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

L i f e i s a l l a b o u t p e r s p e c t i v e …

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… You’re figuring out grades You’re figuring out grades You’ve got a support network and friends You’ve got a support network and friends Now… Now… How to make college deeper/richer How to prepare for next steps How will you do this? How will you do this?EngineersBiology

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

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

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

Plan to Achieve Your Objectives! Cultivate Letters of Recommendation and Contacts 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 Degree paperwork GRE MCAT EIT Evaluate Grad/Prof Schools Reassess as needed!

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

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

PhD Preparation in Particular Course work Laboratory Research & Prof Development Find laboratory Find laboratory Ethics and laboratory safety Ethics and laboratory safety Learn lab culture Learn lab culture Techniques Techniques Reading the literature/High level reading Reading the literature/High level reading Experiments Experiments Data Analysis Data Analysis Writing Abstracts Writing Abstracts Conferences Conferences Poster and Oral Presentation Poster and Oral Presentation Courses (mentor recommended) Courses (mentor recommended) Summer Research Summer Research Writing Theses 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 Discovery Discovery Help others Help others “Born” researcher “Born” researcher Curiosity Curiosity Always something new going on Always something new going on Exciting environment Exciting environment Bored when not learning new things Bored when not learning new things Can change fields Can change fields

Other Benefits to UG Research Academic: 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 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!) How do you approach problems? How do you approach problems? What is the next step of your project? What is the next step of your project? What are the implications 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 Workshops Workshops National Summer Programs (REU, SURF, MURF) National Summer Programs (REU, SURF, MURF) Volunteering Volunteering Work Study (WSRTP) Work Study (WSRTP) Honors Research (COS or Honors College) Honors Research (COS or Honors College) Leadership opportunities Leadership opportunities Internships Internships Research Training/Independent Study Research Training/Independent Study Research Training Programs – RISE, MARC, McNair, LSAMP, TREE, HLAE Research Training Programs – RISE, MARC, McNair, LSAMP, TREE, HLAE