How To Get Your Work Published As A Graduate Student

27 January 2011.  TalentEgg Incubator.

As a graduate student, you are encouraged to do other activities other than those associated with your course work.

This can include extra-curricular activities, volunteering, or working part-time.  However, it is also suggested that you work on expanding your curriculum vitae.

“It is valuable for graduate students to publish as early and often as they can. Not only does it assist in the pursuit of scholarships, it will also help with future job prospects.”
—Chris Andersen, associate professor, University of Alberta

Other than presenting at an academic conference, you can also submit papers for publication in academic journals to enhance your CV .

This is especially important if you are contemplating applying for a PhD, since the competition for spots in a PhD program is even more intense than at the masters level.

Additionally, if you plan on pursuing the path of academia as a profession, you will need proof of your scholarly abilities when you are applying for post-docs, which is assessed in part by what is found on your CV.

I spoke with  Chris Andersen, an associate professor in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, who is also the editor of the Aboriginal Policy Studies journal, to get his opinions  on graduate students getting their work published and how to do so.

Q. Why should graduate students submit papers to academic journals?
A. While the “ publish or perish” cliché has probably been overdrawn, it is nonetheless valuable for graduate students to publish as early and often as they can. Not only does it assist in the pursuit of scholarships, it will also help with future job prospects.

Less instrumentally, its also a valuable exercise to engage in because it requires graduate students to come to firm conclusions about the literature they read and to position themselves and their arguments in light of such literature. Finally, it provides an entry into one of the primary duties of an academic – publishing – and begins a training process that they will engage in for the rest of their professional lives.

Q. What does a great submission consist of?
A. No one thing makes a great submission. However, we ask our referees to examine the extent to which the article makes a substantive contribution to scholarship, theoretical understanding or specific debates of interest to the readers of the journal. Likewise, given the audience we’re pitching the journal to, the writing should be relatively non-technical and be of interest to practitioners.

Manuscripts that are interdisciplinary and address emerging issues or areas are looked upon favourably, especially if the author demonstrates a clear command of their field of interest and positions their arguments within a literature (or literatures).

Q. What is the peer-review process, and why is it done?
A. We employ a “double blind” peer review process, such that our authors never know the reviewers, nor vice versa. Peer review is important because it assures rigorous but fair examination of the article that rests primarily on the validity and strength of the argument – as gauged by other knowledgeable individuals within the field – rather than the personalities of its author (or reviewer).

Given how invested scholars are in their particular fields, differences of opinion will emerge regardless and it is up to the editor to make a final decision – however, it all begins with the peer review process.

Q. Who can students ask for help in submitting a paper to the journal?
A. I’m not sure all editors would be willing to help, although personally I have no problem helping students.

Usually, the student should talk to his or her supervisor, a favourite professor (other than the supervisor) who seems approachable, and even other students who have already published.

Important: attend as many of the PRO seminars on professional development and grant writing (presented by many universities) as these give numerous tips and pointers that may prove valuable to getting their confidence up for a first submission.

Q. What should a graduate student do if their submission gets rejected?
A. “If at first you don’t succeed…” The main thing to keep in mind is that no matter how good you think your manuscript is, rejections can occur for any number of reasons. Two common ones include the editor deciding it’s not the proper fit for that particular journal (and may encourage you to submit elsewhere) and reviewers finding that the manuscript has potential but that the analysis is still a tad immature.

From the student’s perspective, the main thing to keep in mind is to use every review as a learning experience. Some reviews will feel unfair, others simply puzzling – but there’s something to be gained from calmly and dispassionately absorbing the critiques and positioning your argument in light of them (and don’t feel you need to change them simply because a reviewer disagrees with them – however, what you will need to do is position your arguments in light of those critiques).

Most importantly, if you feel strongly about your arguments and analyses, do not give up!

Q. Is there anything else you think graduate students should know about submitting papers to academic journals?
A. If you’re going to take your submission seriously and to increase your chances of success, speak to a senior professor within your department who “knows the ropes” and get him or her to read your paper and make comments on it (being sure to explain which journal you’re planning on submitting it to).

Likewise, if you write an essay for a class, make sure to talk to the instructor to ask him or her how you can make changes to the paper in pursuit of a peer-reviewed publication. They’re often the best positioned to give substantive feedback because they understand the broader context within which you positioned the paper.

If I could give one piece of advice to students: the decision to submit a manuscript is much more daunting than actually submitting it. That said, make sure you give yourself every chance to succeed by submitting as high-quality, journal mandate-relevant and as “clean” a copy as possible.

