graduate school is very isolating. Isolation is real, and too much can negatively affect you. I know this because it happened to me. Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic was the negative icing on the cake. I’m blessed to have a loving family and friends. Unfortunately, not all graduate students have that kind of network of support. IUPUI has great on campus organizations for graduate students. Graduate Emissaries, UPnGO, and GPSG are great ways of connecting with other students. IUPUI’s CAPS is another great resource for mental health. Get out of your comfort zone. Exchange ideas with fellow classmates, teachers and other graduate students involved in organizations. How do they have or maintain a social life? These methods have personally helped me find community here at IUPUI.

Seek Academic Resources…. Writing is very important in graduate school and professors can easily tell whether your paper has been edited or not. The University Writing Center offers weekly and recurring drop-in or virtual meetings. It is a great place for writers of all disciplines to receive support and make progress. Lastly, don’t be afraid to seek tutoring services for any challenging course. I’ve had tutors for two past classes. Had I not sought their assistance, I would’ve had to retake those classes.

Always remember that the hard work will pay off.  Regardless of where you’re at in the race, you’ll eventually get to the finish line. Congratulations and all the best for the future.

 

 

How to Grad School: Self-Care Tool Kit

Posted on by grademis

By: Daenique Jengelley, PhD Candidate IUSM

I assume we all start graduate school with excitement, hope, and maybe a little bit of nerves. When I started graduate school five-years-ago, I was filled with nerves, anxiety, and feelings of imposter syndrome more than I was excited to begin this journey. In fact, when I struggled with a few hurdles in my first year, I felt it was confirmation that I did not belong here. Although my support system believed in me, I did not believe in myself. Flash forward to today, I have a defense date set, I have several awards and accolades, I am a student leader, a collaborator on a seminar series focused on promoting diversity in science, among several other hats I wear on campus. However, the weight of the worry I had at the start of my program is still within me.

I never acknowledged that weight. I only pushed it aside. I pushed it aside with joy and relief when things began to work out academically. But then I dealt with family death, loss of friendships and relationships, experiments that failed, grasping global and societal issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic. And that weight became heavier and heavier. I felt like I lost track of a lot of things and became suspended in time. I recall just feeling like I was being pulled along by a tethered string. I thought because I am tenacious, independent, and strong, that I just needed to make it through the difficult days. While those characteristics are true, I would have benefitted from talk therapy, mindfulness, taking a day off, or practicing self-care.

For several years, I was just functioning. On the outside I appeared fine, but I was walking around holding on to a very sad part of me that I never acknowledged. I am sure when people saw my name on a few awards and emails one year, they must have thought ‘wow, look at her, she’s doing great!’ but I was not. It was not until last year that I hit a wall. I began to shut down both physically and mentally. It was only a few months later that I hit another wall when I decided I would get help and I began my journey with counseling and being intentional of taking care of my mental health.

I want to encourage you that taking care of your mental health does not have to start when you have hit a wall. It can begin as a simple practice of choosing to take care of yourself each day before you do anything else. Your practice can be praying, doing yoga for 10 minutes, savoring your cup of coffee or tea in the morning, going for a quick mile run or journaling. I like to say that I have built my self-care tool kit. My kit contains a combination of mindful practices—like yoga, journaling, mediation, prayer, running, or resting; social activities— such as grabbing coffee with a friend, going on a hike, or going to brunch or church; counseling—either group or individual. Sometimes self-care is not the prettiest—I must do the hard work identifying the root cause, riding the wave of my emotions, taking risks in communicating my thoughts with others, leaning into my support groups, and setting boundaries. I do not practice all of these at once. Also, I do not use them as a fix all or a cure. I ask myself what I need in this moment, and I acknowledge that I am deserving of taking care of my needs.

In graduate school, we wear many hats—we are students, employees, TA’s, grad assistants, or student leaders. Some students have a family to take care of, or are returning to school from working, or never left school, or students have disabilities that affect their daily lives. We experience a lot of stress that comes from managing our thesis projects, deadlines, labs, mentoring, difficult working environments, and we experience burnout. Although there are rewarding moments in graduate school, they do not last long, and we often are back on the grind.

