I agree with you one hundred percent Rosemary. Whatever happens during or after a graduate training, the whole venture can never be said to be a total waste of time if one came in seeking to diligently apply themselves to adding on or improving their skills set. After all, the inquisitive human brain never really stops learning until it is completely rendered waste or dead. If you are that kind of person who is excited learning new skills, then grad school could never be turn out as a total waste of time except risking to remain financially volatile or family delayed for longer than would be preferred. If nothing all, you get to meet new people, good or bad that may become quite motivational to the next steps in ones life.
Akwasi --- Original Message --- From: "Rosenbaum, Stacy" <[email protected]> Sent: 29 May 2015 13:47 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Graduate School Advice Hi Emily, I am about one year post PhD. I approached a few professors with a project idea in mind. A couple said "This is interesting but my lab isn't the right place to do it," and one (who became my advisor) expressed admiration for the initiative that I took in coming up with my own ideas. In my experience, the people who go to grad school and just wait for their advisor to hand them a project come out worse prepared than those who enthusiastically pursue their own questions/interests. They might learn the technical, writing, etc. skills needed to complete a research project, but they haven't been through the important (and more nuanced) process of coming up with an interesting, testable question, and wrestling with how best to answer it. No advisor that you would actually want to work with would think less of you for approaching them with an idea. On the contrary, it's a pretty good indicator that you're likely to be a successful graduate student. There has been a lot of good advice shared here about talking to everyone and anyone. The more information gathering you do, the more likely you are to find a program and advisor who is a good fit. The entire process of graduate school is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. One of the most valuable things I gained from the experience was learning how to take responsibility for my own learning, mistakes and all. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Even if you don't end up staying in academia, it's worthwhile. Note that despite his declaration that grad school is a waste of time, Dr. Dossey signs his name followed by PhD and field. Somebody who truly didn't think graduate school had any value would not continue to profess the academic qualifications it afforded him. Cheers, Stacy Rosenbaum Behavioral Endocrinology Postdoctoral Fellow Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology Lincoln Park Zoo Ph: 312-742-2250 [email protected] On May 28, 2015, at 5:10 AM, Robert Pettit <[email protected]> wrote: > Emily, > > As someone who just wrapped up a graduate degree program and has watched all > the joy and sorrow that can bring (to me and my classmates) I would say you > need to know where to strike the balance between sticking to your guns and > being adaptable. Maybe your dream professor will string you along and the > funding won’t work correctly, that is hardly a unique experience. But > hopefully if that occurs you will have been talking to a few other pretty > good professors, one of whom will have space for you in their lab. Basically > don’t put all your eggs in one basket and make sure you are talking to > absolutely everyone, you never know what the person next to you at the > conference is thinking about. > > Hope this helps, > > > Rob > > >> On May 28, 2015, at 12:17 AM, Malcolm McCallum >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> If you want to know what to do in graduate school, how to go about being in >> graduate school, and how to be a success in graduate school, and >> successfully find a job after graduate school, >> >> Read this: >> P.B. Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist >> http://www.amazon.com/Advice-Scientist-Alfred-Foundation-Series/dp/0465000924 >> >> It will be the best $5 (used) you ever spent. >> >> or, read a free online copy and spend your $5 to get lunch and read the >> entire thing while eating.... >> http://evolbiol.ru/medawar_advice/medawar.htm >> >> Now, I will say that some of the advice after graduation is more attune to >> someone in a research school or research-focused department. That fish >> won't bite in a teaching school, or a non-research school/department. >> >> The guy won a Nobel Prize, he probably has a clue. >> >> In any case, the bottom line is no two lives follow the same road. Take >> yours, and hopefully it will be fruitful. >> >> On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 11:14 PM, Malcolm McCallum < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> If you want to know what to do in graduate school, how to go about being >>> in graduate school, and how to be a success in graduate school, and >>> successfully find a job after graduate school, >>> >>> Read this: >>> P.B. Medawar >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/Advice-Scientist-Alfred-Foundation-Series/dp/0465000924 >>> >>> It will be the best $5 (used) you ever spent. >>> >>> Now, I will say that some of the advice after graduation is more attune to >>> someone in a research school or research-focused department. That fish >>> won't bite in a teaching school, or a non-research school/department. >>> >>> In any case, the bottom line is no two lives follow the same road. Take >>> yours, and hopefully it will be fruitful. >>> >>> malcolm >>> >>> On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 1:21 PM, Emily Mydlowski <[email protected] >>>> wrote: >>> >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> I'm delving into the graduate school search (MS and PhD programs) quite >>>> heavily and am seeking advice regarding approaching faculty with a >>>> research >>>> project. The system I'm interested in working on is that which has many >>>> unanswered, interesting questions I would love to pursue. From a faculty >>>> perspective, is proposing a project topic (too) bold of a move to a >>>> potential advisor? >>>> >>>> Any advice would be much appreciated. >>>> >>>> All the best, >>>> >>>> Emily Mydlowski >>>> Northern Michigan University >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP >>> Environmental Studies Program >>> Green Mountain College >>> Poultney, Vermont >>> Link to online CV and portfolio : >>> https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO >>> >>> “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array >>> of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a >>> many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers >>> alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” >>> -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 >>> into law. >>> >>> "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - >>> Allan Nation >>> >>> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >>> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, >>> and pollution. >>> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction >>> MAY help restore populations. >>> 2022: Soylent Green is People! >>> >>> The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) >>> Wealth w/o work >>> Pleasure w/o conscience >>> Knowledge w/o character >>> Commerce w/o morality >>> Science w/o humanity >>> Worship w/o sacrifice >>> Politics w/o principle >>> >>> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any >>> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may >>> contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized >>> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not >>> the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >>> destroy all copies of the original message. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP >> Environmental Studies Program >> Green Mountain College >> Poultney, Vermont >> Link to online CV and portfolio : >> https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO >> >> “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array >> of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a >> many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers >> alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” >> -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 >> into law. >> >> "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan >> Nation >> >> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, >> and pollution. >> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction >> MAY help restore populations. >> 2022: Soylent Green is People! >> >> The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) >> Wealth w/o work >> Pleasure w/o conscience >> Knowledge w/o character >> Commerce w/o morality >> Science w/o humanity >> Worship w/o sacrifice >> Politics w/o principle >> >> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any >> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may >> contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized >> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not >> the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >> destroy all copies of the original message.
