Elevator Pitches and Personal Statements

How to answer the question: What do you do?

What is the purpose of an elevator pitch Concise statement of your research/work interests and experiences to be shared informally and orally in various settings. verbally communicating the relevance of our work in the context of benefits to society and human health is incredibly difficult. It is safe to assume that everyone you meet will have no clue about what your work is all about.

When to use it? Conferences Networking events The bar Whenever you are asked what you do for a living.

Goal Between 30 – 60 seconds, no longer Goal is to create a memorable and positive impression

Questions the pitch should answer What is the topic of your research/work What is the problem, issue, or question that you are asking and addressing in your research? Why is the problem interesting? How does your work help the field?

One way to go about creating a pitch Frame it as a narrative arc, Happy – Sad – Hope – Happy Volcanoes are beautiful But they are also dangerous We are working to understand volcanoes better So we can reduce the hazard of volcanoes, while keeping them beautiful May be possible to create a haiku. Ill keep thinking

Another method Introduction– Necessary if you are the one making the introduction. One-liner – Incorporate the aforementioned one-liner to start things off. Reel ‘em in– What is the major question/problem you study? What was your motivation (e.g. I noticed X but no one was looking at it…). What are you doing?– How are you answering this question? For example, you could describe your use of field surveys, experiments or modelling. And?– What have you found? What’s next? Why does this matter? Don’t think of it as a justification for your science. Think of it as an opportunity to show others the value of science. https://sharingscience.agu.org/craft-an-elevator-pitch/

What is needed Eye contact Enthusiasm Lots of practice

Proof of concept: the “cocktail party pitch” Contexts • telling friends or family what you do • discussing your work at poster sessions with possible collaborators, peers, etc. • cocktail parties, receptions, lunch meetings, campus visit engagements Features • Conversational, more of an exchange, an actual dialogue • Listen very carefully, and respond! • Seek connections between your research interests and your interlocutor’s interests • Ask questions https://graduateschool.nd.edu/assets/32665/elevator_pitch_presentation.pdf

Common Mistakes Misjudging your audience: professors vs museum goers vs 1st graders Too much jargon Too much Information

Personal Statements Upload a 1-page statement in which you describe your objectives in applying to the graduate program in Earth Sciences at the UO, your preparation and skills, your personal and academic accomplishments, your scientific interests, and your goals for the future. The statement provides the opportunity for you to inform the admissions committee about any intangibles not represented elsewhere in your application. If there are specific faculty that you are interested in working with, you are encouraged to identify them in the statement.

What to do Don’t make assumptions: check requirements, review prompt thoroughly If there are no specifics: trend is towards shorter essays, especially in STEM

Keep it personal You as an individual Your life after college we all picked up a rock as a kid, and found it pretty. So did every other geologist. For UO, Marla is reading our applications, she is sick and tired of statements starting with, “ever since I was a kid”

Tailor it to the university and make connections Acceptance is about being the best match rather than being the most qualified They want to see you can participate in ongoing research, and search out advisors to start your own project Demonstrate that you can thrive in the grad schools environment Finish with a strong statement about why the school is your top pick https://www.petersons.com/blog/write-a-graduate-school-essay-that-will-knock-their-socks-off/

8 basic tips Frame it as academic achievements despite challenges Articulate your reasons for selecting your chosen career Be specific Do not be generic, one size does not fit all Whatever your reasons for applying, be sincere Describe professional interests, particularly as they relate to research Demonstrate your motivation and capacity to succeed Be concise https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2012/10/12/10-tips-for-writing-a-grad-school-personal-statement/37398231/