I am sharing my story because:

  1. Unfortunately, 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness, yet discussing mental health is still a taboo topic in our society.
  2. I did not grow up in a community that acknowledged struggles with mental health. We trusted God or we just never talked about it. So, when I struggled, I thought I needed to get my faith walk in order. While I still hold on to my faith, I am even more adamant about going to counseling. We can trust in God, but we can also have a counselor and therapist.
  3. In the past, I had a few instances when I reached out to my support network and I did not receive the compassion I hoped for, so that made me hold in my issues even more.
  4. I wish I could offer 1st year me more self-compassion. I would go back and hug my old self and tell myself to stop doubting and remind myself that I was capable.
  5. I think a key component to making it through graduate school and life in general is taking care of your mental health.

I hope sharing my story is not discouraging to you, but serves as a humble reminder that we all experience difficulties. We do not have to sacrifice our mental health and wellness while getting a degree or even endure the hard seasons alone. We are remarkable, intelligent, and imperfect human beings that have capacities and limits, so, I hope today you take time to offer yourself loving-kindness and compassion and start by asking yourself “what do I need”.

Upcoming events:

April 20th 4-5pm UPnGO & CAPS Active Listening Workshop (Virtual)

Resources:

https://studentaffairs.iupui.edu/health/counseling-psychological/index.html

https://studentaffairs.iupui.edu/health/counseling-psychological/counseling-options.html

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

https://graduate.iu.edu/resources/trauma/index.html

 

Apps:

Headspace

Insight Timer

Nike Run Club

Calm

 

Contact IUPUI CAPS

317-274-2548
capsindy@iupui.edu
Walker Plaza, Room 220
719 Indiana Ave

 

For a Helpline:

If you need help in a crisis, call 911.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Text NAMI to 741-741

The National Grad Crisis Line 1.877.GRAD.HLP (1.877.472.3457)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1−800−799−7233

Or dial “211” for more resources.

 

Graduate Scholarships, They Do Exist!

Posted on by grademis

Desmond Kemp, PhD Candidate, School of Liberal Arts

Let’s face it: financial aid is one of the most difficult obstacles for college students to overcome. Graduate students, in particular. The average undergraduate borrows $30,030 in loans to complete their bachelor’s degree.[1]  With this in mind, many students wait until a professor or adviser recommends them for a fellowship or scholarship opportunity before considering graduate school. Others who decide to go to graduate school may end up with additional debt. If you’re a scholar with a loan, keep reading these tips to see if they can finance your next semester or school year.

There are numerous financial resources available to students, particularly BIPOC students, that are frequently underutilized. Graduate students could use these various resources to find financial assistance for tuition, books, and research: 1) Scholarship office on campus, 2) Major Department, 3) Grant database, 4) Profellow, 5) Professional Association, 6) Journals and other publications, and 7) social media.

First and foremost, I must state that Indiana University/IUPUI has an excellent scholarship program. No, they didn’t pay me to say that, but I can truthfully say that they have been devoted to supporting students. If you’ve never browsed at the scholarship website, you can do so now with your One.IU account. When you build a profile, you will receive an alert for any scholarships that fit your demographics. When a scholarship has been posted and the deadline is nearing, the alert will notify you.

Your department coordinators and instructors can also help you right away. As a high-performing student, you might be eligible for a graduate assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship from your department or school. Now, it’s typical for graduate students to worry that their image will be tarnished among faculty, but you’re still in the program, and you might have a chance. Furthermore, the faculty member may offer you to join their next research project, which they may utilize to secure financial assistance for you if you join their team.

Grants are sometimes overlooked due to the time-consuming application process, yet they can help you pay your education and research. However, applying for grants as a graduate student will improve your résumé and help you refine your grant writing skills. Grants received might be included on your curriculum vitae or resume. If you are interested in finding grants, Pivot is a database of funding opportunities that can be accessed from the library’s webpage.