Q&A With A Medical Student Studying Abroad

18 January 2011.  TalentEgg Incubator.

On TV shows like Scrubs , medicine seems like a funny occupation.

But if you were to watch Grey’s Anatomy or House, you’d know that, along with all the jokes, it can be really difficult work too.

In actuality, medicine is an incredibly challenging field, leaving you to work long hours week after week.

“[Living abroad] makes you more resourceful, encourages you to try new things, lets you appreciate what it really means to ‘come home,’ etc.” —Joanna Mathisen, second year medical student, University of Aberdeen

And if that isn’t enough to dissuade you, gaining admission to medical school is very competitive, and also require long hours of studying and hard work once you’re in the program.

So then why do people want to become doctors in the first place?  Quite simply, they wish to help others and make their lives better.

Joanna Mathisen has wanted to be a doctor for most of her life.  But unlike many Canadians, she decided she wanted to leave the country and attend medical school abroad after completing an English degree with a minor in art history at McMaster University.

Joanna is currently in her second year of studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Q.Why did you consider applying to medical school abroad in the first place?
A. Because I wanted to live in Scotland – it was very simple! I want to get more travelling in while I’m young and I lived abroad before (in France), and figured that although being an international student is expensive, it would be worth the expense to live for five more years in a foreign country. With a good excuse!

Q. What made you decide on going to U Aberdeen after getting accepted?
A. It was the only university that had accepted me, primarily!

Also, I have two distant cousins in Aberdeen who took me out for dinner and showed me around the town when I went over for my interview, so I felt comfortable there.

Q.What are some things that med school abroad can give you that you can’t get in Canada?
A. Experience living abroad! It’s something I think everyone should do, if they can. Of course, it’s very much a privilege to be able to live abroad, so that makes it extra special. It makes you more resourceful, encourages you to try new things, lets you appreciate what it really means to ‘come home,’ etc.

Medical school is pretty similar across the board (not like taking a Canadian history degree elsewhere!), so you’re not straying too far away from Canadian standards by going somewhere like Scotland.

Q. How will getting your degree abroad make things better for you in terms of practicing medicine?
A. Well, it gives you more choices in terms of where to practise! I’m trying to decide whether to start working here or Canada, and I have that option.

Coming home will be difficult, but not impossible, and I’ve begun my career in the British system, so I can also work here if I wish to. It’s exciting to have that kind of opportunity!

Q. How will getting your degree abroad make things more challenging for you to obtain a residency after graduation?
A. To be honest, I haven’t looked into coming home in much detail because I’m taking things one day at a time. I’m sure I’ll have to write a few difficult exams, and fewer training positions will be open to me than for Canadian-trained students, but the experience of being abroad outweighs those difficulties.

Q. What is the coolest thing about doing your degree in Scotland?
A. I’ve met some amazing people, gotten to know some Scottish family, and met an amazing  Scottish guy who’s now very important to me! It’s been quite a ride!

Q. What is the single-most important piece of advice you would pass on to others considering applying to med school abroad?
A. I would advise anyone to apply abroad even just to be able to dream about it!

Considering Law School: The Bar And Beyond

17 December 2010.  TalentEgg Incubator.

In the previous two articles about considering law school – The Application Process and Studying, Summering, Articling And More – Western law school graduate Alina Preston walked us through the application process as well as the life of a law student.

This time, Preston explains the bar exam and next steps for law school graduates.

“If you’re still not deterred, it’s an amazing profession. The type of work you do is at such a high level, the clients you deal with come in such a range, and at the end of the day you’re helping people move forward with their lives.” —Alina Preston, University of Western Ontario law school graduate

Q. How do you prepare for the bar exam?
A. The bar admission exams are written after you finish law school. There are two of them: the solicitors and the barristers. These exams change depending on which province you’re writing them in.

In Ontario, if you write the exams in the first sitting, end of May and June, you are given the material with six weeks to study from the time you receive the material to the time you write the last exam. So, working backwards, you get the materials right after you finish writing your last third-year law school exams. Which sucks. But almost everyone does it that way.

You study – which means you read through the 1600 pages of material, highlighting as you go and hoping that you remember it when you do the multiple choice exams. The Law Society recommends that you read through the material three times, but this is virtually impossible based on how long it takes the average person to read through a given page. Most students are happy if they make it through all the materials once.

They are open book exams, so worst case (in fact, for most cases) you can just flip through the material. To study for it, people also usually split into groups to create or update last year’s “indices,” which are very much what it sounds like. There are key words written down (alphabetically) and a corresponding page number. So if a question is talking about Topic X, you can look up in your index Topic X, find the appropriate page in the materials, and then read the blurb about it.

