Taking Charge of Your Training to Taking Charge of Your Training to Maximize Your Future…Maximize Your Future…

Adapted by Dr. Gail P. Taylor,University of Texas at San Antonio

Originally Developed by: Beth Fischer and Michael ZigmondSurvival Skills and Ethics Programhttp://www.pitt.edu/~survival

Revised 5/2007F 20103

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Your Point of View Really Your Point of View Really Matters in Life…Particularly Matters in Life…Particularly

Involving your Future…Involving your Future…

Thought Question #1:Thought Question #1: How do you view your How do you view your

college career?college career?

Attitudes about CollegeAttitudes about College

It’s something to complete as soon as possibleIt’s something to complete as soon as possibleIt’s something my parents made me doIt’s something my parents made me doIt’s a way of lifeIt’s a way of lifeIt’s all about grades!It’s all about grades!It’s a guaranteed ticket for a good jobIt’s a guaranteed ticket for a good jobIt’s a time to explore!It’s a time to explore!It’s a time to build credentials for a future careerIt’s a time to build credentials for a future career

You must Develop your You must Develop your Credentials!Credentials!

Always be planning and Always be planning and focusing on the next step, focusing on the next step,

after graduation!after graduation!

Planning is bringing the future Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can into the present so that you can

do something about it nowdo something about it now    

~Alan Lakein~Alan Lakein

Plan to Achieve Your Objectives!Plan to Achieve Your Objectives!

Research your PathResearch your PathEstablish Your Credentials!Establish Your Credentials!

Coursework foundationCoursework foundationLearn, not gradesLearn, not gradesTake in correct orderTake in correct orderTake what you’ll need, not Take what you’ll need, not degree requirements!degree requirements!

Ex. No Organic II req at UTSA.Ex. No Organic II req at UTSA. ProjectsProjects Professional ExperienceProfessional Experience

InternshipsInternshipsCo-opsCo-opsResearchResearch

Establish a networkEstablish a network Meet your professors- LORMeet your professors- LOR Get to know other studentsGet to know other students

Overcome “weaknesses”Overcome “weaknesses” Oral presentationsOral presentations WritingWriting FearFear PassivityPassivity Single-mindednessSingle-mindedness Self-doubt/Imposter SyndromeSelf-doubt/Imposter Syndrome

Volunteer and get involvedVolunteer and get involvedComplete required tasksComplete required tasks

Degree paperworkDegree paperwork GREGRE MCATMCAT EITEIT

Preparing can be Preparing can be Time and Labor IntensiveTime and Labor Intensive

Course workCourse workLaboratory Research & Prof DevelopmentLaboratory Research & Prof Development Find laboratoryFind laboratory Ethics and laboratory safetyEthics and laboratory safety Learn lab cultureLearn lab culture TechniquesTechniques Reading the literature/High level reading Reading the literature/High level reading ExperimentsExperiments Data AnalysisData Analysis Writing AbstractsWriting Abstracts ConferencesConferences Poster and Oral PresentationPoster and Oral Presentation Courses (mentor recommended)Courses (mentor recommended) Summer ResearchSummer Research Writing ThesesWriting Theses

GRE/MCAT TestsGRE/MCAT Tests

Developing a PlanDeveloping a Plan

Know what you Know what you mustmust accomplish, with dates! accomplish, with dates! Required coursesRequired courses Program-required or supplemental coursesProgram-required or supplemental courses Research Related activities (prior page)Research Related activities (prior page) Honors Theses, Senior projectsHonors Theses, Senior projects Standardized TestsStandardized Tests What schools to apply to?What schools to apply to? Grad school application progressGrad school application progress

Make a list of what you’d like to accomplishMake a list of what you’d like to accomplish Fellowships proposalsFellowships proposals Volunteer ActivitiesVolunteer Activities Additional knowledgeAdditional knowledge

Make a timetable (with milestones)Make a timetable (with milestones)Consult plan each semester and re-evaluateConsult plan each semester and re-evaluate

Opportunities often Come Opportunities often Come Disguised as Hard Work, so Disguised as Hard Work, so

Some People Don’t Recognize Some People Don’t Recognize Them….Them….

Ann Landers…Ann Landers…

Congratulations for planning Congratulations for planning for your future, and grasping for your future, and grasping

this opportunity…this opportunity…

Why do All This?Why do All This?How Does Research How Does Research

Benefit You?Benefit You?

Other Benefits to ResearchOther Benefits to ResearchSets you up for your future!Sets you up for your future!Validates courseworkValidates courseworkIntro to the 40+ hour work weekIntro to the 40+ hour work weekSelf-confidence/maturitySelf-confidence/maturityKnowledge that you can have an impactKnowledge that you can have an impactObserve a “high level” careerObserve a “high level” careerDeeper Faculty contact/mentoringDeeper Faculty contact/mentoringLearn to speak like a professionalLearn to speak like a professionalGenerally, an increase in motivationGenerally, an increase in motivationPublicationsPublicationsCV/Resume that stands outCV/Resume that stands outLetters of recommendation…Letters of recommendation…Doors open into Grad SchoolDoors open into Grad School

The most important person- your The most important person- your major or research advisor:major or research advisor:

An advisor should give you:An advisor should give you: AdviceAdvice Can be a mentor…Can be a mentor… Second-hand reputationSecond-hand reputation Knowledge of professional activitiesKnowledge of professional activities Possible financial support/assistancePossible financial support/assistance Role modelRole model Introductions/networkingIntroductions/networking Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation RespectRespect

http://bower-lab.org

YourYour responsibilities to your responsibilities to your advisor and labadvisor and lab

A laboratory is an extended family!A laboratory is an extended family! Your best effortYour best effort

Show up when you say you will!Show up when you say you will! HonestyHonesty ProductivityProductivity Assistance- TeamworkAssistance- Teamwork Feedback/communicationFeedback/communication Respect/LoyaltyRespect/Loyalty

Shhh…I’ll Give Away a Shhh…I’ll Give Away a Secret…Secret…

How to Impress Faculty… How to Impress Faculty…

Strong grasp of your course workStrong grasp of your course workStrong work ethic and productivityStrong work ethic and productivityAttitude- enjoyment of what you are doingAttitude- enjoyment of what you are doingTeamworkTeamworkRespect self and othersRespect self and othersGood communicationGood communicationHonesty/IntegrityHonesty/IntegrityHigh level critical thinking (take time to think!)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?

Small opportunities are often Small opportunities are often the beginning of great the beginning of great

enterprises….enterprises….

~Demosthenes~Demosthenes

Overall…Overall…

Develop a great perspective!Develop a great perspective!

Take steps to plan your futureTake steps to plan your future

Take advantage of opportunitiesTake advantage of opportunities

Build credentialsBuild credentials

Achieve your dreamsAchieve your dreams

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Questions?