Questions tagged [graduate-school]
On schools that award advanced academic degrees, such as masters and doctoral degrees. This tag is mainly for questions about the structure and organization of a graduate school or the fundamental experience of being a graduate student. Do not use this tag for questions about research in graduate school (use [research] instead), coursework in graduate school (use [coursework] instead), gaining admissions to graduate school (use [graduate-admissions]), etc.
0
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1answer
12 views
Should I look for research internships or stay at my university for the summer?
I am in my last semester of Physics and Mathematics and, at the same time, my first semester in a MS in Applied Math (which I will finish in two more semesters) in one of the top universities for ...
9
votes
3answers
933 views
Can someone explain European graduate programs in STEM fields? [on hold]
I'm a US undergraduate in math and physics and I'm looking to ultimately do a PhD in either physics or math. It seems that a lot of the research I connect with the most is happening in Europe. I also ...
0
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0answers
81 views
Funding for last year of the PhD in France or Europe [on hold]
I am wondering if anybody knows any foundation or organization that provides funding for the last year of the PhD program for PhD students in France? Because the normal funding here is 3 years and I ...
-2
votes
0answers
64 views
What should i do with my masters? [on hold]
Well i don't know where to start, i finished my undergrad in Eng Lit in 2016 and then i had a two year gap because i didn't know exactly what to do next. I decided to do an MSc in Marketing here in ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Asking for more time to respond to admission offer
I have an admission offer from a European Ph.D. program, and they have given me just 1 week to respond. Considering it is really early to hear anything back from the US universities (and I am keen to ...
36
votes
12answers
15k views
I hate taking lectures, can I still survive in academia?
I'm 3rd Physics & Mathematics student, and I almost hate taking and attending lectures; it is not because what is taught, I just don't like sitting in uncomfortable chairs with a lot of people ...
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Formulating research question
I am international student and have a problem with formulating a research question. I know the gap, but I could not make it clear. + my supervisor is not convinced of what I am doing and believes that ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it wise to ask a PhD supervisor about the quality of my work?
She says, why do you want to hurry? Let's put the defense in December, then you can have several publications out till then.
I am thinking of asking directly, "What do you think about my PhD work? ...
1
vote
2answers
99 views
Should I expect to be invited to visit the grad schools I was admitted to?
I applied to grad schools this year. I haven’t heard from some of them but the one I was admitted to I was invited to come and visit. My understanding is that this is relatively common, but I would ...
1
vote
1answer
173 views
Group Project Dynamics— how to present advanced ideas without offending others?
For my research masters, one graded activity is to undertake a piece of research and present findings.
We collected data and the analysis part was self-assigned to one member and myself. The analysis ...
1
vote
4answers
135 views
Do professors tailor recommendations to universities? [duplicate]
Preferably from a professor's candid viewpoint. When writing graduate recommendations for an undergraduate, do professors write general recommendations describing why #insert name# is a great fit for ...
0
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2answers
76 views
Graduate course taken during undergrad: counting them for the course load in Phd [closed]
I'm an undergraduate student in Turkey, and am planning to do my Phd in US/Canada/Europe.
I've taken various graduate courses from my departments - Physics and Mathematics - in following status:
I ...
1
vote
2answers
222 views
How common is it to get an academic position in a different country after getting a PhD in the US?
For someone who is doing his PhD in a US institute (STEM filed), how likely is it to be employed (as a post-doc for example) in another country (which is not my home country, in general) ?
For ...
3
votes
4answers
279 views
Would it be weird to cold email former students of a prospective advisor?
I was accepted to a PhD program, and the two professors I mentioned in my application have reached out to me to discuss research. Now I am wondering what is the best way to gather information on them. ...
1
vote
3answers
355 views
Passionate about a PhD in math, but unsure how to explain my chaotic transcript due to mental illness
I'm passionate about getting a PhD in Math for a career as a research mathematician and then as an educator working at a community college.
I got A's in community college. I transferred to our local ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
How insulated is guaranteed funding from an economic slowdown?
