Taking Charge of Your Training to Maximize Your

Taking Charge of Your Training to Maximize Your Future… Adapted by Dr. Gail P. Taylor, University of Texas at San Antonio Revised 5/2013

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Your Perspective, Your Point of View, Really Matters in Life…Particularly Involving your Future…

Thought Question #1: How to you view College?

Attitudes about College It’s something to complete as soon as possible It must be completed ON TIME! It’s something my parents made me do It’s a way of life It’s all about grades! It’s a guaranteed ticket for a good job It’s a time to explore! It’s a time to build credentials for a future career

Where are you? You’ve likely adjusted to college… n n n You’re figuring out grades You’ve got a support network and friends Now… How to make college deeper/richer How to prepare for next steps n How will you do this? Engineers Biology

Many just sit in classes day after day… Others seek to stand out!

You must develop your credentials! Time to start planning and focusing on your next steps!

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now ~Alan Lakein

Plan NOW to get a Ph. D or JD, or MD, DDS, or PT, or PA, or….

General Preparation Research your Path Decide something! Establish Your Credentials! n Coursework foundation Take what you’ll need, not degree requirements! n Look at graduate program requirements Make Program of Study Learn your material Get strong grades! n Obtain Professional Experience Internships Co-ops On-campus Research Summer programs

Plan to Achieve Your Objectives! Cultivate Letters of Recommendation and Contacts n n Meet your professors- LOR Get to know other students Stretch yourself with Leadership experiences, etc. Volunteer and get involved (education) Learn how to work with groups Theses/Proposals Complete required tasks n n Degree paperwork GRE MCAT EIT Evaluate Grad/Prof Schools Reassess as needed!

Plan to Achieve Your Objectives! Overcome “weaknesses” n n n n Fear #1 Oral presentations Writing Fear Passivity Anxiety Single-mindedness Self-doubt/Imposter Syndrome Reassess as needed!

Path to Ph. D Undergraduate -> Ph. D (Biosciences) Undergraduate -> Start MS -> Ph. D (others) Undergraduate -> Postbacc -> Ph. D Undergraduate -> Job (research) -> Ph. D Undergraduate -> MS -> Ph. D (others) Depends on: n n n Research Experience Skill in lab Letters Confidence Grades

Ph. D Preparation in Particular Course work Laboratory Research & Prof Development n n n n Find laboratory Ethics and laboratory safety Learn lab culture Techniques Reading the literature/High level reading Experiments Data Analysis Writing Abstracts Conferences Poster and Oral Presentation Courses (mentor recommended) Summer Research Writing Theses GRE/MCAT Tests

Opportunities often Come Disguised as Hard Work, so Some People Don’t Recognize Them…. Ann Landers…

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises…. ~Demosthenes

Why Perform Research?

Why Research? Reasons diverse as there are researchers n n n n Discovery Help others “Born” researcher Curiosity Always something new going on Exciting environment Bored when not learning new things Can change fields

Other Benefits to UG Research 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 Jobs

Shhh…I’ll Give Away a Secret…

How to Impress Faculty… Strong grasp of your course work Strong work ethic and productivity Responsibly finish what is assigned to you Work to solve own problems Attitude- enjoyment of what you are doing Teamwork Respect self and others Good communication Honesty/Integrity High level critical thinking (take time to think!) n n n How do you approach problems? What is the next step of your project? What are the implications of your project?

Types of Opportunities not to Miss! If you want to deepen your education and yourself n n n n n Workshops National Summer Programs (REU, SURF, MURF) Volunteering Work Study (WSRTP) Honors Research (COS or Honors College) Leadership opportunities Internships Research Training/Independent Study Research Training Programs – RISE, MARC, Mc. Nair, LSAMP, TREE, HLAE