The Washington Post ran an interesting article that included the history of how Mother's Day was founded, as well as some statistics about mothers in the United States. It turns out that they very woman who lobbied in front of congress for Mother's Day to be an official holiday, was also the same person that led a tireless effort against the day being an official holiday. Anna Jarvis was able to convince congress to observe Mother's Day, and we've been officially celebrating the day in America since 1914; however, Anna later opposed the commercialization of Mother's Day and led a campaign to repeal the holiday. I think mothers everywhere are happy her later efforts failed, because commercial or not, they all deserve more recognition. And after all, there have to be some mothers that work for Hallmark, so either way you look at it, moms are still reaping the benefits from the sale of all those cards. Let's check out some grad school news:

• Grad School is an important decision, so it's necessary to examine how grad school can and can't change your life.
• Check out some of these fun (and funny) facts about grad school. You'll probably find them more humorous if you're already out of grad school!
• You may have updated your CV, but have you ever given thought to the value of a business card?
• So you think you're having a tough day? Well at least you don't have a flesh eating disease like 24 year old grad student Aimee Copeland. We wish her the best in her battle with the disease.
• On a lighter note, check out the latest comic (and magic eye) from Ph.D Comics.

Check back for more news about graduate school, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter!

This time of year brings all sorts of changes in the world of academe. Undergraduates are wrapping up the school year and eagerly counting down the days until they can toss their caps in the air to celebrate graduation. Some may use their bachelors degree to enter the professional work force, while others will open a new chapter in their academic career - grad school. For those attending grad school, it's important they dispel the myths about grad school, and focus on what they need to do to get into grad school. Congrats to all those moving onto the next phase of their professional and/or academic careers, now lets check out some grad school news:

• Grad school is a great option, but is your grad school is doing enough to prepare you for a career?
• Science Career Blog recently examined how the pathways from graduate school to a career can be improved.
• Are you thinking about graduate school for the humanities? Take some advice from a humanities grad student on the best way to approach your decision.

Check back for more graduate school news, in the meantime you can follow GradShare on Twitter & Facebook!

The life of a graduate student is not the first storyline that comes to mind when we think of entertaining movies. However, Jorge Cham challenged that notion with The PhD Movie, a film based on his long running comic strip Piled Higher & Deeper. Jorge brought his comic to life with this entertaining look into the academic balancing act we've come to know as graduate school.

The film focuses on the lives of four graduate students as they navigate the tricky world of post-graduate education. The setting and cast has an authentic feel; there are no sound studios or green screens required. The movie was shot at the California Institute of Technology, and most (if not all) of the actors are actual graduate students. This works in the movie's favor because the actors are believable; no one is going to win an Oscar for their performance, but it's evident that have had real-life experience with the quirky nuances of higher education. You believe the look of angst on the face of T.A. Cecilia (Kristin Dilworth) when students ask for needless extensions, or when she grades stacks of lackluster papers that leave her questioning her confidence in the future generation. The casting was done so well that the movie felt like an extension of the comic strip. This is especially evident with the main character, The Nameless Grad Student (Raj Katti), who is constantly overwhelmed by his workload, in an underfunded department, where his unpredictable advisor seemingly views him as just another face in the crowd.

The pace of the movie is perfect, with a run-time of just over an hour. It actually leaves you wanting a little bit more. Perhaps there is a sequel in the pipeline. Judging by the success of the independent film that has been screened at 450 universities and research centers around the world, that seems quite possible. The movie resonates with current and former grad students, a dynamic in academia that is often overlooked. There are some great lines throughout the movie, such as when The Nameless Gradaute Student explains to his father, "I'm basically paying the university so I can do free work for them." The target audience is of course students that can identify with grad school life; however, the humor, quick pace, and convincing acting ensures that the film can appeal to just about anyone. You don't have to be in a fraternity to enjoy Animal House or Old School, and you don't have to be pursuing a Ph.D. to appreciate The PhD Movie.

