Taking Charge of Your Training to Maximize Your Future…

Taking Charge of Your Training to Taking Charge of Your Training to Maximize Your Future…Maximize Your Future…

Adapted by Dr. Gail P. Taylor,University of Texas at San Antonio

Revised 5/2013

http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

Life is all about p

erspective…

Your Perspective, Your Your Perspective, Your Point of View, Really Point of View, Really

Matters in Life…Particularly Matters in Life…Particularly Involving your Future…Involving your Future…

Thought Question #1:Thought Question #1:How to you view College?How to you view College?

Attitudes about CollegeAttitudes about College

It’s something to complete as soon as possibleIt’s something to complete as soon as possibleIt must be completed ON TIME!It must be completed ON TIME!It’s something my parents made me doIt’s something my parents made me doIt’s a way of lifeIt’s a way of lifeIt’s all about grades!It’s all about grades!It’s a guaranteed ticket for a good jobIt’s a guaranteed ticket for a good jobIt’s a time to explore!It’s a time to explore!It’s a time to build credentials for a future careerIt’s a time to build credentials for a future career

Where are you?Where are you?

You’ve likely adjusted to college…You’ve likely adjusted to college… You’re figuring out gradesYou’re figuring out grades You’ve got a support network and friendsYou’ve got a support network and friends Now…Now…

How to make college deeper/richerHow to make college deeper/richerHow to prepare for next stepsHow to prepare for next steps

How will you do this?How will you do this?EngineersEngineersBiologyBiology

Many just sit in classes day after day…Many just sit in classes day after day…

Others seek to stand out!Others seek to stand out!

You must develop your You must develop your credentials!credentials!

Time to start planning and Time to start planning and focusing on your next focusing on your next

steps!steps!

Planning is bringing the future Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can into the present so that you can

do something about it nowdo something about it now    

~Alan Lakein~Alan Lakein

Plan NOW to get aPlan NOW to get a

PhD or JD, or MD, PhD or JD, or MD, DDS, or PT, or PA, DDS, or PT, or PA,

or….or….

General PreparationGeneral PreparationResearch your PathResearch your PathDecide something!Decide something!Establish Your Credentials!Establish Your Credentials!

Coursework foundationCoursework foundationTake what you’ll need, not degree requirements!Take what you’ll need, not degree requirements!

Look at graduate program requirementsLook at graduate program requirementsMake Program of StudyMake Program of StudyLearn your materialLearn your materialGet strong grades!Get strong grades!

Obtain Professional ExperienceObtain Professional ExperienceInternshipsInternshipsCo-opsCo-opsOn-campus ResearchOn-campus ResearchSummer programsSummer programs

Plan to Achieve Your Objectives!Plan to Achieve Your Objectives!Cultivate Letters of Recommendation and ContactsCultivate Letters of Recommendation and Contacts

Meet your professors- LORMeet your professors- LOR Get to know other studentsGet to know other students

Stretch yourself with Leadership experiences, etc.Stretch yourself with Leadership experiences, etc.Volunteer and get involved (education)Volunteer and get involved (education)Learn how to work with groupsLearn how to work with groupsTheses/ProposalsTheses/ProposalsComplete required tasksComplete required tasks

Degree paperworkDegree paperwork GREGRE MCATMCAT EITEITEvaluate Grad/Prof SchoolsEvaluate Grad/Prof SchoolsReassess as needed!Reassess as needed!

Plan to Achieve Your Objectives!Plan to Achieve Your Objectives!Overcome “weaknesses”Overcome “weaknesses”

Fear #1Fear #1 Oral presentationsOral presentations WritingWriting FearFear PassivityPassivity AnxietyAnxiety Single-mindednessSingle-mindedness Self-doubt/Imposter SyndromeSelf-doubt/Imposter SyndromeReassess as needed!Reassess as needed!

