Rackham Graduate School

What’s Next for Our Student Bloggers? (And a Fond Farewell)

Over the past month, our student bloggers wrote about what they will be doing over the summer, and for those who have graduated or will be graduating, what their next steps will be after leaving U-M. The short answer is that the bloggers will be busy! Below are some highlights of what’s next for our bloggers: Driving 2200 miles to a temporary home in the Washington desert to work at the LIGO Hanford Observatory in Hanford, Washington. Drafting three out of four of the data chapters for a dissertation. Making a move to Holland, Michigan and finding a job close…

Published in: Student Voices

Staying in Ann Arbor Over the Summer?

Rackham interviewed 20 current graduate students from a variety of programs on a range of topics of interest to new and current students, including getting to know Ann Arbor and special advice for international students and students with children. Videos of these interviews are available on the Rackham website along with other materials for new and current graduate students. One topic that may be of interest at this time of year is “Getting to Know Ann Arbor.” In this video, graduate students share their personal advice on what's unique about Ann Arbor, advice on how to get around town, living options, must-sees and must-dos in the area, and their favorite things about Ann Arbor. Whether or not this is your first summer in Ann Arbor, you might learn something new!

Published in: Student Voices

How Do You Define Success?

Last month, we asked our bloggers how they define success in their field. One thing is clear; definitions of success range significantly from person to person, but there are implicit and explicit commonalities in each definition.  Below are some common traits of “success,” as defined by our bloggers: Pursuing something you are passionate about Recognizing that even within a particular discipline, there are many ways to be successful “Changing the rules of the game” Understanding that success doesn’t necessarily mean winning a Nobel Prize—or meeting the King of Sweden Weaving your work into your life Being willing and able to listen and accept criticism Championing your cause Having an impact on society Being ready for change Participating in a community Relishing the small successes along the way Making lasting relationships with those in and out of your field Maintaining hope How do YOU define success in your field? 

Published in: Student Voices

Scholarship and Fellowship Recipients: Understand Your Tax Filing Requirements

The IRS Tax filing deadline is on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Federal Government Agencies require students to determine taxation of scholarships and fellowships when filing annual income tax returns. Each year, Rackham Graduate School sponsors a workshop, Tackling Your Taxes,* to help understand the following questions: Are student scholarship or fellowship payments treated as wages for services rendered? If not, to what extent are payments subject to federal income taxes under the Internal Revenue Code? If taxable income, are payments subject to self-employment taxes under the Social Security Act? How can students reduce taxable income or taxes with related expenses or…

Published in: PLAN Articles Events Resources

Seeking Student Bloggers for 2012/2013

Rackham is seeking master’s and doctoral students to write a monthly blog entry for the Graduate School Blog. Student bloggers will be able to share their experiences in graduate school with a wide audience, including prospective students, current students, alumni/donors, faculty and staff, and others interested in the graduate school community. Become a Blogger Students must apply to become a blogger. The application process involves basic demographic information, short written responses, and several short sample blogs. The application deadline is Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Applications will be reviewed by Rackham staff and finalists will be notified in June. Rackham is…

Published in: Graduate School News Student Voices

Why U-M? Our Student Bloggers Sum It Up For Us

Last month, our student bloggers were asked to write about what influenced their decision to attend U-M for graduate study. Below are the some of the deciding factors for our bloggers: Getting to meet the professor they would be working with before making the decision Michigan residents: U-M is a “world-class educational institution” in your own backyard! Two words: Full funding! For a blogger whose family lived in the area, she could see her brother’s baseball games, go shopping with her mom, or play with her dog (and not have to fly home to do those things) Interacting with “lovely”…

Published in: Student Voices

How to Do a Literature Review

Writing a review of the relevant literature is a key component of many kinds of research texts. Although the role and purpose of a literature review (LR) may vary somewhat, depending on whether it forms part of a research article, dissertation proposal, research grant application, or the dissertation itself, it always remains a complicated task. Its complexity derives from an interlocking need to find and assess reading resources, make connections among them, relate them to your research topic, and provide a coherent written accounting. In this interactive workshop, we will demonstrate a number of strategies that model a viable approach…

Published in: PLAN Events Resources

Student to Student Videos

This past summer, Rackham interviewed 20 current graduate students from a variety of programs on a range of topics of interest to new and current students, including getting to know Ann Arbor and special advice for international students and students with children. These videos are available on the Rackham website along with other materials for new and current graduate students. Check them out and let us know what you think! Getting Ready for Graduate School As you prepare for graduate school, there are some important things to keep in mind. Graduate students explain how they think graduate school is different…

