So What Are You Going To Do With That? Teach?

I have seriously lost count of the times I've been asked this question, and every time it makes me want to tell the asker to go find a cliff. Because, actually, yes, I do intend on teaching. I love being in the classroom, and I try to be a good professor. But that's not the only reason I study what I do, and it's certainly not the only reason why I'm in grad school. Still, whenever I explain my research to people, nine times out of ten I'll be asked what the heck I plan on doing with my diploma. And the added little barb that I'll "only" ever be able to teach about it kind of stings. (Does anyone have a good response to this? I'd love to hear some great comebacks for this question--I know I'm not the only one who has gotten it!)

But this question brings up two rather annoying points about the general view of grad school--something that I didn't really realize before I got into higher education and wish I'd thought about some. One is that most people view research rather poorly. Kind of a 'duh' comment, but not something I like to think about when I look at my own research. When it doesn't have a direct correlation with some awesome outcome that is obviously going to "make the world a better place" (often with the undercurrent of making someone a lot of money) people don't view it as important. Not that my research is science for science's sake, but most people don't understand that, or even want to understand that.

Second, and more importantly, is that people view teaching as a last-resort option or career. Anyone who would *want* to get up in front of 400 students and discuss evolution, Shakespeare, or the Krebs Cycle must be nuts. Um, hello? Why is this? I honestly don't understand. Teaching is so vital to our society and way of life that the fact that it is undervalued and viewed pessimistically really ticks me off. Wanting to teach may not make me a whole lot of money, but it certainly is an awesome career choice. (Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.)

Anyhow, thinking about this lovely little barb, and how I've tried to deflect it all these years, has made me start thinking about the other things people say and do to belittle grad school. Please, please chime in with more if you've got them!

So, things I've been told about choosing grad school:
-So, couldn't find a real job, could ya?
-What, you wanna be Einstein? (Okay, not asked of me, but someone else I know...)
-Why would you want to do that?
-You must really like to torture yourself.
-Do you like being poor?

Anyone got some good ones to add to the list??

Accepting an Offer?

It's about that time of year for those of you who might have obtained offers to attend a graduate program. I'm curious--anyone out there get an offer to start a program in the fall? Maybe even multiple offers? It's about that time of year when most schools are requiring everyone to accept or decline and I'd love to hear if you're happily embarking on the whole graduate school fun-house!

(And I swear I will have some good posts coming up. It's just that this:
 
is coming up very soon for me, and I've been a tad bit busy: It would be a whole lot more exciting if #1: my dissertation was complete and signed off, and #2, I had a job or at least some kind of plans for what the heck I'm going to do once I'm done...)

Also, anyone up for a guest post? Something you have been dying to discuss about grad school life or otherwise? Just let me know!

Student Groups

(Ack--sorry, Spring Break got the better of me and I haven't managed to get back to posting. Sorry! I swear, I'll be better about this. I hope.)

I am totally going to steal this post's topic from a friend of mine, because it rocks! (Thanks--you know who you are :) Anyhow, within my department this past year I've witnessed a phenomenon among the undergraduate students. They have organized! (In some way, this instills fear into my professorial heart, but I know it's a good thing.) A thriving student group has sprung up among the students, offering a great new resource for the undergraduates to do some things that I think are incredible and would otherwise never have happened within my department. So, my main piece of advice for today: if your department has a student organization, join it! If you don't, start one! It will help you so much in your graduate school goals.

Why do I think this is such a good thing? Because it offers a place to talk about where you're headed. The fellow undergraduate students in your department may be friends (or not) but they all share in your experience. Those that are planning on attending graduate school offer a valuable resource in several ways: someone to talk to, someone who may have more information, and someone who can help. Alone, a lot of undergraduates (myself included) find themselves attempting to tackle getting into graduate school based on the information I'd gleaned through the years (and of course, blogs like this one :). In some ways, this is just not enough. Other students can provide you with more information--even if it's just that a certain part of the country has the worst winters imaginable and your beach-loving self may want to think twice before attending there. Or maybe some much more valuable information: they've met the person you're thinking of applying to work with and they're going to retire sometime soon and aren't taking any new students.

