The Graduate School Blog » grad school

Wanted: a quiet, cozy study space.

Niki DeWeese — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:31:50 +0000

It’s hard for me to believe that I just turned in my second midterm as a graduate student. Part of me hopes that time continues to fly this fast and that I’ll have my degree in no time. The other part of me wants to slowly savor the challenge the next 11 courses will undoubtedly bring. But I suppose that’s what trade conferences are for; continually learning more about your industry and those you serve.

I love being challenged, but what I’ve found to be most challenging as a grad student is finding the energy and time to read for class. Granted this semester is a little insane on my schedule. Take this week for instance. I have to read a 100+ page book which is typically no issue for me. Since I stare at a blank wall at my desk at home, and because I can’t stay away from Twitter if I’m at my desk in the office, I decided I would try to find a good place to call my “study home.” The college doesn’t have a formal student union, so the library is the typical hot spot on campus. I tried studying there last semester, but that was an utter failure for someone with such short attention spans like myself. (Although, a man sitting in the cubicle next to me one night had the brilliant idea of ear plugs.)

My job has allowed me to embrace a work shifting mentality, and I’ve found a great home in Panera Bread as a temporary office when I leave Charleston. With that in mind, I figured I could attempt studying at a local bookstore. It worked for my boyfriend, so it could work for me, right? How about no. I was more focused on the music coming from the ceiling above my chair than I was on the words in front of me. Plus, my left foot kept falling asleep.

In hopes of getting through at least a chapter of the book Monday night, I went home thinking I would sit at my desk and read until I found a better place. That’s when procrastination kicked into fifth gear and I felt the need to clean up my usually spotless room. Finally, after the room was vacuumed, the receipts put away and all the old magazines recycled, I was able to finish the last few pages of Chapter One.

I haven’t opened the book since Monday night, which means I need to get moving and finish the book before the Buffalo Bills start playing on Sunday. Even though I know how it will end, I still want to watch the game and munch on a chicken finger hoagie. So, hope for the best for the Bills and wish me luck in finding a good study place!

What questions do you ask at a Graduate School Fair?

Niki DeWeese — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:28:17 +0000

The Fall semester is well under way, as are Graduate and Professional School (GAPS) Fairs. A GAPS fair is an event typically hosted by a university’s career center and attended by recruiters for graduate, medical and law schools. This is a great opportunity for students and alumni to learn more about graduate programs, and a chance to explore options often not thought of. For us, this is a great chance to enlighten many students that a Master of Public Administration might serve them better than a Master of Business Administration.

Considering it’s the middle of October, there is a chance that your school already hosted a fair. That doesn’t mean it’s too late to continue your research on the graduate schools you’ve already met with though. Feel free to contact the recruiter or program director with any questions you thought of after leaving the fair. Trust me: we love hearing from you.

If you have not yet gone to a fair and plan to do so this Fall, take a look at the questions below. Get a feel for what questions are important to you and approach recruiters of the schools that interest you. Don’t be bashful, either. Approach us and ask as many questions you want. We’ll tell you just about anything including what we ate for breakfast. And sometimes, we even give you things you wouldn’t have expected. Like a free GRE book or thumb drive.

Some grad students don’t have the option of choosing a grad school. If they have settled down, they may apply to a program that is in the vicinity of their home or office. If that’s not the case for you, then you want to make sure you’re choosing the program that best suits your personality and career aspirations. Below are questions you will want to ask yourself, students enrolled in the program, and the faculty with whom you’ll be working.