Next, Profellow is an outside resource that you should look into. This database is available for free. This website has a big database of fellowships, completely sponsored study abroad possibilities, early career grants, and fully funded educational programs. If you’re a master’s student seeking doctoral study, this site contains a wealth of information on fully supported programs that are frequently affiliated with professional organizations.

It is strongly advised that students join professional associations in their field of study, their workplace, or their parents’ workplace. Professional groups like the American Library Association, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management provide scholarships for tuition, conferences, and other supplemental educational opportunities. Graduate students can also benefit from an association’s conference which may introduce trends in research or emerging issues. Also, it is advised that you network and maybe seek a professional that may be open to mentor you.  Professional networks may be an excellent source of funding for your education.

Another thing to consider, professional organizations may publish journals and other literature that lists scholarship information. There are many books that are on Amazon and in the library that lists scholarships ranging $500 –$1 million USD. Enter the following keywords in your search: Scholarship Guide.

Finally, social media is an effective instrument. Make use of your connections to find scholarships. Particularly on Twitter. Many times, organizations have additional funding for students, and their representatives use social media to spread the word. Examine the Twitter feeds of eminent academics in your subject. You might come upon an old post that has been updated with financing information. Because of how technology works, it may be able to recognize your algorithm and locate resources.

Closed mouths don’t get fed, so keep that in mind. People are available to answer your questions and provide support during your search within these seven resources. If you require scholarship funding, it is available; nevertheless, you must seek it out.

 

Additional resources:

IUPUI Graduate Office Financial Support

Sallie Mae Graduate School Scholarships

[1] Hanson, Melanie. “Student Loan Debt Statistics [2022]: Average + Total Debt.” Education Data Initiative, March 1, 2022. https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics.

 

How to “Grad School”: Virtual Professionalism

Posted on by grademis

by Jasmine Beecham, M.S.
PhD Candidate, Applied Social & Organizational Psychology
IUPUI School of Science

With one of the highest surges of COVID-19 currently going on and new variants abound everywhere, more and more conferences are turning to virtual options and hiring managers are leaning on virtual interview options. To put your best professional foot forward while remaining in your personal space, here are some tips to keep in mind when considering how virtual may be different than what you’ve experienced in the past!

Prepare for all virtual events

Get a professional background image: Set a professional background so others are not distracted by what is going on behind you. Zoom has a built-in option to blur your background but if there is lots of movement behind you, you can download a simple zoom background of an office or even an IUPUI-themed background. Upload images to your zoom account and then you can filter what background you use, or just use a stock one that zoom provides you with. If you often get distracted looking at yourself in the zoom window, this can also help reduce your own distractions, so you are not focusing on everything around you.

Have enough lighting to show your face well: Having your camera on but being in a dark space will not help very much. Make sure there is enough clear light so that you can be clearly seen and visible. This will help people better see your smaller facial changes, especially for those who are visually impaired.

Make sure you have a stable internet connection: Plan ahead so that you will not get spotty internet or get disconnected. You can get an ethernet cable to hook up directly to your internet in your home. If your internet at home is not good, see about reserving a library study room to work in or sitting at another place on campus where you will have a secure connection throughout the whole duration. If you go somewhere public, make sure to pack some headphones so you can hear clearly.

Check the time zone: Make sure to check before all scheduled events, whether conference or interview, what time zone it is listed in. With many people living in different locations than perhaps the company headquarters or where you live, it is important to make sure you clarify this and are on time. It helps you be more prepared, as you do not want to lose an hour of prep time that you thought you had or show up an hour late and miss it.

Conference Attendance

Leave your camera on: Unless the presenters ask to be the only ones with their cameras on, leave your camera on. It helps those presenting to get visual feedback from the audience. It also acts as both showing that you are engaged and motivating yourself to stay focused instead of multitasking now that you know you can be seen. If you have a hard time not getting distracted or doing two things at once, this is a good way to give yourself more of a reason to have to stay engaged. If this is a session where you want to ask questions or follow up with the presenter, this also will help to show your interest and make you memorable when the Q&A session arrives.

