S4E2: The GRExit and how we choose who goes to grad school
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Zen Faulkes about the graduate application process, what program directors are looking for and how hard it is (or indeed impossible) it is to have unbiased selection system. \n\nZen gained a B.A., Psychology at the University of Lethbridge in 1989 and a Ph.D. at the University of Victoria about sand crab digging behaviour in 1996. He was a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University until 1999, and then he was a postdoc at the University of Melbourne until 2001. He is currently a Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Zen writes the \u201cBetter Posters\u201d blog, which dispenses advice on how to improve the posters we present at meetings.\n\nIn this episode, we discuss his publication, \u201cResolving authorship disputes by mediation and arbitration\u201d in Research Integrity and Peer Review, and also his letter in Science titled \u201c#GRExit's unintended consequences\u201d. As graduate program coordinator, he talks about the pros and cons of GREs. Whilst universities are looking for \u201csuccessful\u201d people we have a chat about how we could define \u201csuccess\u201d to begin. Are assessments really consistent and reliable? Hm.\n\nWe talk through the whole graduate application process step-by-step from both the applicant\u2019s and recruiter\u2019s point of views. We chat about how to structure personal statements and what to expect during interviews but also keeping in mind that everyone is different and perhaps more introverted students might feel at a disadvantage. \n\nZen recommends students to ask program directors what competitive applications look like - they are very likely to give straight answers. While it is good to have a high GPA for a masters program, students really should get to know what the requirements and expectations are for different programs. Zen says, \u201cIf you inspire to go to graduate school, you have to be proactive thinking about what your opportunities are.\u201d\n\nWe leave students with a final piece of advice: every semester get to know one professor slightly better so at least you have a few people who know more about you. Asking for advice from professors and program directors can make graduate school application a whole lot smoother!\n\nA transcript for this episode generously provided by Joe Stormer can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bpBjb5\n\nSHOW NOTES: \n\nFaulkes, Z., 2018. Resolving authorship disputes by mediation and arbitration. Research integrity and peer review, 3(1), p.12. \nhttps://researchintegrityjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41073-018-0057-z\n\nGRE exit - does not predict \u201csuccess\u201d - Letter in Science \nhttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/363/6425/356.2\n\nBetter posters site\nhttp://betterposters.blogspot.com/\n\nBlog:\nhttps://neurodojo.blogspot.com\n\nFree pdf: https://faculty.utrgv.edu/zen.faulkes/Presentation_tips.pdf \n\nTwitter:\n@DoctorZen \n@ehaswell \n@baxtertwi\n@taprootpodcast\n#TaprootTuesday