How much will the program cost? What financial aid is available?
Does the department’s specialization match your goals?
Do the faculty exhibit special strengths and research qualities through their graduate advisees, published works and funded research?
Are the libraries, laboratories, computers and other research facilities adequate for your educational needs?
Does the department offer a sufficiently large and varied curriculum to allow you a broad offering of courses and options?
How accomplished are the professors in your area? What are their interests and how available will they be?
What are the degree requirements? Number of hours required? Will you have to write a thesis/dissertation?
Are support services adequate to make campus life conducive to the needs of minority students?
How long will it take you to complete the program?
How are advisers assigned/selected? Will you have a choice of who your advisor will be?
Are study space/office carrels available for graduate students?
Are the current students happy? Do they appear to be good colleagues?
Are the graduates of the school or program sought by recruiters?
What are your opportunities for employment after graduation?
Are the institution and the program accredited?
How many applicants are accepted?
Are the faculty and student body diverse? Diversity in a program can make it stronger, since diversity leads to a broader
world view.
What size is the program? Will you feel comfortable in a small or large setting?
What is the community like, and does the institution work closely with the community? How closely the two work together could assist in your research and with employment opportunities after graduation.
What is the cost of living?

So, You Want to Write A Textbook…

Adam Johnson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:01:08 +0000

Love them or hate them, textbooks are a force to be reckoned with in academia. Everyone uses them, and some of us even want to write them. If you’ve ever wondered how to write a textbook, what the methodology for including materials in textbooks is, and how you might even make some money as a textbook author, then you should attend a panel discussion with people who have actually been through the process of creating one. Here are the details:

A panel of campus authors will discuss the process of writing textbooks for fun and (perhaps) profit as part of the continuing series, “So, You Want to Write a Book,” from 2:30-3:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 14 at 227 Addlestone Library.

The panelists will include Doug Ferguson (Communications Department); Lynne Ford (Political Science Department), Chris Boucher (History Department) and Mick Norton (Mathematics Department).

The panel discussion is aimed at demystifying the process of writing textbooks. It should interest anyone who has an interest in writing a textbook but doesn’t know how to get started and then what to do next.

Each of the panelists will speak 5-7 minutes. A question-answer period will follow.

The panel discussion is part of a series on “The Community of the Book,” where professors, staff and others discuss book writing. The November panel will discuss writing book proposals.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences sponsors the panel.

For information, call or e-mail Chris Lamb, 843-953-6591 or lambc@cofc.edu.

Monday Motivation: Grad School Entrance Exams

Adam Johnson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:00:52 +0000

So, you’ve decided you want to get a graduate degree. Congratulations! Now, you have to decide which standardized test to take.

For some of us, the decision is already made because certain graduate programs only allow one specific test. For the rest of us, we have some options. It makes sense to evaluate the different tests in order to determine which test(s) might be appropriate.

Education and The Humanities

If you are applying to a program in education or the humanities, you often get the option of choosing between two tests: The Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or The Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Both tests are drastically different, and as this article points out, you should consider each on the basis of what you consider to be your academic strengths and weaknesses.

Some education degree programs may require PRAXIS exam scores for entry as well, especially ones designed for already-certified teachers. Ultimately, many state departments of education also require PRAXIS tests to obtain certification at the end of degree programs that are designed for beginning teachers. To learn more about the PRAXIS tests, visit this website.

Business/Accountancy

Business and Accountancy programs most often require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GMAT is designed to test skills required by students entering into business or accountancy degree programs. To find out more about the GMAT, read this helpful article.

The Sciences, Public Administration, Historic Preservation, and Everyone Else

Here at The Graduate School of the College of Charleston, the standard requirement for most other programs continues to be the GRE. If you have questions about the test requirements and deadlines for specific programs, check the Application Requirements Grid.

Law School and Medical School

Everyone who is considering a law school program will have to become familiar with the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and everyone who plans on entering medical school should prepare adequately for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). For specific requirements on these tests, contact the admissions office of the law or medical school that you’re interested in.

To everyone taking an entrance exam this Fall, we wish you the best of luck. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to drop us an email or visit us on the web.

Test Registration and Information Sites:

GRE
MAT
GMAT
PRAXIS

Monday Motivation: Choosing a grad school

Niki DeWeese — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:59:23 +0000

You’ve decided that you’re going back to school to earn your master’s degree. Congratulations! Do you know what schools and programs you want to apply to yet? Need a little help finding information?

Career and education fairs. If you’re an undergraduate student, see if your school is hosting a Graduate and Professional School fair. These are often held during the Fall semester and sponsored by the Career Center.