Look ahead at the session schedule: Make sure to read the descriptions of different sessions and attend the ones that most align with either your research interests or areas that might fill gaps in your research. It is nice to hear about information you already know, but if multiple sessions are happening at once, you will want to strategize and visit whichever one will help your current research questions or needs. Use the time before the conference begins to map out the top sessions you want to hear and any questions you may have so that you can block out those times and arrive prepared.

Interview

Pull up notes next to your screen: Whether you have a dual screen or just printed notes, make sure to have resource material next to you during your interview. With interviews moving to virtual platforms, it is important to use your resources to be as prepared as possible. Pull up the materials you provided beforehand to be selected for an interview (e.g. resume, curriculum vitae, cover letter, letters of recommendation, etc.) and read through them once more. If there are areas you haven’t reviewed in a while, such as your research duties on a project from 3 years ago, make sure to look back at your notes or pull any relevant materials up and give yourself a refresher. This will help you stay calm and prepared for any follow-up questions they may have on the materials you submitted.

Look ahead: Review the company and job information beforehand and write down any questions of the job duties or other areas you may have. It is helpful to ask specific questions to show that you paid attention to the company or job description itself. If you cannot think of any position-specific or field-specific questions, some good questions to ask to gain a more accurate image of the job can be:
• what a regular day would look like in this position
• what they look for in an ideal candidate
• what skills they train new employees in and what skills they look for employees to already             come with
As they tell you more about the company or role, feel free to take notes or ask questions as you learn more information you are curious about. The interview is the best time to communicate clearly not just the company’s expectations and questions but yours as well, this is a dual interaction so go in confidently and treat it as such!

Whether you have a virtual conference, virtual interview, or just virtual class, it always helps to prepare ahead of time! This can help you brainstorm ahead of time, make sure you have everything you need beforehand, and feel relaxed in that you are putting your best foot forward. If you are feeling extra nerves, you can always ask a friend to help you practice beforehand! If you are presenting at a conference or having an interview, feel free to ask a friend to zoom you sometime so that you can make sure your camera, microphone, and internet all work properly. If it is your first conference or interview virtually, this can help you more accurately picture what it will be like and receive feedback to adapt before the real deal. Can’t find a time that works for everyone or too shy? Record yourself! You can record yourself in zoom, save it to your computer, and then watch it back from an outside perspective. Make sure to leave yourself time for a few takes and a buffer window to shake off the nerves.

Stay safe, stay hydrated, and stay prepared!

How to “Grad School”

Posted on by grademis

by: Apuroop Putty, Masters Student, Computer Science

Starting grad school is an adventure. You never know what’s in store for you until you face it and your true potential is determined by the way you get through the challenges. During the winter of 2020, I was excited to start graduate school but also worried sick to be thousands of miles away from my home and family. With mixed feelings, I landed in Indianapolis and within the first couple weeks of January 2021, I was all set to start my first semester in the Computer Science department at the Purdue School of Science here at IUPUI. Navigating through the first few weeks of school is confusing and stressful, but I found out there are a lot of resources to make this process easy.

One of the most important things to pay attention to is the ORIENTATION. You might feel you know everything about what you need to do, but there’s always a thing or two which you might have missed and that’s why orientation’s important. You get to learn about the various opportunities and resources available for graduate students, the rules and regulations that international students must follow while in college, and also, it’s a place to meet your fellow students and get to know each other.

For me, the next step in the process was to secure a job. Getting an on-campus job not only helps with monthly expenses but also is a great way to build teamwork, time management and leadership qualities. You might have heard this a thousand times, but references are a very important way to secure a job. But first to apply for the jobs, try to make use of the Handshake platform where you can find a lot of job postings from various departments of IU and Purdue. There are new jobs posted almost every day on this platform but make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the job that you are applying for and that you tailor your application materials for each position you apply to. There are some jobs that are not posted on handshake like those at Tower dining, Barnes & Noble and Parking services. Keep an eye out for employment opportunities at the testing center, the library and the mitigation testing site. These places hire quite a few students each semester either through Handshake or by email. The latter way is where you need to drop emails to the hiring supervisor and request about job vacancies.

