"You Got Me Going in Circles"

Seeing that this is my first post in a while, I had a tough time finding an interesting topic to write about. But  last night it hit me all of a sudden like a strike of lightning! Well not literally, but you know what I mean. Anyway, I decided to focus on something that I think can help you better prepare yourself for the busy schedule your guaranteed to have the moment you enroll in graduate school, which is managing your time wisely. 

I recall many times during my undergraduate studies where I would convince myself that I was studying VERY hard for upcoming exams. However, in actuality, I wasn't taking into consideration the quality of studying that I particularly achieved during this time; I was more concerned with the amount of time I spent looking over notes and flipping through pages of my textbook. You see, I was only crippling myself by leaving the engineering building thinking, "Man, I studied for a long time tonight." I wasn't fooling anyone but myself because looking back I now realize how much time I actually wasted by thinking about how much time I was actually studying! Now I may have survived most classes with this theory, but as soon as I started graduate school I realized that I had to use ALL of my time wisely. 

 I remember it like it was yesterday. One of the first things my advisor told me when I started working in his research group was, "Justin, you can run full speed, but if you're running full speed in circles then where will that leave you?" I immediately responded, "Right back where you started!" You see, my advisor wanted me to quickly realize that time was one of my most valuable assets and I needed to begin learning how to use it to my advantage. As I progressed through my doctoral program, I realized that it's not about how much time it takes you to complete a task; it's about your actual accomplishments during this time that matters. The more you advance in your educational journeys, the more responsibilities you will began to obtain; which in turn will reduce the amount of time you actually have to get things done. Therefore, start trying new habits, study methods, and concentration strategies now; that way once you enroll in higher level courses you'll have a better handle on how to be productive with a limited amount of time. I'll be honest and say that it wasn't easy for me to break old habits, but it can really be worthwhile if you're able to preserve some additional time by increasing your production level during homework and study sessions.   

If you're reading this that means you have some sort of interest in pursuing an advanced degree so I wanted to share this advice with you early on. So try keeping your phone and watch in a hidden location while studying or performing any task so that you can fully concentrate and get the most out of your time!   

Perseverance is key! Continue to Strive for Excellence!

Thanks,

Dr. Justin Boone

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Welcome to my Blog!!

Welcome!

I would like to first wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!! I have been contemplating on starting this blog for a while now, and after numerous conversations with close friends, I have finally decided to make it happen! Before I begin with the story line however, I just want to thank you guys for taking time out of your busy schedules to assist me with this project. Your insights and comments will help tremendously and for that I am grateful.

So...here goes!!

During my tenure as a doctoral student, I've had many opportunities to participate in conferences and panel discussions where I was asked to shared some of my personal experiences in the doctoral program with undergraduate students across the country. After serving on these panels numerous times, I started to notice that nearly all of the students had questions and/or concerns that directly related to "successfully transitioning from undergraduate to graduate school." Therefore, I recently decided to not only share advice with those who participated, but also with students around the world who are interested in pursuing advanced degrees!

My plan is to write a book covering key components in detail that will help students make this successful transition to graduate school. However, I wanted to first share the idea with my peers (you guys) in order to get a better understanding of exactly which topics students are more concerned with; this will help me formulate my chapters, while paying close attention to the areas of interest. So, yes, now I need your help!!:)

Ask yourself this.... If I were planning on attending graduate school, what questions would I want answered in order to increase my chances of educational success?? Several just popped in your head I hope!

So, I have prepared a brief questionnaire below. Your responses will assist me in narrowing down the topics of interest for students and provide insight into my chapter alignments. I will also post answer responses to the questions/comments you provide below so that we can maintain a continuous discussions on this page.

Please spread the word and direct any friends and family who may be seeking graduate school advice to my blog! All comments will remain confidential in future publications.

Questionnaire:

1. Are you currently in or interested in attending graduate school to obtain an advanced degree? If so what degree and why?

2. What is your major/discipline and classification?

3. In what ways do you believe obtaining an advanced degree can benefit your career path?

4. What questions come/came to mind when you think/thought about transitioning from undergrad to grad school? For example, applying, finding an advisor, coursework adjustment, prioritizing, etc.  

Note: If you have already completed graduate studies, what were some questions that came to mind when you were in the process of applying to graduate school? 

Please feel free to also provide any other comments/suggestions you may have, as your input is highly appreciated! You can also email me and I will get back to you at my earliest convenience. Follow me by email and stay updated on recent posts!  

Thanks again!!

Justin Boone, Ph.D.

justinboone06@gmail.com