A lot happened in my MSc: I won several scholarships, my Dad died, I submitted my thesis work to a major conference, annnd there was the pandemic.
I’ve had a fantastic MSc experience (almost done!) and have been talking to a lot of incoming or current students. Some topics / questions come up a lot. Here’s what I know!
🧵 Tips for an awesome MSc experience.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter @OpenAcademics @academeology
A lot happened in my MSc: I won several scholarships, my Dad died, I submitted my thesis work to a major conference, annnd there was the pandemic.
Choosing a thesis topic: Read read read.
What are you interested? Pick an umbrella topic and start reading. Follow the rabbit holes. Write questions, answers, more questions. When you find questions you cannot answer, you might have a thesis topic.
My first semester a professor said “if your research ideas don’t change, you haven’t learned anything.”
No one is going to pull up your SOP and hold you to whatever you said you were interested in upfront.
What will you do, broadly? One study? Two? A review paper? Meta-analysis? As early as possible, find out what YOU actually need to do to complete your thesis. ESPECIALLY if you’re in a lab with lots going on. What is YOUR requirement?
Make up a timeline with your PI. Consider your goals: do you want to submit to a particular conference? Conduct a follow up study? Work backwards. When do you need data? Ethics? Your proposal done? The best thing I did was set goals and work backwards to time it.
If you do human or animal research you need ethics approval. Look into the process right away. Different schools follow different procedures. Black out dates, differing protocols depending on your sample, etc. could all impact your timeline. Look into this ASAP.
I use Mendeley, others use Zotero. It doesn’t really matter, just use one starting immediately. It will save you HOURS and help you stay organized. Make it a top priority to get comfortable with a referencing software.
I guarantee you that your department has a badass and under utilized librarian. The first time you do a lit review, see the librarian. Writing your first paper? Librarian. Unsure about how to cite/reference? You guessed it. Librarian!
This could be a whole other thread, but in short: apply to everything you are eligible for. Put them on your calendar, get crystal clear on the requirements and START EARLY. I have held 4 scholarships during my MSc worth $45,000.
You’re going to work one-on-one with your PI a lot but there are other people in your department who will make your experience better. Stop in the hall and talk to them. Read their papers. Still online? Invite them for virtual coffee.
You have probably heard that your relationship with your supervisor is important it SO TRUE. If you still have some choice, choose someone who get along with, whose mentorship style works for you, and who supports your goals.
You will need work ethic and a plan, particularly once you no longer have courses and the structure ends. I work in time blocks. Find what works for you and work every day.
Grad school is not a straight line. Things happen. Like I mentioned, I had a major blow: my Dad died. I have learned, though, that the more you work consistently and the more you have a plan, the more you will be buffered against the blows.
Don't just track of your accomplishments; pay attention to what learned to do. Data analysis. Lit review. Grant writing. These are transferable skills into both PhD and industry. Think about this - constantly.
If you ever look at your schedule or consider taking on a project and think “Ok... if I stick to this EXACT schedule... ” then you have over done it. If sleeping through your alarm would make your life fall apart, it's too much.
My friend and I are also hosting a Clubhouse Room tonight at 8PM EST on these topics and more. All are welcome! https://t.co/RJCF2vlNjG
More from Education
Time for some thoughts on schools given the revised SickKids document and the fact that ON decided to leave most schools closed. ON is not the only jurisdiction to do so, but important to note that many jurisdictions would not have done so -even with higher incidence rates.
As outlined in the tweet by @NishaOttawa yesterday, the situation is complex, and not a simple right or wrong https://t.co/DO0v3j9wzr. And no one needs to list all the potential risks and downsides of prolonged school closures.
On the other hand: while school closures do not directly protect our most vulnerable in long-term care at all, one cannot deny that any factor potentially increasing community transmission may have an indirect effect on the risk to these institutions, and on healthcare.
The question is: to what extend do schools contribute to transmission, and how to balance this against the risk of prolonged school closures. The leaked data from yesterday shows a mixed picture -schools are neither unicorns (ie COVID free) nor infernos.
Assuming this data is largely correct -while waiting for an official publication of the data, it shows first and foremost the known high case numbers at Thorncliff, while other schools had been doing very well -are safe- reiterating the impact of socioeconomics on the COVID risk.
A group of Ontario experts led by SickKids has updated its guidance for school operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The living document, COVID-19: Updated Guidance for School Operation During the Pandemic, can be read here: https://t.co/rotLqDqkQh pic.twitter.com/q7kVezAPoG
— SickKids_TheHospital (@SickKidsNews) January 21, 2021
As outlined in the tweet by @NishaOttawa yesterday, the situation is complex, and not a simple right or wrong https://t.co/DO0v3j9wzr. And no one needs to list all the potential risks and downsides of prolonged school closures.