There are also some good employment opportunities under the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of International Affairs (OIA), University Information Technology Services (UITS) and the IUPUI Graduate Office. There are jobs where you can put your academic skills to use, like the research and graduate assistantships (GA). Students in some departments are assigned to a research assistantship (RA) and teaching assistantship (TA) position by default. If you are not from one of those departments, you can secure a RA by reaching out to professors.

A good way to do this is: –

  • Search the faculty directory of a particular department and go through the research areas of the individual faculty.
  • When you find a project/research that you are interested in, mail the professor regarding your interest to work with him on that project and specify your skills.

Also, there are few GA positions that you all can apply every semester, but the vacancies are very few comparatively. I can say I’m really privileged to work under the Office of Academic Affairs and the Graduate Office on a grant project called “Midwest Experiences in Mentoring Excellence” or MEME where, I assisted my colleagues in developing a website and now work to keep it up to date with mentoring news and resources. I can say that this job helped me improve my skills and put them to practical use for the benefit of the initiative.

Finally, it is very important to manage time for classes, work, assignments and personal time. In-person classes are an effective way to gain knowledge of the subject and it is best to make full use of classroom teaching. At the same time, I suggest you all to invest some time in pursuing a hobby which can help you deal with academic stress. Good Luck!

Are You Writing?

Posted on by grademis

Desmond L. Kemp, American Studies Doctoral Candidate

When I go back to the beginning of my graduate school career, I remember being concerned about my future as a graduate student. I spent a lot of time in bookshops sorting through philosophy textbooks and other miscellaneous texts for students who were planning to continue their education. One day in Barnes and Noble at DePaul University, I stumbled across a stack of hardback journals that were on clearance in the study aids section. I was intrigued about the placement of those journals but did not purchase one.  At that time, I was a fan of the spiral flip pads that could fit in your pocket. Today, for instance, I sit with the same type of journal that I saw in Barnes and Noble years ago and I’ll explain why. To begin, take a pen, a sticky note, and your mouse or tracking pen, as you’ll most likely want to check out a few items by the time you’ve finished reading this blog.

As a master’s student, I honed my reflective writing skills, which were presented in my program as a useful learning and project development technique. We were given a prompt for thought before each meeting in our Liberal Learning seminars. After reading and discussing with our cohort, the prompts were also used as class writing assignments. We’d come back to that prompt at the end and write a commentary on what we’d “digested” during the learning and sharing process. When you think about the word digest, if you’re a gourmand like me, your mind probably went straight to food.  Ha! That’s not a bad thing. It means you’re absorbing what you’re reading.  If you were to stop reading now, your mind may wander and you may find yourself thinking of a lesson you learnt, or food to eat since I uttered the -f- word.

Reflective writing allows us to think critically and examine our learning, which can help us establish future methods and techniques to deal with similar problems in the future. [1]  Have you ever sat down to write a journal entry about your day? If that’s the case, how far did you go? Is blogging a good way to clear your mind? Or did it inspire you to act? As a man, I initially battled with this discipline, and I had to force myself not to start each entry with “Dear Diary.” Journaling isn’t only for teenage girls, that’s a fact.

I enjoyed writing short stories as a child.  Subsequently, I gravitated to reflective writing. I mentioned my flip book earlier; I’d like to call it a brain. It was easy to carry in my back pocket. This became a tendency when a random stranger once told me, “Keep a pen and a pad handy because you never know when you’re going to need to write”. The brain had every random thought, directions to my favorite restaurants (I aged myself here!), and a note about every time my boss got on my nerves. I believed my small flip book would suffice until I was trapped in the rain one day. I went back to Barnes & Noble in the hopes of finding a small 2×3 inch hardback flip book. Humph! I ended up purchasing a 5×7 black journal.