Browse the internet. Explore websites that are dedicated to graduate education such as gradschools.com and petersons.com.

The Princeton Review. Sending out grad school applications is time-consuming and expensive. Skip the blitz method; don’t apply to every school with a program in your field. Instead, focus your attention and energy on a few carefully chosen schools.
Quintcareers.com. You’ll find the information you need to evaluate each program in various graduate school guides and directories, as well as from the catalogs and Websites of the individual graduate programs that interest you.

Get opinions. Do not hesitate to make contact with a school at multiple levels: the graduate school office, the departmental office, key faculty members and student associations. Also, speak with friends of your family who are prominent alumni, and even current graduate students.

The Mathematical Association of America. Unless your school has a graduate program it is difficult to find graduate students to talk to. We decided to ask four mathematics graduate students about how they chose their graduate schools and what advice they have for you.
Mahalo Answers. Three grad students give insight into their decision process.
Computational Complexity. Tips from Bruce Maggs’ 2001 interview in Higher Cohomology.
Brazen Careerist. I especially like points six and seven.
Linked In. Is an Ivy League education worth it?

The I-95 Expedition

Niki DeWeese — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:34:55 +0000

As summer winds down and classes begin, you will most likely find me between stacks of paperwork, and my mouse flipping between Mapquest and university websites. The next three months happen to be the most eventful out of the year for me. Part of my job is to spend the autumn months attending Graduate and Professional School Fairs, talking with undergraduates and faculty about the 28 graduate programs the College of Charleston offers.

The travel season is a little different for me this year. For one, I have added more universities and fairs to my list of trips. I am literally traveling the Eastern seaboard, visiting schools from New York to Florida. The second reason this season is a little different is because I am also a part-time grad student. This means I have to juggle classes, homework, emails, planning events, managing hotel reservations and attending meetings galore across five states in just under seven weeks.

Over the next few months, I will blog my way up and down the I-95, relaying my tales as a grad student who happens to work full-time. Wondering if I was crazy for taking on a class with this type of schedule, I touched base with a colleague in our undergraduate admissions office who was also a part-time grad student. She knows the demands of a recruiter, and I asked her if I was crazy thinking I could balance said demands and a class. My spirits nearly died when she piped up with, “Absolutely!” She then gave me tips on making it work, and I hope that I can help other working professionals find ways to balance work, life and school.

I can’t say it will be easy. I know for sure that I’ll be out of town for two of my classes, which was approved by my professor. But I’ll give it everything I have to make sure it works. Even if that means finishing the 15 hour drive it took from New York a mere two and a half hours before my first class started Monday night.

Monday Motivation: Study Tips

Adam Johnson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:31 +0000

Class is officially back in full swing, and what better time is there than the present to set up successful study habits that will leave you happy and sane at the end of the semester? This week’s Monday Motivation focuses on helping you create study time that’s productive, engaging, and meaningful. Here are some great resources we’ve found while trawling the ‘net:

Where to Study / How to Study
Your cramped dorm room (or apartment, for that matter) may not be the ideal place for you to study after all. Pick a place that is conducive to concentration and that allows you the opportunity to focus solely on what you’re studying.

How to Study Effectively
This article lists eight effective concentration tips that every student needs to remember when studying.

When It Comes to Learning, Graduate School is a New World
Think that studying is all about cramming those facts into your head before the big test? You’re wrong. Grad School classes are more about understanding the facts you learn in class rather than the rote memorization that you may have been used to in your undergraduate studies.

Study Tip: Learn How You Learn
Do you know what type of learner you are? This article helps you discern the answer to that question, and it gives you some study advice geared to your specific learning style as well.

Note Taking Tips
Yes, it may sound basic, but note-taking is one of the most important things that you can do in your grad school classes to make studying more efficient. This article provides sound pointers on how to take notes and what details to focus on as your professor lectures.

And in case you weren’t aware, the College of Charleston operates its own fantastic study resource, the Center for Student Learning. Their website offers lots of study tips and explains how you can use the various tutoring services, study seminars, and learning labs that we have here on campus.

Did you submit your application?