The other benefits are that these student groups can allow for attending functions and events that otherwise might be too pricey or too terrifying to attend alone. There was a major conference in a nearby city a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was great to see this whole student group get tickets and attend. Even when there was a large group of them who showed up to my talk and laughed at my corny jokes.... I hope they learned a lot from the meetings (if only that they never, ever run on time). It's a great opportunity to see how "real life" research works, and hopefully they obtained a better understanding of whether or not that's something they really want to do.

I didn't have a student group in my undergraduate institution, and after seeing how well this one is working, I really wish I had. It's offered some great resources for the students. If you don't have a group--don't despair! Starting one really isn't that hard. Ask around and see if any of your fellow students within your major are interested. I would be surprised if you couldn't find a few people who would be. Most schools will ask you to have a faculty or staff director (asking around for who is interested--and asking nicely and wisely--should make this step pretty easy). There's usually some small paperwork to file to start a student group, and viola! You're ready to go. Then the fun starts: plan a few interesting activities. Maybe a field trip. Have some fun and get a chance to talk to one another. You'll be surprised what you might learn!

Grading Papers? Play some Bingo :)

Thanks to everyone for chiming in on squares to add. This was one of those random, quick things that I've wanted to do for some time, because it cracks me up. I can think of several ways to play the game (maybe a little competition between several TA's from the same class?), but I'll leave that up to you. Hope you have fun!!

So, over the last couple of days there has been a HUGE influx of people to see this, which is awesome, but if you're going to use it, please cite back here! Thanks!

The Myth of Spring Break

I remember a time when there was such a mythical thing as some time off in the spring. A break. A vacation, even. Such a thing has ceased to exist for me, and may it rest in peace. Someday I may try to revive it, but for the moment, it's long gone. See, this "time off" between quarters has become a mad dash to attempt to finish research before the next slew of conferences, get the rest of my life back in some semblance of order after neglecting it all quarter, and otherwise attempting to regain my sanity. If I can sneak in a day off, all the better. But most of this past week of "break" has been spent at work. And I'm not alone in this. I have had the good company of quite a few grad students roaming the halls, looking slightly less stressed than normal (not me, I have been pulling my hair out), but at work all the same.

So, for today's belated post (I have had this awesome thing I wanted to do all week, but hopefully I'll get to it on Sunday), I want to ask: are you working during spring break this year? Or are you getting away? (No, getting away to a conference doesn't count either. That's still work.) Are you happy about it? Or are you catching parts of the endless spring break coverage on TV and wishing you were somewhere with a bikini and a beer? (Or, at least sitting somewhere quietly, not working.)

I do like hearing from people, so pipe up in the comments!

Take Home Conference Messages

Every time I go to a conference for my field, I come home wondering where some of the people come from. For the most part there are a lot of really great people who put their best foot forward at these meetings and I really enjoy meeting them. Then there are the others. So, on a bit of a lighter note today, what not to do at a conference (all inspired by this past week's meeting):

1. Don't go barefoot. Seriously. I saw not one, but two people wandering around the Hilton without shoes. Um. Yeah.
2. If you're going to present, don't dress like you're headed to the bar for drinks. And then don't wonder why people aren't taking your quite so seriously.
3. Don't go over time when you're already behind schedule, but think that because you're the moderator, you can still do it. Especially when you're reading your talk and it's a majorly dull topic.
4. Don't NOT use statistics. Or don't use them poorly. Nothing will make me want to poke you more (and I'm no expert on the subject, but seriously, if you have data, at least analyze it!).
5. Don't spend your whole talk discussing the stats you used to look at your data. Your talk should say something more than an equation--unless, ya know, you're at a math conference.
6. When meeting someone new, don't spend fifteen minutes bragging about how Berkeley asked you to design a class around your material from last year and now you're lecturing there for the benefit of all. Because I just don't care. Sorry.
7. Don't see your former/current TA and point and whisper with your friends while she can still see you. (This is especially good to note when she still has your paper and final to grade. Not that I would actually let that influence me...but it did piss me off.) TA's are people too.
8. Don't be boring. If you can help it. I mean, I know I'm guilty of this, but the best talks are the ones that are engaging (and maybe even make you laugh a bit). At least act like YOU are interested in your topic.