My first year as a PhD student, I sat in the front row of the class with my book of sticky notes, a subject notebook, pen, and a spiral journal that I dubbed, Research Planner.  My research journal is utilized to record all the random thoughts and information on my topic. Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans (bio.[2]) always encouraged doctoral students to write, write, write.  I took her sound advice. Many Ph.D’s recommend that you write at least 15-30 minutes per day; Joan Bolker even wrote a book explaining the 15-minute process[3].  I became more motivated to write after watching Laura Valadez-Martinez’s Ted Talk which frightened me.[4]  Now that I’m in the candidacy phase, I am glad that I wrote in my journal often. It eases the process of transcribing the chronology of my dissertation’s research sequence.

As graduate students we must remember that life is unpredictable. We aren’t built to remember everything we read and hear. Reflective writing activities can improve how you see and understand your study if you incorporate them into your daily, or weekly routine. In addition, writing can be restorative.[5] Put the pen you grabbed earlier in motion, and I urge you to write, write, write.

 

 

Resources and Works Cited

Reflective Practice Toolkit https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/reflectivepracticetoolkit/reflectivewriting

[1] From “Learning through reflection: the critical role of reflection in work-based learning (WBL)”, by R. Helyer, 2015, Journal of Work-Applied Management, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWAM-10-2015-003

[2] Bio. (2021). Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans. http://www.professorevans.net/bio.html

[3] See Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day: a guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company.

[4] TED. (2016, December 13). Things about a Phd nobody told you about |Laura Valadez-Martinez [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKsQf77nHU&t=558s

[5] See How Journaling Can Help You in Hard Times. (2020). Greater Good https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_journaling_can_help_you_in_hard_times

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The Power of a Routine

Posted on by grademis

by Kayla Allen-Brown

PhD Student, American Studies

 

It is officially November, and that means that the semester is almost over. Yikes. Whether you are ready or not, it is time to prepare for finals. Around this time of year, I usually get a little nervous. I am a full-time student, and I “balance” multiple things at once. When mixed with seasonal depression, it is easy for me to become overwhelmed and shut down. But, that’s why a routine is so important. A routine can increase your focus and productivity. For me, a routine creates structure. I live on having structure, and I cannot survive without it.

Here are some helpful things that help me establish my routine.  At the beginning of each week, I take ten minutes and write everything I need to complete. The tasks do not have to be in a particular order, just a “brain dump.” Afterward, I categorize everything into to-do lists. I make one for each class and one for general things such as workouts, appointments, etc. After I understand what I need to do for the week, I can break the lists down into daily tasks. One thing that I have found helpful is to prioritize five things I accomplish that day. Since my days are unpredictable if my to-do list grows, I will complete as much as I can. At the end of the day, I will prioritize the rest for the next day. Sometimes time blocking works for me; sometimes, it doesn’t. Here is an example of my routine on a typical day.

 

7:00 am- Wake up, read devotional, and meditate

7:20 am – 8:30 Read for class

8:30 am – 9:00 am Get ready and head to Bootcamp (exercise)

9:00 am -9:55 am Boot camp

10:00 am -10:30 Go home and get ready for the day.

10:30 am -12:30 Classwork, readings, and easy-to-do items

12:30 pm -1:30 Lunch and prep for meetings

1:30 pm-4:00 Meetings

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Ensure I have completed my top five items for the day and review my other items.

6:00 pm-10:00 pm Dinner, read, complete one self-care task, and bed.

 

I started being intentional about how I incorporate ways to mitigate anxiety. Therapy, meditation, boot camp, are centered around self-care. All of these things allow me to ground myself and rest.  I try to meditate every morning and throughout the day if I am extra anxious. If I am frustrated, high-intensity workouts help me to release my frustration.  For self-care, I schedule something to look forward to. For me, I like to get massages,  go to the nail salon, schedule dinner with a friend, or take a weekend day trip. Lastly, it is important to emphasize rest. Somedays, I do not accomplish as much as I like, and that is 100% okay. I learned the hard way to prioritize rest, or my body will force it.

As the fall semester comes to a close, think about how you can develop or refine your routine and prioritize self-care?

 

Resources:

https://studentaffairs.iupui.edu/health/counseling-psychological/index.html

https://www.headspace.com/meditation/tips

 

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