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themissingsock

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Lubbock, Texas
  • Application Season
    2015 Fall
  • Program
    UT Austin PhD in STEM Education

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  1. In terms of specifics, I can think of recommending certain software and habits. I use Google Keep to make to do lists and notes that sync from web to my phone. I use Google Calendar to schedule dates and course schedules that remind me on my phone. (I am very into using Google and the cloud to keep me organized). I use Google Docs for most of my research paper writing. I find it helpful to share it with collaborators, and I enjoy the ability to access it easily across computers. I don't carry my flash drive anymore. I use Google Sheets for collaborative spreadsheets as well. Google Slides for collaborative research presentations. I've been impressed with the whole free Google suite, as you can obviously tell, but moving to the cloud and using Google has made working with other colleagues on research so much easier. For research papers, I used Endnote for most of my cite as you write and for organized references. However, a free and social alternative is Mendeley. I recommend both highly for research work. For research posters, if you can learn Adobe InDesign, it makes making them so much easier and cleaner. This is something not too many people think of. In terms of work habits, spatial location means a lot to me. I can't work in one place for too long. I need to work in places where other people are visible. I feel like it keeps me accountable. I find that this helps for others as well. Changing locations can also help you come up with new ideas and give you a fresh perspective.
  2. UW has a pretty established education program, and I think it would be great to go there. It terms of a program though, it seems like a PhD program focusing on Higher Education would also suit you. They tackle the question of the role of higher education in both a historical and philosophical perspective. Either way, it's great that you're open to having these discussions for yourself now, and I do think that it'd be great to have you in an education focused PhD program. If you're still at an university, I would recommend that you go visit your college of education and talk to a professor about your interests. I think you'll find that they'll be more happy to help you find what program would suit you. (If they're really nice, they may network you with other professors and this is a great way to get in a PhD program).
  3. 1) As always, US News Report has graduate school rankings for education and then by subdiscipline. I'd use their subdiscipline rankings once you find out which one you're going for. Of course, a good ranking of school largely falls upon its faculty. You should probably be more concerned with the fit with an advisor than the program at this point. Have you found any research papers published by faculty members you could try and work with? 2) I haven't seen too many programs focusing on Educational Theory. In terms of history of education, I have seen higher education programs focus on history and the creation of higher education. 3) What do you mean by educational theory? Like types of learning theories? These are typically explored in regards to learning within a discipline or population. I am not aware of programs that just focus on theory. One learning theory that is starting to become a trend is "Learning Sciences." Learning Sciences programs are becoming more prevalent. 4) I have heard good things about their program. 5) What matters the most is your fit with your potential advisor. Find a program that have a few faculty members that you have similar research interests and be sure to explicitly state how you fit with them and how it would benefit both you and them. 6) It truly depends. PhD programs that are research based with good faculty will be funded. Coming from an engineering background, I have noticed that education programs do struggle a bit more to find funding for their doctoral students. 7) Education is very diverse, so yes. There are many different disciplines and populations to focus on in education research. Instead of trying to focus on just educational theory, I may suggest you find a population group you want to try said educational theories on. Higher education? K-12? Are you interested in how philosophy undergraduate majors learn philosophy? I was in a very similar state as you. I have my master's in environmental engineering, and I made the transition to education. I'm now enrolled in doing a PhD in STEM Education focusing on engineering education. I am learning various education theories (active learning, zone of proximal development, John Dewey, etc.) and trying to fully more integrate them within engineering education. I find that education research (as a collective) is interested in theory, but a major part is applying said theories in the classroom. The research trend is moving towards to how do we apply these theories? I think less time and funding is spent on developing new educational theories.
  4. I've never seen a post like this before on grad cafe. It seems like a post you'd find on a more romantic type of forum. Regardless, I'll reply with my opinion anyway. It seems like he is being honest that he is busy and is willing to take you up on the offer of food but still can not hangout with you. Honestly, he should've just canceled plans all together, and you may have been more understanding. Just from reading the paragraphs of your new "relationship," it may sound like you want something more from this relationship, and you should be explicit. Do you want to continue just hooking up and being friends with benefits? Do you want to be his girlfriend? I think it would be best for you and him if you could determine what both of you want from this relationship. I find that being open with what needs you want to be met with someone is key. If you want to feel important to him and feel like he is your boyfriend, then I would definitely express that desire to him. Hope this helps.
  5. Apartment Finders Service was pretty helpful. They took me out and let me look at apartment rooms directly. That was really nice. I found a place in Hyde Park with their help.
  6. Getting funding for research assistantships. Doctoral students typically want RAs in order to cover their living stipend instead of teaching assistantships, so that they could spend more time focusing on research instead. Definitely look up an apartment locator. They're free to use, and they can help you sign a lease from a distance, and they would be more than happy to take you on a tour of available apartments. I've found a place north of campus in the Hyde Park area. I like it a lot. Most of the graduate students recommended North Campus/Hyde Park as it's close to campus but still quiet. They didn't recommend West Campus as it's full of parties, greek houses, and undergraduates. You can also live further out in Austin, but remember that car traffic is terrible. Congrats on accepting the offer!
  7. So, the visit day was for the entire College of Education. We got to meet faculty and accepted students from all departments, and it felt largely like a recruiting event. Basically, the message was "please come to UT, we're highly ranked and awesome." Having said that, my overall impression was that the faculty and departments were really eager to have new students come in and to attend UT. I talked to a few current students, mainly doctoral because I am coming in as a doctoral student, and they all seemed pretty happy living in Austin and attending UT. The only negative thing I got was that funding could scare sometimes, and this is highly dependent on your advisor. There was a graduate panel consisting of mainly master's students, and they answered questions about life in Austin and what it was like to attend UT. Overall, they all seemed like they were pretty happy to be there, and the classes felt important and useful to them. A lot of students were coming in at different parts of their lives, from recent undergraduates to coming back in after teaching or working for a few years. I hope this answers your question! Let me know if you have any other questions or comments.
  8. I'm still waiting as well, but I've already accepted an offer at another school. I applied for the SESAME program.
  9. Yes, I've visited in person. Did you have any specific questions?
  10. Most people I've spoken to highly recommend North Campus/Hyde Park area. Also, be sure to check out apartment agents. They are free and willing to inform you about apartments.
  11. I'll be attending this fall to start my PhD in STEM Education!
  12. There's a lot of cheap apartment housing all around Lubbock. The nicer apartments are a bit further from campus, but the longest driving commute you'll ever have is roughly 20 minutes. However, if you prefer to bike or take the bus to campus (I do), there are some cheap but a bit more noisy apartments closer to campus. Campus is adjacent to University and Broadway. This area gives a strip of dining, shopping, and some bars. A lot of students will walk from campus and grab a drink and some food on the weekends and after major sporting events. Walmart for groceries is close to campus, but it is in a bit of a rough area. I wouldn't recommend it. Most of the nicer areas in Lubbock to get groceries and shop are actual a few minutes drive from campus.
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