Surviving Graduate School in Hard Sciences

Dr. Paul Stonaha
Department of Physics, Nuclear and Electrical Engineering
Idaho State University

“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”

- Chinese proverb

 Whether you’re obtaining your M.S. or Ph.D., succeeding in graduate school is difficult.  From the decision of where to apply to the method of writing your thesis, there are many difficult and stressful steps along the way.  In this talk I’ll present basic considerations that are universal across the hard sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.).  The presentation will be a candid review of the lessons I’ve learned and of what does (and does not) really matter in graduate school.  I’ll cover topics such as where to apply, how to improve your chances for acceptance, how to pick an advisor, and how to keep your sanity.