Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on February 21, 2012
If you’ve been a regular reader of Your Grad School Coach and you’ve learned a little bit about me, you know that I’m sort of a tiny bit of a Jay-Z fan stan. I’ve written before about how contrary to what you will hear in the media, there is positivity and motivation and inspiration to glean from hip hop music. Not only has the music been a soundtrack for my life, but hip hop helped me get into grad school, through it, and beyond.
Just earlier today, I’m listening one of my favorite cuts from Jay-Z’s classic album “The Blueprint” and I’m realizing how applicable these lyrics are to applying to grad school. It’s ironic, at best, because Jay-Z never attended college – much less graduate school, but applicable nonetheless. [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on September 19, 2011
A few weeks ago, I discussed how an accountability partner can dramatically improve your chances of getting your applications in order and being successfully admitted to your graduate program of choice. If you’re a college student, it is high-time to start mining your social connections for candidates – classes, clubs or organizations, even online forums.
But first things first…. How do you identify good candidates for accountability partners? Here are a few tips: [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on September 1, 2011
Your best ally in applying to graduate school is someone who is right there in the trenches with you. That’s right – someone you can meet in the library to research which programs are best to apply to, download application packets, proofread your essay draft, and call, text, or IM every now and then to commiserate over how frustrating the entire grad school application process can be.
This person – your ally, your ace, your partner in crime – is what’s called an accountability partner. A strict definition of the term is a working relationship with someone who can help keep you on task. If you are BFF with a dirty word called procrastination, let’s just say that you need to find an accountability partner, like, yesterday.
Many hopes of getting into grad school have been dashed by waiting until the last minute to get your applications in order. [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on July 12, 2011
Dude… who are you?!
It’s not enough that you got an A out of the class. Are you memorable? Can the professor truly say something about your character and potential based off of a one-to-one interaction? If not, then think again about whether this person should write a letter of recommendation for you.
What you’re most likely to get is bland, boring, and not much to say besides, well, this student did well in my class. Is this recommendation doing any actual recommending for you? Probably not.
Are graduate admissions committees likely to be underwhelmed and unimpressed? You betcha! [click to continue…]
Get Clear. Get Into Grad School. Get On With Your Life. by Dr. Khia on May 27, 2011
Lifestyle design is one of those new buzzwords.
You can thank Timothy Ferris’ wildly popular book “The 4 Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich” for doing the honors.
I’m a pretty avid Barnes and Noble aisle browser and I ran across the book title right smack dab in the middle of my grad school tenure. You can see how a title like that will catch the eye, especially when you’re several years into your grad school career, your dissertation is looming, and it feels like you may *never* finish (with your sanity intact). [click to continue…]
