Rene Paulson

Job Searching for Postgrads

Published: 3 May 2019
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad students, graduate employment, job advice, job search, postgrad, Rene Paulson

You have decided you want to do a postgraduate degree, but you are wondering about how it may affect your career choices. Alternatively, perhaps you have graduated, and you are wondering exactly how useful that degree you have will actually be. Whilst a postgraduate degree can be great for landing you jobs, it is not a guarantee. In order to succeed in the world of postgraduate jobs, you need to be dedicated.

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References and Citations: Part 3—More Referencing Styles

Published: 29 June 2018
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: academic writing, citations, grad school, references, Rene Paulson, research

As we previously discussed in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, there are several styles of referencing.  As a recap: all reference styles tend to include similar elements: the title, author, and date, but they have different formatting conventions (i.e., the order of the elements, capitalization, etc.).  Often times, dissertation committees will ask you to use the reference style…

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References and Citations: Part 2—Referencing Styles

Published: 1 June 2018
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: citatons, dissertations, grad school, references, Rene Paulson, theses

There are several styles of referencing.  Different referencing and citation styles have developed to address the specific needs of disciplines.  All reference styles tend to include similar elements, such as the title, author, and date, but they have different formatting conventions (i.e., the order of the elements, capitalization, etc.) to those familiar with that specific style. Publishers developed rules of style for…

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Everything You Need to Know About References and Citations: Part 1

Published: 4 April 2018
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: dissertation, grad school, references, Rene Paulson, research, thesis

When you conduct your research, it is important to record the details of all the information you find to provide accurate references, and to assist you or the reviewers to locate the information again later.  Many styles are used for citation referencing.  When you are given thesis or dissertation guidelines, check which style of referencing your advisor or committee asks you to use. …

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Returning To Graduate School after Hiatus

Published: 23 February 2018
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school, grad school advice, grad school application, phd, phd advice, Rene Paulson

Are you contemplating furthering your education but think too late to return to school?  Many potential students see a long hiatus from school as an obstacle to furthering their education.  You always planned to complete that master’s or doctoral degree, but life happens—career, family, obligations.  Things have changed and you’re ready to take that next step.  You want that graduate degree, but is it possible to return…

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Recommendation Letters: Who to Ask, How to Ask, and When

Published: 16 January 2018
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school, grad school advice, grad school application, phd advice, recommendation letters, Rene Paulson

If you are facing graduate school applications, it’s time to get serious about requesting references for your letters of recommendation.  Usually grades and test scores factor are most influential in a graduate school application; however, many applicants don’t realize that letters of recommendation can be the deciding factor in the admission process.  As a continuation of the previous blog, 5 Tips for Recommendation Letters,…

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Start 2018 Off Strong: Self-Care in the New Year

Published: 27 December 2017
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school, grad school advice, procrastination, Rene Paulson, resolutions, self-care

It’s the end of December, meaning it’s almost time to take down the holiday decorations and get back to the grind.  What is your reaction when New Year’s comes around?  Do you see it as a fresh start, or as just another passing year?  Whether you look forward to New Year’s or would rather not be reminded that you’re another year older, for me—and…

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Pros and Cons of Getting a Master’s before a Doctorate, Part 2: The Pros and Cons of a Master’s Degree

Published: 9 November 2017
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school, grad school advice, grad students, masters degree, phd, Rene Paulson

Is the time and money of a master’s worth it? If you are considering going to graduate school, you are most likely pondering which degree to get. There are pros and cons to earning a master’s degree before pursuing a doctorate. Master’s degrees are more career-oriented and doctoral degrees focus more on research. If all you want is a raise, pursuing a doctorate is probably not the…

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10 Moments all Grad Students Know: Featuring illustrations from Jorge Cham’s PhD Comics illustrations

Published: 8 November 2017
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school, grad students, phd, phdcomics, Rene Paulson, stress relief

Every grad student faces the pains and struggles that only we can understand. Sure, our lives may look beautiful to professionals in the real world or undergraduates; but what the outside world does not know is that is there is college, and then there is grad school. College is fun. Grad school is hard. Read the list below to get a laugh, relate, and realize that…

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Pros and Cons of Getting a Master’s Before a DoctoratePart 1: What’s the Difference?

Published: 22 September 2017
Written by Rene M. Paulson
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Categories: blogs
Tags: grad school, grad school advice, grad school help, masters degree, phd, Rene Paulson

Are you ready for graduate school? As a potential applicant to graduate school, you have quite a few decisions ahead of you. If you are considering a graduate degree, you might wonder what the differences are between the Master’s and Doctorate, or which one is right for you. When you enroll in a graduate degree program, be prepared for a different experience from undergrad. Eddie Machek describes the three…

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