There are two weeks that separate each exam. Which doesn’t usually leave enough time to start the second batch of materials after you finish writing the first exam, so plan your studying accordingly. Most people treat it like a job: study from 9-5, and then enjoy your evenings. Depending on your study progress, you may have to extend the studying to the weekends.

Q. What is the bar exam like?
A. It is a marathon. If your write the exams in Toronto, which a vast majority of students do – there were about 1,000 of us writing the June exams, all in the same hall – you’ll be surrounded by students from most of the Ontario law schools. You have to go through security, you’re restricted on what you can bring and how you can bring it in, and everything is regulated to the point that you feel like you’re in kindergarten.

The exam instructions begin at 8:45 a.m., which means you will likely arrive around 7:30 a.m., so that you can sign in, go through security and have time to mentally prepare yourself. The exam finishes at 5:30 p.m., which means you will likely get out of there around 6 p.m. So that means you’ve been at the testing centre almost 11 hours.

By the halfway point, your brain starts to go numb and you just want to get out of there. But you have about a minute and a half to do each question, including reading, researching, and answering so your brain doesn’t have time to stop working. The questions are all multiple choice, so the answer is there somewhere, and the answers also give you an indication of what type of answer they’re looking for (something general or specific).

But there is good news. Most students end up passing, and if you don’t, you have nine more tries within the following three years to write the exam(s) again and try to pass.

Q. Now that you’ve passed the bar exam, what are your options?
A. Once you finish law school and pass the bar exams, you’re still not a lawyer yet. You then have to article for 10 months at a firm and do an online course during this. Some firms require that you finish your bar exams before you start articling, and others are willing to allow you to study and write them during your articling term.

Once your articling is complete, your mentor recommends to the Law Society that you get called to the bar. There are a couple call dates during the year, and once you are called, you are officially a lawyer – finally. So law school, plus studying and writing the bar exams, plus articling totals about four years.

After articling, your firm can then hire you back (or not) as a junior associate. Many of the large Bay Street firms only hire back 50% of their articling students. Consequently, articling is a stressful time.

“If you’re looking to make a lot of money, aim to become a CEO or a VP or go into government. Much better salaries, better hours, better benefits, and sweet severance packages.”

You are the office bitch. You’re the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night. You take on extra work that the rational part of your brain says that you should not. Why? Because you’re not a lawyer yet. Because there’s no guarantee the firm will recommend you get called to the bar to become a lawyer. Because there’s no guarantee you’ll have a job after you finish articling. And because you’re competing against colleagues who are as smart, if not smarter, than you.

So to summarize the process: you stress trying to get into law school.  You stress during your first year of law. Second- and third-year law aren’t too bad and are actually fun. Then you stress about passing the bar exams. Then you stress about articling. You are basically on this rollercoaster of stress, and when you calculate at the end of the day how much you’re getting paid, it’s scarcely better than minimum wage sometimes.

Is this really the profession for you? If you’re still not deterred, it’s an amazing profession. The type of work you do is at such a high level, the clients you deal with come in such a range, and at the end of the day you’re helping people move forward with their lives.

Q. What are some misconceptions about lawyers that are out there?
A. That they get paid a lot. They do, but if you break it down and count all the hours spent in the office combined with all the hours spent on their “crackberries,” it’s not that much in the end. If you’re looking to make a lot of money, aim to become a CEO or a VP or go into government. Much better salaries, better hours, better benefits, and sweet severance packages.

That we’re all slimy grease balls out to steal all your money. We’re not. Or at least most of us aren’t. You’ll meet the odd jerk, but that’s true for any profession and for society at large. Lawyers have to be meticulous, in order that they close off any loopholes and get the maximum benefit for their client. As a result, it takes more time and effort, which is why it costs more.

That we’re all alcoholics. This is mostly true. Alcohol is one of the most accepted forms of socializing and unwinding, so lawyers tend to do it. A lot.

How To Deal With Moving Away To Grad School

3 November 2010.  TalentEgg Incubator.

Now that you’re starting your master’s degree, you have to get used to a new campus in a new city, make new friends, find your classrooms, and get used to your department.

It’s almost like you’re an undergrad all over again. (Of course, this doesn’t apply if you are doing your master’s at the same school you did your bachelor’s degree).

Once you’re settled into your new place (which can be in residence or off-campus), you should take the spare time you have to orient yourself to your new surroundings.

Check out campus

Most of your time over the next year or more will be spent within the confines of your school’s campus, and it is best to find out what is available to you before you need it.