Niki DeWeese — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:29:07 +0000

If you have that nagging feeling that you forgot something this morning, I hope it’s not because you forgot to submit your application for grad school.

Submitted your application already? Don’t worry – you probably just left the coffee pot on.

In Her Words, according to Smart Family Magazine

Niki DeWeese — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:27:16 +0000

Someone once made the statement that I “make coffee nervous.” Which, coincidentally just happens to be a quote from one of my all time favorite movies.*

Well, Kellee McGahey doesn’t quite make coffee nervous, but I have absolutely no idea how the woman finds the time to sleep. Not only is she the Assistant Director of the Lowcountry Graduate Center, but she is a grad student in our Communication program and serves as the Chair of the Charleston Young Professionals. If you’re at a Chamber meeting, an AMA meeting or any other meeting, don’t be surprised if you see her there.

Kellee recently opened up about balancing work, life and graduate school in Smart Family magazine. You can find her two-page spread starting on page 74, including three reasons why you should go back to school. Other women featured include Shari Bouis, Principal at Cario Middle School; Heather Woolwine, Media Relations Director for MUSC; and Lisa Wade, Social Work Case Manager for the Ryan White HIV Care program.

Balance is a delicate thing, but something you can certainly achieve when you’re a grad student. Take the time to talk with friends and family that have received their degree, or are in the middle of their program. See what works best for them. Also, use social media to your advantage. There are so many groups out there dedicated to helping graduate students like GradShare, LinkedIn, and Mom it Forward. If you’re stuck, you can always talk with your program director. S/he might know of a student in a similar situation, or might even have similar experience of his/her own.

*The first person to email me with what 1998 movie that quote is from will receive a free GRE or GMAT book.

Moving to Charleston?

Niki DeWeese — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:07:22 +0000

If you enjoy moving, you are a better person than I. The last week consisted of me, a truck full of boxes, four very helpful friends and way too much fast food leftovers. While I was breaking down my 47th box Tuesday morning, I remembered all the out-of-state folks who ask me about places to live in Charleston. Each question typically gets the same answer, but I decided it wouldn’t hurt to run some numbers and give you a good breakdown of neighborhoods and cities in the Lowcountry.

Disclaimer: everything that is written below is in no way a scientific study. It is merely data that Gwen and I were able to pull up over lunch this afternoon.

First, there are several cities/towns that surround Charleston that have a reasonable commute. These are what I’ll focus on. They are: downtown Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Mount Pleasant, Johns Island, North Charleston and Summerville.

The shops on King Street

Downtown Charleston

Per Capita reported in the 2000 Census: $22,414
Two bedroom rental: $1096
MSA Residential Home Sales: Zip Code 29401: $1,173,870; Zip Code 29403: $375,071

Things to do
Downtown Charleston is rich with history, shopping, and food. You’ll find a unique blend of tourists, business professionals and college students traversing the streets. Marion Square is home to the downtown Farmer’s Market every Saturday during the summer, and King Street offers a wide array of restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Downtown is most certainly one of the most walkable areas in all of the Lowcountry and probably one of my favorites.

Middleton Place

West Ashley

Per capita: (West Ashley is part of Charleston County) $22,414
Two bedroom rental: $1082
MSA residential home sales: $254, 639

Things to do
West Ashley is a popular area for our graduate students. While it doesn’t have nearly the same amount of shops and restaurants that downtown offers, it does have a sweet charm about it. Especially around the Avondale/Savannah Highway area where you’ll find a few boutiques, coffee shops and a bar that offers more than a few darts and pool cues – anyone up for a vicious game of Connect Four? The area between West Ashley and Summerville is where you will find several plantations and gardens including Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and Charles Towne Landing. Sidewalks are far and few in between, so I wouldn’t advise taking a walking tour of West Ashley.

