If you’re a graduate student like us, summer isn’t just an opportunity to unwind after a long academic year – it’s a time to make progress on your “grad school” to-do list. With unfinished research papers in the cue, new data to analyze, and a part- or full-time internship, it can be tough to get…
One of the most common questions I get is how to prepare for virtual interviews (i.e. Skype or phone interviews). It can be really nerve-wracking to interview with someone you’ve never met before as is, but add ever-failing technology and you’ve got a recipe for potential awkward moments. To give some background, usually video-chat or…
As some of you know, my graduate school friends and I started a blog just a few years ago called Grad Girl. It was intended as a space where professional women working in the social sciences, social services, research or clinical positions, or anything else related to these fields could be showcased for their accomplishments…
Here’s what I’ve been reading this week. Educational disparities still exist: we should face this reality and work towards true equality. It could become harder to get birth control if this new rule passes. “Just because a teacher is black does not mean that he or she is going to relate to every black student’s…
Most doctoral programs have comprehensive exams (or some programs call them qualifying exams). Usually, these exams happen after coursework is completed and passing comprehensive exams (or, “comps” as they are affectionately called) means that you are officially a “doctoral candidate.” There is a lot of variability in what these exams look like. Some schools’ exams…
One of the goals of applied child development research is to understand the impact of programs and services that serve children and families. Preschool is one of these hot-button programs that has gotten a lot of attention in the press recently. Preschool has been known to have many positive benefits for children (especially for children from low-income backgrounds), but…
Cultivating deep, meaningful relationships with friends after college can be really difficult. What’s your advice for how to make lasting friendships during graduate school? This is a question I get a lot. After college it seems really confusing and difficult to figure out how to make friends. Well, I’ve got some tips for how to make…
As graduate students, we are expected to do a lot. We wear many different hats and can sometimes be a student, teacher, and a mentor all in one day.
Here’s what I’ve been reading around the web this week!
Some of you might be wondering why I have this website and blog. Well, I’m here to tell you! Over the years I have been solicited many times to give advice to undergraduates, high school students, and even other graduate students about applying to graduate school, post-graduate job searches, and trying to make the right choice. I’ve…
Hi everyone! I’m introducing a new series to the blog! Each week (at least that’s the goal), I’ll post a short list of articles from around the web that I’ve read. The articles will deal with issues related to children and families. I’m starting this as a way to (a) keep myself accountable and focus on…
One of the suggestions I gave on the gap year post was to become a research assistant, or RA. I wanted to take some time to explain what that means. Institutions that conduct research (universities, nonprofit firms, institutes, etc.) require assistance at all levels of research from PhD level, to MA level, to even the BA…
We’ve all been there…you finally mustered up the motivation to get your desktop organized and suddenly you realize your inbox is COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. I know this feeling well, so I’ve compiled a list of quick tips for staying organized. If it takes 2 minutes just do it now If you can just answer…
As we all know this year’s election was unprecedented and unusual; it has caused a lot of worry and uncertainty among many different groups of people across the country. And while I have been saddened by much of the dialogue that has come from this administration I have also taken strides in my own life…
A recent Brookings article highlights some of the details underneath the hooplah that was this years election. The article talks about some concepts and inequalities that social scientists and education researchers have known for years: folks who live in rural America are not receiving basic education about how the economy works, this is something urbanites take for…