For example, looking for an on-campus location that serves coffee at 1 a.m. is much easier a) if you know which places on campus sell coffee, and b) which of the said locations are actually open at 1 a.m.

Some graduate student associations may offer tours of the campus, but if they don’t, arm yourself with a map and start wandering around.

Go to orientation

The purpose of your orientation is to acquaint yourself  with the campus, the school and your program, but also to meet other graduate students.   You will have the opportunity to meet people who are in the same situation as you – this is your chance to meet new friends early in the year.

If your school offers a graduate orientation week, go to the events. They will help meet people, get used to the school and see the city.

Explore the city

Almost every university town has a bunch of different hot spots: awesome places to eat, pretty green spaces, interesting history and a variety of cafés to get your caffeine fix.  Check out tourism websites or the local tourism office, or ask locals and fellow students what you should see.   Hop on a bus, grab your bike or set out on foot and start investigating.  You never know what you will find in a new place!

Expect to be home sick

If you’re moving away from home for the first time, it is normal to feel homesick and to miss your family, friends, pets, and even the barista that makes your 2 p.m. Wednesday latte.

If you already lived away from home, you may experience homesickness again.  Alternatively, you can also miss the school and the campus you left behind.  In nearly all cases, these feelings will start to pass once you get to know your surroundings better.

Considering Law School: The Application Process

1 November 2010.  TalentEgg Incubator.

Law school has progressively become a more and more popular option for students after finishing their undergrad.  However, the process (like applying to graduate and medical schools) can be a long and daunting one.

“I think many students are enamoured with the profession after seeing so many lawyer movies, TV shows and John Grisham books where the lawyer looks like the hero (law jokes aside).” —Alina Preston,University of Western Ontario law school graduate

I spoke recently with Alina Preston,  a graduate of The University of Western Ontario’s law school to get her perspectives on the application process, what it’s like being a law student, and the bar exam process.  Preston is currently articling at a firm in Toronto.

Q. What does the time line look like for someone applying to law school?A. I would start researching schools, going to open houses, emailing admissions departments with questions, etc., 1.5 to two years before the “start date.” This gives enough time to properly see everything, and work on your application content ahead of time (if it needs beefing up in certain areas).

I would also recommend writing the June or September LSAT – this gives you enough time to study without feeling panicked or rushed, and provides a buffer if you need to write it again (which happens fairly frequently, so don’t be discouraged).

You should also start working on the actual application at least two months ahead of the deadline and send it in as soon as you feel confident with it. Many schools have rolling admissions, so sending it in sooner than the deadline can only help.

Q. How should someone study for the LSAT?
A. Studying for the LSAT is like preparing for a marathon. If you are one of the rare people out there who already has a high endurance and have written many standardized tests, then disregard.

Otherwise, I would recommend studying over a two to three month period (or longer).  Treat it similar to that of a math test – it’s a lot of repetition and practising once you have the basic concepts down.

If you’re someone with low self-motivation, are very busy or want a certain high score, then I would recommend a prep course. They provide the classes, the questions and the “homework” to keep you going and learning. If your budget is more limited, than I would suggest going to Chapters and buying a couple of the prep books and try those on your own first and see how you do.

Q. What is needed to apply to law school?
A. The application for law school includes your LSAT mark, your undergraduate transcripts, reference letters (usually academic, thus professors) as well as a written application (“personal statement”) that you should be tailoring to each law school – basically a summary of your resumé and cover letter.

I can’t stress enough the importance of the personal statement!! Read it over until you’re dreaming about it, and have friends and family read it over to add things you may have missed. Don’t just regurgitate your resumé – that’s boring, and I’m sure not even your mom (or maybe only her) would be interested in reading it. Remember that law schools are receiving thousands – literally – of applications and yours needs to stand out.

Most law schools create a bracket of applicants based on grades and LSAT scores. If you’re above their bracket, you’re automatically admitted almost regardless of your personal statement. If you’re below their bracket, you’re automatically rejected almost regardless of your personal statement. A majority of candidates will fall within this bracket and that’s where the personal statement is extremely important.

That said, you still need to be able to fall within the bracket so get your grades up as high as you can and make sure you do well on the LSAT. Remember you’re competing against the best and the brightest from every faculty of every university in the country, and many from outside the country!

Q. What is the process like? 
A. The process involves sending in the application, and then usually receiving a confirmation from OLSAS (the central processing agency for all law school applications). They then sort the applications, make sure you filled them out correctly and have sent all necessary information (this is where it helps to have sent in the application early, because if you’re missing anything or anything gets lost you have time to still send the info in on time) and then pass it on to the law schools.