James Island County Park

James Island

Per capita: (James Island was part of Charleston County) $22,414
Two bedroom rental: $1111
MSA residential home sales: $277,873

Things to do
If you want to head out to the “Edge of America” (AKA Folly Beach), you have to go through James Island, and that’s not a bad thing. JI has its own little culture, including its own Facebook group for CARTA Express riders. Or so rumor has it; I have yet to find it. You won’t find strip malls, but you will find Fort Johnson (which is home to our Grice Marine Lab), the James Island County Park, and plenty of wildlife. I just moved out this way, and already feel like I’m on a permanent vacation.

The City of Folly Beach is incredibly popular, especially in the summer. Since there is only one road connecting Folly to James Island, you should definitely plan to head out to the beach early on the weekends. Otherwise, you’ll spend a good bit of time in traffic starting around 11:30. Once you’re out there, you can turn left and head towards the Washout to watch the surfers, go straight to walk on the second longest pier on the east coast, or go right for a little more room in the sand. Every now and then, you’ll catch a wedding in play. Much like the one we attended this past Saturday for our Director of Student Records, Regan.

One of the restaurants on Shem Creek

Mount Pleasant

Per Capita: $30,823
Two bedroom rental: $1109
MSA Residential Home Sales: $459,354

Things to do
According to Wikipedia, Mt. Pleasant is “the fifth largest municipality in South Carolina, and for several years it was one of the state’s fastest growing areas, literally doubling in population size between 1990 and 2000.” It is home to Patriot’s Point and the Yorktown, Boone Hall Plantation, awesome seafood dinners, and is probably the one of the most family-friendly areas around Charleston. Each year, thousands of avid walkers and runners line up at the starting line in Mount Pleasant for the annual Cooper River Bridge Run which finishes in downtown Charleston. Mount Pleasant definitely sees a lot of traffic, whether it’s to go shopping at the Town Center, enjoying happy hour at one of the many restaurants on Shem Creek, hitting the beaches of Sullivan’s Island or Isle of Palms, or strawberry picking at Boone Hall. It has a good blend of young professionals and residents who have raised their now-grown children.

Angel Oak - The oldest thing east of the Rockies.

Johns Island

Per Capita: not listed
Two bedroom rental: not listed
MSA Residential Home Sales: $451,524

Things to do
Johns Island is the fourth largest island on the east coast and is “predominantly rural in nature.” I admittedly know very little about the island, but everyone I know who lives out there loves it. What I can tell you though is that there are some amazing restaurants on the Island. If you’re ever out that way, be sure to make a reservation. You can also find Angel Oak on Johns Island. This Live Oak is the oldest thing (both natural and man-made) east of the Rockies, and is definitely something you want to see in person. The pictures never strike the same awe you get when you’re standing beneath its massive canopy.

The Greater Park Circle Film Society

North Charleston

Per Capita: $14,361
Two bedroom rental: $871
MSA Residential Home Sales: $199,354

Things to do

North Charleston is a growing city, and is gaining a lot of attention. According to Mayor Summey, “the June edition of Men’s Journal named the historic Park Circle neighborhood as one of the nation’s ‘Coolest Neighborhoods.’ This honor follows Cottage Living’s ‘Top Ten’ for the Noisette Community in 2008, along with Green Builder Magazine’s naming of Oak Terrace Preserve as one of the nation’s leading green neighborhoods last December.”

If you take the train or fly into Charleston, you will begin your visit in North Charleston. And you really won’t have to leave the area. Many of Charleston’s hotels are based in the north area, as are the Coliseum, the Charleston Convention Center, the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, and an outlet mall.

Flowertown Festival

Summerville

Per Capita: $20,103
Two bedroom rental: $984
MSA Residential Home Sales: $188,871

Things to do
If you’re looking for southern hospitality at its finest, Summerville might be the best area for you to unpack your bags – you certainly won’t be the first. In the last 10 years, Summerville has grown by nearly 16,000 new residents. This is due in part to its “Main Street Approach” redevelopment efforts. The only downfall is the commute to downtown Charleston might be a lengthy one due to the traffic, but hopefully construction on I-26 will help with the drive.

Each community has its own distinct personality and culture. If you’re curious about any of them, just let me know and I’ll be more than happy to help. Or, if you live in any of these areas and want to contribute, please type away.