Published in: Student Voices

Join Active U! Program Begins Tomorrow (2/14)

There is still time to register for Active U 2012! 2012 marks the fifth year that graduate students have been invited to participate in Active U. Active U is MHealthy's 12-week physical activity challenge for all university faculty, staff, grad students, retirees and, now, spouses/other qualified adults (OQAs). As always, Active U is for every fitness level. Walk, swim, do yoga, lift weights, dance or log activity in a wheelchair. It all counts! Do Active U and: Sign up as part of a team or as an individual Keep logging to qualify for prize drawings Earn a t-shirt by completing…

Published in: PLAN Resources

Love It or Leave It? Our Bloggers Weigh In On Winter in Ann Arbor

The January topic for our student bloggers was “Winter in Ann Arbor.” Here is what we’ve learned…Winter provides opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities, including snowball fights, sledding, ice skating, and skiing. Winter provides opportunities for a variety of indoor activities, including dining in, sitting by a fireplace, hanging “in,” and cooking things to warm you up. Winter removes warm weather distractions, so you can focus on writing, research, and applying for grants...

The January topic for our student bloggers was “Winter in Ann Arbor.”  Here is what we’ve learned… Winter provides opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities, including snowball fights, sledding, ice skating, and skiing. Winter provides opportunities for a variety of indoor activities, including dining in, sitting by a fireplace, hanging “in,” and cooking things to warm you up. Winter removes warm weather distractions, so you can focus on writing, research, and applying for grants. Winter gives us something to look forward to, like seeing the first signs of spring! If you need help figuring out how to make your…

Published in: Student Voices

Tackling Your Taxes Video Now Available Online

Although most people don’t think about taxes until April, graduate students should consider as early as possible what will be required to properly prepare your tax documents. The way the IRS views it, students bear the tax burden: Federal Government Agencies require students to determine taxation of scholarships and fellowships when filing annual income tax returns. This workshop will answer such questions as: Are student scholarship or fellowship payments treated as wages for services rendered? If not, to what extent are payments subject to federal income taxes under the Internal Revenue Code? If taxable income, are payments subject to self-employment…

Published in: PLAN Resources

Reflections From Our Bloggers

What we’ve learned from our bloggers over the past month: Why group projects are a necessary evil Office hours can yield some interesting conversations with undergrads… What it’s like to cope with invisible disability in graduate school How to network at a conference The experience of being a first-generation student in graduate school Getting support to manage ADHD Staying true to your faith in graduate school The importance of making time to reflect on your experience A guide on how to (successfully) survive candidacy (Congratulations, Hong!) The importance of taking advantage of all the things U-M has to offer The…

Published in: Student Voices

The Blog is Taking a Break, Too!

We hope you have enjoyed reading the Graduate School Blog this semester. Just as the rest of the U-M campus observes Winter Break, the Blog will be taking a break from December 24-January 2. If you are new to the Blog, I invite you to check out our posts from earlier this semester. We’ve had a series of posts from a group of student bloggers on a variety of topics, including balancing work and life in graduate school, their experiences working with faculty members and topics of their choosing this past month. Several units on campus have contributed posts about…

Published in: Graduate School News Student Voices

What to Do Over Winter Break

There are lots of things to do in the Ann Arbor area and in surrounding places. Below are just a few ideas of things to do during Winter Break: Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding There are several resorts in the local area (within about an hour’s drive), including Mount Holly, Mount Brighton, and Pine Knob. If you want to venture “Up North,” there are many more resorts in Northern Michigan. Visit Pure Michigan’s website for information about these outdoor activities and places to visit. If you don’t have your own equipment, call the resort you plan to visit and ask if…

Published in: PLAN Wellness

What We’ve Learned About Faculty Connections From Our Student Bloggers

Our student bloggers took on the topic of faculty connections this past month. They offered a range of perspectives on this important relationship in graduate school and had some great advice for managing this relationship. Below are some of the highlights of this topic’s posts: Faculty can help you get ready for the next step (whatever that next step may be), so they can be great resources for you. They are the leaders in their field—tap their knowledge! Once upon a time, they were graduate students, too, so their hindsight can be your foresight. Try to listen to advice from…

Published in: PLAN Articles Student Voices