The schools then do early admissions, which are late November and early December. Then first round admissions from January through March, and then second round admissions May through July.

If  you haven’t heard anything from your favourite law school after the first round, try following up with the admissions office and see if there’s anything you’re missing or need to add to make you more eligible (sometimes all they need is to see your final transcript, but it’s better to follow-up).

Q. What kind of funding is available for law school students, and how easy/difficult is it to obtain?
A. Law school funding isn’t as difficult as undergraduate. By this point most people no longer have to include their parents income on OSAP applications (if you’re 4+ years out of high school) so that helps a lot. The faculty often has an arrangement with certain banks about getting lines of credit for law students specifically. A lot of universities also have internal grants, so make sure you’re applying everywhere you can, because I had a lot of help (and so did most of my peers).

Q. Why do you think law school is such a popular post-graduate option for university students?
A. I think many students are enamoured with the profession after seeing so many lawyer movies, TV shows and John Grisham books where the lawyer looks like the hero (law jokes aside). I think if you look at the popular options for post-graduate studies – med school, dentistry, teacher’s college, law or getting a masters or PhD – law seems to promise the most amount of money for the least amount of effort.

Med school seems daunting, dentistry is rumoured to have the highest suicide rate, teacher’s college is impossible to get into and even more difficult to secure a job in, and no one is quite sure what to do with a masters or PhD. So that leaves law.

Most just gloss over the tedious hours of reading and the even more tedious wording of agreements (much to their dismay when actually suffering through the rigours of law school). And lawyers are rumoured to make a lot of money, though anyone who actually worked out the hourly pay of a lawyer would find it sorely lacking because of the amount of hours that lawyers put in.

Canadian University Report 2011

Work of mine was published in the Globe and Mail's Canadian University Report.  You can check out more info here: http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2010/10/25/talenteggs-working-knowledge-in-the-globe-and-mails-canadian-university-report-today/

The first year of university from the perspective of a continuing education student

The first year of university from the perspective of a continuing education student

The majority of us go to post-secondary within a year or two of graduating high school. It’s just the way it’s done; how it’s explained to us in high school and what our parents expect of us.

However, for those who came before us, not everyone wanted to or thought they needed to get post-secondary education in order to get a good job. But now, more “adults” (i.e. those of earlier generations than our own) are opting to attend post-secondary education as continuing education students than ever before.

Like many of you, I came to university right out of high school so I never really know what it was like to experience working full-time for anything more than a summer.

But I recently became the acquaintance of Mark Reeves, a 31-year-old former Tier II Technical Support for Apple computers, and asked him about his experiences so far as a first-year social sciences student.

Q. Why did you decide to go to university after having been in the working world for long?

A. University was something I wanted to do from the get-go, but I didn’t have the grades before. I fell into a routine of getting up and going to work which I didn’t want to disrupt. Workplace politics finally pushed me over the edge and I decided to apply to school last year.

Q. What separates you from the average first year student?

A. Besides the obvious – age. I haven’t really met any first years yet so it’s hard for me to say for sure.

Maturity level would be the big difference. I’m at university for me, [while] many first years are expected to go by their school and/or their parents. I should be able to put more effort into what I’m doing of my own volition because I want to do it. Another thing that is also tied into maturity is committing to things. I will get up and do it because I signed up to do it. Waking up for an 8:30 class isn’t a chore for me now in the same way it was when I was younger (and for many students) because I am used to getting up early for work now.

Q. As a mature student, what are some challenges you have faced and/or can possibly foresee?

A. The biggest challenge is the social aspect of everything: I’m mixing with people 10 to 12 years younger than I am.

Re-adjusting to school life is going to be a challenge. It is different to get up and go to work every day when work doesn’t come home with you. Now I’m going to have to buckle down and do the readings and the research, etc.

Q. What do you think a university degree can give you?

A. Hopefully a better job in the end. Mostly I’m here to prove to myself and everyone else that I have potential. There were people who said I’m a failure and could never do it and others who believed in me and said I would be able to. I want to be able to say yes I can do it and go shove it up your ass to those who said I couldn’t do this.

Q. What sorts of things do you hope to learn (or re-learn) while you are completing your next degree, either over the next year or over the next four?

A. Time management skills are something I need to work on. My job didn’t really require these skills.

My financial responsibilities are much different than bringing in a steady, relatively large pay check every couple weeks. Now I’ve got to live off of OSAP and a part-time job.

I need to learn some social skills. I’m not known as a social person, and you have to be for group projects and whatnot.

Commitment – I’ve got to stick things out to the end and do what I want to do and not get fed up and do what I was previously doing.