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Hey @AcademicChatter,
Wanted to share some things I wish *I* had asked/known (directly or indirectly) when picking a graduate program / PI, a thread:
Wanted to share some things I wish *I* had asked/known (directly or indirectly) when picking a graduate program / PI, a thread:
inre program (milestones):
- What are prelims/quals/dissertation proposal/ defense like?
- Rate of students passing each of these milestones and matriculating out?
- For those who do not pass any of these, is there are a second try? A third?
- How many people are forced out?
- What are prelims/quals/dissertation proposal/ defense like?
- Rate of students passing each of these milestones and matriculating out?
- For those who do not pass any of these, is there are a second try? A third?
- How many people are forced out?
inre program (coursework):
- When I& #39;m taking classes, how much time should I expect to dedicate to research?
- Besides in-field courses, do non-field courses count towards my credits (e.g grad level courses in writing, tech comms, marketing, which are all HIGHLY useful)
- When I& #39;m taking classes, how much time should I expect to dedicate to research?
- Besides in-field courses, do non-field courses count towards my credits (e.g grad level courses in writing, tech comms, marketing, which are all HIGHLY useful)
inre PI (communication):
- Avg time to graduation w/in group?
- How often do you meet individually vs group?
- Communication expectations of me, and what I should expect from you?
- Hours of availability? Best time to meet?
- How often do you expect me to be campus vs remote?
- Avg time to graduation w/in group?
- How often do you meet individually vs group?
- Communication expectations of me, and what I should expect from you?
- Hours of availability? Best time to meet?
- How often do you expect me to be campus vs remote?
inre PI con& #39;d (papers):
- How many submitted/published papers do I need (rough estimate) to defend?
- Will I be 1st author? (THIS IS A HUGE ONE)
- How involved are you with writing & revisions?
- What should be my publishing timeline?
- How do I know if I& #39;m ~falling behind~?
- How many submitted/published papers do I need (rough estimate) to defend?
- Will I be 1st author? (THIS IS A HUGE ONE)
- How involved are you with writing & revisions?
- What should be my publishing timeline?
- How do I know if I& #39;m ~falling behind~?
inre PI con& #39;d (presenting):
- Will I get to present at conferences? If so, how many? how often?
- Do you create such opportunities for students, or am I expected to find these myself?
- Can I collaborate with other students, or groups based on networking?
- Will I get to present at conferences? If so, how many? how often?
- Do you create such opportunities for students, or am I expected to find these myself?
- Can I collaborate with other students, or groups based on networking?
inre PI con& #39;d (mentoring):
- How do you feel about mentors beyond this group? (aka, if I seek research help from other faculty/students will this be deemed inappropriate?)
- Have you mentored students through post-grad career opportunities?
- Can i seek co-advisement?
- How do you feel about mentors beyond this group? (aka, if I seek research help from other faculty/students will this be deemed inappropriate?)
- Have you mentored students through post-grad career opportunities?
- Can i seek co-advisement?
inre PI con& #39;d (funding):
- What does my funding look like? Is there a chance it falls through?
- If I apply to external funding (fellowships, grants, etc) will you support me? Write me rec letters? Some PIs may refuse for early students as they don& #39;t "know you to vouch for you"
- What does my funding look like? Is there a chance it falls through?
- If I apply to external funding (fellowships, grants, etc) will you support me? Write me rec letters? Some PIs may refuse for early students as they don& #39;t "know you to vouch for you"
inre PI con& #39;d (time away):
- What do you define as vacation vs. time needed off (emergencies, sicks days, mental health days)
- How much is reasonable vs not?
- How much notice would you prefer before I take any time off?
- What is your view on work-life balance?
- What do you define as vacation vs. time needed off (emergencies, sicks days, mental health days)
- How much is reasonable vs not?
- How much notice would you prefer before I take any time off?
- What is your view on work-life balance?