Path to PhDPath to PhDUndergraduate -> PhD (Biosciences) Undergraduate -> PhD (Biosciences) Undergraduate -> Start MS -> PhD (others)Undergraduate -> Start MS -> PhD (others)Undergraduate -> Postbacc -> PhDUndergraduate -> Postbacc -> PhDUndergraduate -> Job (research) -> PhDUndergraduate -> Job (research) -> PhDUndergraduate -> MS -> PhD (others)Undergraduate -> MS -> PhD (others)

Depends on:Depends on: Research ExperienceResearch Experience Skill in labSkill in lab LettersLetters ConfidenceConfidence GradesGrades

PhD Preparation in ParticularPhD Preparation in Particular

Course workCourse workLaboratory Research & Prof DevelopmentLaboratory Research & Prof Development Find laboratoryFind laboratory Ethics and laboratory safetyEthics and laboratory safety Learn lab cultureLearn lab culture TechniquesTechniques Reading the literature/High level reading Reading the literature/High level reading ExperimentsExperiments Data AnalysisData Analysis Writing AbstractsWriting Abstracts ConferencesConferences Poster and Oral PresentationPoster and Oral Presentation Courses (mentor recommended)Courses (mentor recommended) Summer ResearchSummer Research Writing ThesesWriting Theses

GRE/MCAT TestsGRE/MCAT Tests

Opportunities often Come Opportunities often Come Disguised as Hard Work, so Disguised as Hard Work, so

Some People Don’t Recognize Some People Don’t Recognize Them….Them….

Ann Landers…Ann Landers…

Small opportunities are often Small opportunities are often the beginning of great the beginning of great

enterprises….enterprises….~Demosthenes~Demosthenes

Why Perform Research?Why Perform Research?

Why Research?Why Research?

Reasons diverse as there are researchersReasons diverse as there are researchers DiscoveryDiscovery Help othersHelp others ““Born” researcherBorn” researcher CuriosityCuriosity Always something new going onAlways something new going on Exciting environmentExciting environment Bored when not learning new thingsBored when not learning new things Can change fieldsCan change fields

Other Benefits to UG ResearchOther Benefits to UG ResearchAcademic:Academic:

Validates coursework Intro to balancing school and research Deeper Faculty contact/mentoring

Personal: Self-confidence Maturity Knowledge that you can have an impact Generally, an increase in motivation

Professional Observe a “high level” career Learn to speak like a professional CV/Resume that stands out Letters of recommendation Publications

Doors open into Grad School or JobsDoors open into Grad School or Jobs

Shhh…I’ll Give Away a Shhh…I’ll Give Away a Secret…Secret…

How to Impress Faculty… How to Impress Faculty… Strong grasp of your course workStrong grasp of your course workStrong work ethic and productivityStrong work ethic and productivityResponsibly finish what is assigned to youResponsibly finish what is assigned to youWork to solve own problemsWork to solve own problemsAttitude- enjoyment of what you are doingAttitude- enjoyment of what you are doingTeamworkTeamworkRespect self and othersRespect self and othersGood communicationGood communicationHonesty/IntegrityHonesty/IntegrityHigh level critical thinking (take time to think!)High level critical thinking (take time to think!)

How do you approach problems?How do you approach problems? What is the next step of your project?What is the next step of your project? What are the implications of your project?What are the implications of your project?

Types of Opportunities not to Miss!Types of Opportunities not to Miss!

If you want to deepen your education and yourselfIf you want to deepen your education and yourself WorkshopsWorkshops National Summer Programs (REU, SURF, MURF)National Summer Programs (REU, SURF, MURF) VolunteeringVolunteering Work Study (WSRTP)Work Study (WSRTP) Honors Research (COS or Honors College)Honors Research (COS or Honors College) Leadership opportunitiesLeadership opportunities InternshipsInternships Research Training/Independent StudyResearch Training/Independent Study Research Training Programs – RISE, MARC, McNair, LSAMP, Research Training Programs – RISE, MARC, McNair, LSAMP,

TREE, HLAETREE, HLAE