Okay, that's all I've got. But really, the conference was a good one. I loved the session I was in and found it really interesting. I loved getting to see a few people I haven't had a chance to chat with in a while, and I really enjoyed getting some new information out of them. Lots of good stuff there. I also loved seeing the people wandering around barefoot and finding it highly amusing. Ahhh. Gotta love it!

Conferences

Almost every field of study has a large gathering once or twice a year. Some have more, some less, some are broken down by region or sub-field, but they have a one big thing in common: people in your chosen field are going to get together to share their work. This will usually be done in papers given (little speeches often with power-point), or posters (large sheets of paper with all your data on them). As I am currently totally procrastinating writing my talk for next weekend (ugh!) I thought I'd touch on this topic a bit today.

I have a small confession about conferences: I really don't like them. Now, I know a lot of people do, and find them totally engaging and a great way to meet people. I don't. Just the thought of them kind of makes my stomach curl into a small ball and roll around my abdomen (wow, that was a strange image!). BUT, I still end up going to them, because they are a great thing to add to your CV, and a good way to get some traction for your work. For those of you applying to grad school, they are a great way to see what research is currently being undertaken by researchers of choice, and also a great way to introduce yourself to potential collaborators and advisers. Of course, if you're shy like me, you might also find yourself grumbling at the thought of talking to people you don't know, and quaking at the thought of having to get up and deliver a paper to a room full of people (why this is different from giving a lecture to a few hundred students--which I really don't mind--is totally beyond me).

I swear this is what every room I've given a talk in looks like!

Okay, moving on. You're thinking about attending a conference. If you're not presenting or enrolled in a grad program (or living nearby) I don't recommend attending one of the big meetings if it entails traveling and lodging and a lot of $$ spent to get there--it's probably not going to be in your best interest. Of course, this depends somewhat, but do keep that in mind. Otherwise, I do recommend attending to present your research. Remember that signing up to present can take place almost a year ahead of time (WHY they do this makes me nuts!), so get those abstracts in early. If you're shy, you might want to have a friend in your field go with you. Prepare and practise what you'll say ahead of time. A lot. Dress professionally. You know, the usual stuff. I don't have too many pointers for the presentations itself--I still don't have this down. I probably never will. Honestly, I find myself looking forward to a day when I can send someone else to give my talks for me :)

If you are looking to speak with certain people while at the conference, making an appointment ahead of time is a good thing to do--a quick email of introduction and reason for why you'd like to take a few minutes of their time is fair warning. Then you should attend their talk and actively listen--maybe come up with some questions. If you know someone who is a mutual friend with the person, have them introduce you (this works best, imho, as I think it helps cement who you are and can make things easier to start a conversation). Also, be brief. Conferences are hectic with stuff going on all the time. If you're meeting afterwards for dinner/drinks (of which there are always a lot), that's a different story, but waylaying a person in the hallway to chat is probably not the best thing to do, at least for very long. Also, if the person doesn't look eager to talk, don't take it personally: they are probably trying to hustle to their next meeting. It happens. Sending an email later, with some detailed (but not trip-them-up) questions can also be good to do.

Dang, that last paragraph has a lot of random stuff in it. Overall, remember conferences can be great resources. But they're also chock full of presentations, meetings, and oftentimes beer. You can gain a lot if you're willing to put yourself out there and speak with people, along with listening to all the talks. If you're shy, as I said before, bring a friend. It makes things a whole lot better, and you don't have to look like a total dork wandering around for days by yourself (*ahem* like I have for the past several years *ahem*).

Okay, now I swear I'm going to go work on that talk. Really. Honestly. Right after breakfast.