1/It's the eve of provincial announcements on schools reopening for in-person instruction.
— Nisha Thampi (@NishaOttawa) January 20, 2021
Households are under stress and experts are divided on whether schools are unicorns or infernos.
Everyone wants to do right by kids, who have borne so much throughout this pandemic.
On the other hand: while school closures do not directly protect our most vulnerable in long-term care at all, one cannot deny that any factor potentially increasing community transmission may have an indirect effect on the risk to these institutions, and on healthcare.
The question is: to what extend do schools contribute to transmission, and how to balance this against the risk of prolonged school closures. The leaked data from yesterday shows a mixed picture -schools are neither unicorns (ie COVID free) nor infernos.
Assuming this data is largely correct -while waiting for an official publication of the data, it shows first and foremost the known high case numbers at Thorncliff, while other schools had been doing very well -are safe- reiterating the impact of socioeconomics on the COVID risk.
New from me:
I’m launching my Forecasting For SEO course next month.
It’s everything I’ve learned, tried and tested about SEO forecasting.
The course: https://t.co/bovuIns9OZ
Following along 👇
Why forecasting?
Last year I launched https://t.co/I6osuvrGAK to provide reliable forecasts to SEO teams.
It went crazy.
I also noticed an appetite for learning more about forecasting and reached out on Twitter to gauge interest:
The interest encouraged me to make a start...
I’ve also been inspired by what others are doing: @tom_hirst, @dvassallo and @azarchick 👏👏
And their guts to be build so openly in public.
So here goes it...
In the last 2 years I’ve only written 3 blog posts on my site.
- Probabilistic thinking in SEO
- Rethinking technical SEO audits
- How to deliver better SEO strategies.
I only write when I feel like I’ve got something to say.
With forecasting, I’ve got something to say. 💭
There are mixed feelings about forecasting in the SEO industry.
Uncertainty is everywhere. Algorithm updates impacting rankings, economic challenges impacting demand.
It’s difficult. 😩
I’m launching my Forecasting For SEO course next month.
It’s everything I’ve learned, tried and tested about SEO forecasting.
The course: https://t.co/bovuIns9OZ
Following along 👇
Why forecasting?
Last year I launched https://t.co/I6osuvrGAK to provide reliable forecasts to SEO teams.
It went crazy.
I also noticed an appetite for learning more about forecasting and reached out on Twitter to gauge interest:
The interest encouraged me to make a start...
I’ve also been inspired by what others are doing: @tom_hirst, @dvassallo and @azarchick 👏👏
And their guts to be build so openly in public.
So here goes it...
In the last 2 years I’ve only written 3 blog posts on my site.
- Probabilistic thinking in SEO
- Rethinking technical SEO audits
- How to deliver better SEO strategies.
I only write when I feel like I’ve got something to say.
With forecasting, I’ve got something to say. 💭
There are mixed feelings about forecasting in the SEO industry.
Uncertainty is everywhere. Algorithm updates impacting rankings, economic challenges impacting demand.
It’s difficult. 😩
Below is a list of awesome courses that dive into all different aspects of visual communication and storytelling.
Visual storytelling is a way for people to communicate their story using visuals and digital media such as video, graphics, and photography.
Visual Storytelling appeals to the emotions of the intended audience and it can humanize the business, giving the target market a way to relate to the business and their story.
1. The Art of Storytelling
2. Visual Thinking: Drawing Data to Communicate Ideas
https://t.co/YPiexr9RYJ
3. Find what fascinates you as you explore these visual storytelling
4. Awesome and affordable online art classes for artists of all skill levels! Take your art to the next level no matter where you are. https://t.co/k7xpp4sR4r
5. Digital Storytelling
6. Visual Storytelling | For Screenwriters & Novelists
https://t.co/FsZ7EFFVzo
7. Learn about storytelling with online courses and
Visual storytelling is a way for people to communicate their story using visuals and digital media such as video, graphics, and photography.
Visual Storytelling appeals to the emotions of the intended audience and it can humanize the business, giving the target market a way to relate to the business and their story.
1. The Art of Storytelling
2. Visual Thinking: Drawing Data to Communicate Ideas
https://t.co/YPiexr9RYJ
3. Find what fascinates you as you explore these visual storytelling
4. Awesome and affordable online art classes for artists of all skill levels! Take your art to the next level no matter where you are. https://t.co/k7xpp4sR4r
5. Digital Storytelling
6. Visual Storytelling | For Screenwriters & Novelists
https://t.co/FsZ7EFFVzo
7. Learn about storytelling with online courses and