Grad School Confessional

The dreaded thesis defense. While there are arguably harder things that you have to complete as a graduate student, there are few things more important than a successful thesis defense. Ironically, for how transparent the scientific and research process is aimed to be, the defense process itself can hold somewhat of a mythical value in its obscurity.

In this final episode, Anna and I chat about the process of preparing for a PhD defense, what you can expect during the defense, and tips for how to leave the other end with a few extra letters added to your title.

In this Sunday Service, Anna and I rant about the perplexity of an unpaid assistant adjunct professor position and what different forms of academic labour are valued at.

Please leave us a review on whichever platform you listen to, follow us on twitter @gradconfessing, and if you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Feeling like a fraud or imposter while in graduate school is so common, it may very well just be a rite of passage. But feeling imposter syndrome does not take away from your value as a graduate student nor the work and training you are doing. Our feelings may be real, but they do not reflect reality.

In this episode, Anna and I chat about the stories of grad students who felt like frauds or imposters, and how common these feelings can be within grad school.

Please leave us a review on whichever platform you listen to and subscribe to our new YouTube channel if you haven't already! And if you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In this Twitch livestream, Anna and I rant about the issues surrounding credibility and establishing legitimacy with titles in Academia.

Catch our Sunday Service livestream every other Sunday at twitch.tv/gradschoolconfessional or anytime on YouTube, and follow us on Twitter @gradconfessing.

Dating and romantic relationships are undoubtedly important. But when combined with the stress and demands of grad school, a partner can be both a welcome blessing of relief and a curse of interpersonal conflict. Combined with a global pandemic, and you would be hard-pressed to want to date at all.

In this episode, Anna and I chat about the stories of grad students, some of whom found partnership and support within a relationship and others who had some less than ideal romantic experiences to .

Please leave us a review on whichever platform you listen to, and subscribe to our new YouTube channel if you haven't already! And if you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In this Twitch livestream, Anna and I rant about the overreliance on metrics and quantifiability of academics and how these undermine the development of both good science and good scientists.  

Catch our Sunday Service livestream every other Sunday at twitch.tv/gradschoolconfessional or anytime on YouTube, and follow us on Twitter @gradconfessing.

The thesis is an essential part of graduate school. The culmination of the training, the research expertise, and the skills acquired, the thesis can be a daunting task, made all the more difficult with unexpected roadblocks to projects and poor feedback. 

In this episode, Anna and I chat about the stories of grad students who saw barriers and unforeseen issues arise during every step of their thesis - from inception to ethics to writing.

Please leave us a review on whichever platform you listen to, and subscribe to our new YouTube channel if you haven't already! And if you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In our first Twitch livestream, Anna and I rant about the caveats and idealisms of Open Access Publishing in Academia.

Catch our Sunday Service livestream every other Sunday at twitch.tv/gradschoolconfessional or anytime on YouTube, and follow us on Twitter @gradconfessing.

Much like one of those disorienting-circus-funhouse-mirror places, there is no single image of what the PhD experience will look like. Often, these differences are greatest when comparing between countries, as expectations, funding, loans, exams, and job prospects can vary dramatically.

In this season finale episode, Anna and I, along with our guest hosts, Suzanne and Jayron from The Struggling Scientists podcast, discuss the differences in PhD experiences between Canada and the Netherlands.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com. Be sure to check out The Struggling Scientists podcast as well on your favorite streaming platform!

On its own, becoming a parent is an incredibly stressful and life-altering experience. Combined with the, often, incredibly stressful and life-altering experience of grad school, and it does truly feel like a miracle that anyone makes it out on the other side, alive and defended. That said, few can argue the fulfillment and accomplishment that come with both of these experiences, and for those that wish to experience both, it is the duty of the institution to accommodate them as much as possible. After all, I remember being a kid once, and I turned out to be preeeetty cool.

In this episode, Anna and I, along with our guest host, Dr. Kendra Nelson Ferguson, discuss the confessions of grad students who were either planning for, expecting, or new parents to children, while in grad school.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Supervisors will make or break a grad school experience. Being able to draw on their knowledge, resources, and network can be crucial for any young scholar – but equally so can the abuse of power, neglect, and lack of integrity make any grad school experience a nightmare.

In this episode, Anna and I discuss more confessions of grad students whose supervisors either weren’t there for them or put the pressure on them until they cracked.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Second-generation academics are offered the unique perspective of the scholarly route from a young age. Often times, this leads to advantages in the form of networking, experience, and advice; but can also present unique challenges and interpersonal conflicts with parents.