I received an offer for five years of guaranteed PhD funding. However, various sources have been prognosticating another recession for sometime soon.
Between a science-hostile administration and a ...
2
votes
0answers
195 views
Lose my nerve while doing research
I'm a starting graduate student in math. Without a doubt I'm not a genius or even that smart, and that creates a serious problem: I often lose my nerve while doing research or studying other people's ...
0
votes
1answer
103 views
Applied Math PhD Advisor dilemma [closed]
I was hoping to get some opinions on my current situation involving leaving one advisor for another.
Background: I am a second year graduate student in applied mathematics and I have passed all my ...
26
votes
4answers
7k views
It seems my advisor doesn't trust me, but why?
Even though my advisor is reasonably friendly with me, it feels like he doesn't 'trust me' as much as he trusts the other grad student (let's call him X) in the lab. A few examples:
I joined a lab a ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Negotiating for a higher hourly rate for RA position?
I am a Ph.D student. A professor from another university is interested in hiring me part-time for a project that he just received funding for. I am interested in the work (to hone my own skills) but I ...
-1
votes
2answers
136 views
Email to a potential Phd advisor: how to make a research proposal if you don't have one? [closed]
I'm a third year Physics & Mathematics student, and I want to work with a specific advisor. I have read almost all the related questions in this site and this blog post. However, almost all of ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
How much does having published in high IF journals as an undergrad counts in the masters admissions process?
I expect to have at least 3 publications (2 as co-author and 1 as first author) at respected venues by the time I apply to grad school (Mechanical Engineering) and want to know how much can that ...
3
votes
4answers
362 views
Is it a good idea to include the writing of a wikipedia article(s) on your CV before grad school application?
I am considering applying for graduate school at some point, and I am wondering how academia looks upon contributions to Wikipedia.
Essentially, the article will be a dedicated to a very specific ...
2
votes
2answers
290 views
4th year PhD student(24 years old). I am lost
Lately I have some issues with my academic life and my life. I am not doing anything. literally anything. This week, I was home all day, doing nothing. Just sleeping. I am seeing a therapist, but it ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
Can professor terminate student's stipend at anytime? [closed]
A friend of mine who is a last year international PhD student in the US got his monthly stipend terminated by his advisor. He still has GTF and is working for as a RA for the last three years. During ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Internship concerns [closed]
I started my internship in the summer of 2018 and was unable to complete all the hours during the semester, I received an incomplete for a grade until I could finish my hours in the Spring of 2019. ...
4
votes
1answer
134 views
What to do if you do not understand a lot coming up with a research interest? PhD admission
I know it is strongly advisable to read up on your prospective PhD supervisors' work. However, I find that most of the things are too esoteric and I would need a substantial period to absorb them. I ...
2
votes
2answers
54 views
Is it ok to contact multiple potential supervisors?
I have applied for MASc. (graduate research) programs in Canadian universities and there is a requirement to have a supervisor.
My question is: Should I contact more than one professor from the same ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Contact professors whom are not listed on application
I forgot to include one of the faculty members who works in my area of interest in my application for grad school.
Since I have not mentioned him in my application, does contacting him and requesting ...
5
votes
1answer
390 views
Why are some graduate schools' students so much more productive?
I'm a math PhD student. I've noticed that graduating students in top 5-10 schools, by the time they apply for postdocs, will regularly have several math research papers and several articles in ...
22
votes
7answers
7k views
Why don't some U.S. colleges celebrate American national holidays?
I was just catching up with a friend about the plunging temperatures in the towns that we live in, and they brought up that they actually have classes today, on Martin Luther King day, which is a ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
How to make a list of potential graduate school? [closed]
I will be applying to graduate schools the upcoming fall and I have a list of schools that I like based on professors, research work, etc. But, how can I realistically narrow my list to schools I can ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
FAFSA for US PhD (hard sciences — physics) students?
I have a question regarding filling out the FAFSA or not as a incoming PhD student.