In this episode, Anna and I discuss with Michaela Khan, the confessions of second generation grad students, and their stories about how their experience with research often started early and offered many advantages, but also led to struggles with identity and roles.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

First generation academics are a lot of things: sometimes immigrants, sometimes underprivileged, sometimes lucky. But all first-gen academics share a common thread – they are the first in their family to glimpse and experience the culture of academia and the vast environment of knowledge and privilege that comes with it.

In this episode, Anna and I discuss with Dr. Roberta Bgeginksi, the confessions of first generation grad students, and their struggles with fitting in and fighting for their place in the realm of academia.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

While this may be hard to believe, as it turns out, getting a masters or PhD in itself is…not that impactful. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s no doubt important to us as students. But it can be very hard to see this impact translate to the real world. It’s not necessarily our fault though; the academic system does not encourage this definition of impact. When you do make a real-world impact though – it’s a beautiful thing.

In this episode, Anna and I discuss the confessions of grad students who discuss the real world impact of their research; whether it was seeing it unfold, facing the consequences of achieving it, or wishing the system cared more for it.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

This one time, when I was in Grade 2, we were given a quiz. On the surface, this quiz seemed really easy (if not, sort of long), but we were told that the first thing we should do is read all the instructions. Being the rambunctious boy I was, I did not. Had I read the instructions all the way through, I would have realized that the last question simply read: "Don't do any of the questions, just put your head down on your desk and sit quietly". I guess what I'm saying is that's basically grad school. 

In this episode, Anna and I discuss the confessions of grad students who would have had their grad school experience be a lot less stressful if they had asked the right person or the right questions.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Ghouls, goblins, graduate supervisors. You need look no further than your very own graduate department to find an assortment of monsters. In this  final spooky special episode, Anna and I discuss the confessions of grad students who reminisce about their own close encounters with monsters, including bloodsuckers, night watchers, and middle-aged sirens.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In life, we often have pivotal moments. Moments that shape us, what we believe, and how we act, for the rest of our lives. Many times this is the result of a challenging but rewarding experience. Sometimes, it's because you're late again, and someone yells at you. This is the latter. In this (potentially) final bite-size confessional, Anna and I chat about a confrontation I had with my graduate supervisor that was both uncomfortable, but formative.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Ah, the academic publishing process. A veritable forum of equity, inclusivity, and fairness. I’m just kidding, academic publishing is an absolute circus. In this spooky special episode, Anna and I discuss the confessions of grad students who recount their publishing horror stories related to authorship struggles, desk rejections, and peer reviewer drama.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Grad school is many things. Difficult. Rewarding. Educational. Dangerous? In this bite-size confessional, Anna and I chat about a grad student who was asked a sinister sounding question by a participant while recruiting for their study.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to reflect. A time to be grateful. A time to…stress-write your first graduate paper. In this bite-size confessional, Anna and I chat about a grad student whose turkey got cooked after they left their research paper to the last minute.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

You know the type: narcissistic, egotistical, petty, and easily slighted; unfortunately, not the greatest type of person to have as your supervisor. In this bite-size confessional, Anna and I chat about a grad student whose supervisor's ego puts strain on their relationship and discuss the ego and power imbalances in student-supervisor relationships.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

Believe it or not, there is more to life than just grad school. Extra-curricular activities, student committees, sports and recreation, and creative passions are only a few of the incredibly important things that can help broaden our horizons and keep us motivated (and sane) during graduate school. In this episode, Anna and I discuss the confessions of grad students whose activities and extracurriculars helped them build meaningful friendships, helped give them identity/purpose in grad school, and opened doors for their passions and creativity. 

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In this episode, Anna and I discuss money (or the lack thereof) in grad school and share the confessions of grad students who put off dental emergencies, have to work three jobs to make ends meet, and are fed up with the university business model.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In this episode, Anna and I discuss stress in grad school and share the confessions of grad students stressed over juggling parenthood, dealing with substance abuse, and feeling isolated.

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.

In this episode, Anna and I share some new grad student confessions about ethics applications woes, being in the wrong place at the right time, and supervisor struggles. 

If you have a confession you'd like to share, you can use this anonymous link (https://forms.gle/jfGHFwDfSZ67ce7r8) or email us at thegradschoolconfessional@gmail.com.