What is the benefit of filling out the FAFSA if you are a(n) (incoming) PhD student? In the US (at least in physics)...
0
votes
1answer
274 views
Phd Supervisor is asking me to work remotely with him for next 3-4 years? What should I do? [closed]
My current university is not good and the other faculty are not good enough for my field, I only joined that particular university to work with my supervisor and now he is leaving. Please help.
I am ...
1
vote
1answer
152 views
Is my method of learning new mathematics efficient?
I am a graduate student in mathematics and from time to time when I need to learn new concepts either in a research paper or just courses, I feel that just reading the words (and just writing the ...
2
votes
2answers
222 views
How do professors get positions in multiple departments?
I will be applying to PhD programs in statistics this upcoming fall and I have noticed that at many institutions, the professors in the statistics department also hold positions in other departments ...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
Advisor wants me to break our group out into a different area
This is my first year in graduate school. I am studying computer science. Our group has 2 faculty advisors and ~8 students (faculty are married). The group is established in a niche part of the ...
-2
votes
1answer
281 views
Professor requiring volunteer work
I am in a US graduate program and our professor has made a requirement that we have to participate in a program called VITA. It is a volunteer tax aid program for low-income individuals. As a ...
0
votes
2answers
129 views
Should I question this grading scale
I am in my second semester in a Post-Bachelors Doctorate of Nursing Practice program. The class is a graduate nursing informatics course. My instructor posted the following grading scale. My initial ...
2
votes
3answers
140 views
Handling PhD funding offers that come before hearing back from all schools I applied to
So I applied to several PhD programs at different schools of probably different levels of selectivity and prestige. From a few of these schools I have been admitted and in contact with certain ...
0
votes
2answers
283 views
Are USA math graduate students ready for graduate school in math? [closed]
I have seen some answers on this site which say that a bachelor of science in mathematics in USA is a general degree and a student needs to study other subjects as well. It also seems to me that many ...
40
votes
11answers
13k views
What can I do with like-new, recent-edition textbooks that I'm not allowed to sell?
My employer is sponsoring most of the tuition and fees for my master's degree (in aerospace engineering), including required textbooks. Thus, it is unethical and against policy for me to sell those ...
-1
votes
1answer
288 views
Should I report someone that acted against the university policy about diplomas and transcripts?
Background: The graduate school in our university, which is a public university in the US, has a policy about international students and their original diplomas and transcripts, which may be written ...
4
votes
3answers
155 views
Is it weird to contact a professor in foreign university for research internship opportunity if I am not a student?
I got a Bachelor degree few years ago and I have worked (non-research job) for few years since then. Recently, I would like to pursue a master degree in a foreign university but I cannot obtain ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
If a grad student is working as a TA, can they also be asked to work as their adviser's lab manager for free?
I have been my adviser's chemistry lab manager for the past 2 years, mostly working as a TA to pay the bills while I try to get research done. My adviser has no funding so I've been running the lab ...
2
votes
1answer
335 views
U.S. Government Shutdown — potential effects for the upcoming Spring 2019 semester
The U.S. government shutdown has continued through three weeks now; what would the effects be for the upcoming Spring 2019 college semester for graduate students who depend on federal student loans to ...
1
vote
0answers
64 views
Missed entry to foreign grad school; what are my options?
I want to specify that this is actually for a friend, I personally am not an academic but he is and is in this situation and asked me to write here to ask for suggestions as he is abstaining from the ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
How should I deal with feeling dumb? [duplicate]
I am a graduate student in mathematics at a top school. Most of other students achieved gold medal in International mathematics olympiad for high school and/or other similar competitions. Most did ...
6
votes
5answers
410 views
When should people ask naive questions?
I'm a graduate student in math and I usually have lots of questions about papers I read. Sometimes my questions are about technical things but a lot of questions I have are about "well-known" facts ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
How and when do departments decide who is teaching which course?
How and when do departments decide who is teaching which course?
I am a graduate student at a state school in the U.S. The process has never seemed clear to me, as it seems that when none of the ...