One added bonus to the film was the soundtrack. It was cohesive with the style and pace of the film, and it nicely complimented both main scenes and transition scenes. Once again, the producers didn't go all Hollywood and cram in top 40 hits that will be irrelevant long after the movie debuts. Instead the soundtrack is comprised of mostly bands from the California Institute of Technology and the surrounding area. It is a nice touch, and it adds some texture to the film.

Struggling with a work-life balance, uncertainty about the future, and deflated expectations are all parts of life that we have to deal with. Add in an unimpressed advisor, failing lab equipment, and a lack of academic job openings, and you're talking about grad school. Sometimes the best ideas arise when we are distracted, so the solution to your problems could be a bowl of popcorn and The PhD Movie. Enjoy.

Here is a link to The Ph.D. Movie website, where you can stream the film for $10.

I have yet to read the books that inspired Game of Thrones, but like so many others, I am enthralled by the HBO adaptation of the successful fantasy novels. There are countless reviews and critiques about the series circulating all over the internet; however, few mention that if not for postgraduate education, the television series may have never existed. It was 15 years ago at Trinity University in Chicago when Dan Weiss and David Benioff struck up a friendship. Both men, and eventual writers for the Game of Thrones HBO series, were each pursuing a master's degree in Irish Literature. They shared a keen interest in the fantasy genre, and in particular, George R.R. Martin's series of books A Song of Fire and Ice. A perfect storm of post-grad study, two smart guys that liked the fantasy genre, and Martin's inspiring novels helped to create one hell of a television show. Let's check out some other grad school news:

• Here's some great advice about choosing a thesis advisor from Jenn Tatum-Cotamagana. It comes from Marginalia: The Graduate Blog brought to us by Columbia University, Chicago.
• Warning: After you read this story, you may NEVER skip a class again. A BYU nursing student is surviving cancer that was detected in her class. Going to class does the body good.
• Stanford University is offering students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue a bachelor's and master's degree. Talk about a heavy workload.
• Do you ever wonder if grad school is still worth the money? If you decide that it's worth it for you, then check out these 7 tips that can help you find the right grad school.

Check back for more grad school news, in the meantime you can follow GradShare on Twitter & Facebook!

A former grad student in China was recently arrested for hacking into several military operating systems in India and Japan. Gu Kaiyun even attended a grad school where the Chinese government funded the computer security program, and part of his responsibility at one time was to recruit students into the program. He certainly made the most of his grad school education, but he did not make wise career choices. You can read more about Gu and his hacking exploits here. Let's check out some other grad school news:

• There are plenty of good reasons to attend grad school (cybercrime excluded) but according to Business Insider there are at least 5 bad reasons to apply to grad school.
• If you do apply to grad school, you're going to need to look at this list of the 2013 Graduate School Rankings from US News &World Report.
• Just because you're in grad school, it doesn't mean all the advice that you receive will be accurate. Maybe it's time to take legal action?
• I'm not a psychic, but I know that that if you do attend grad school, you probably won't be seeking a degree in the humanities -- so how exactly do I know that?

Check back for more grad school news, and don't forget to follow GradShare on Twitter & Facebook!

Film maker James Cameron will soon descend to the bottom of the Mariana Trench inside of a capsule that is specially designed to travel seven miles beneath the ocean's surface. Graduate student Jeff Marlow brings us an article that explains what Mr. Cameron can expect to encounter during his journey. Safe travels to Mr. Cameron, his desire to explore the deep sea is admirable; I'd do the same thing, but I can only afford a pair of used goggles, and a homemade snorkel -- I'm better suited to explore a fish bowl. Let's check out some grad school news:

• US News and World Report has had a flurry of grad school articles recently, stemming from their annual Grad School Rankings:
• • Here's the rankings
  • Sure it's a good school, but how much will it cost you? Grad Students to Lose Federal Loan Subsidy
  • Check out 5 Steps to Getting More Money From Your Graduate School
• You have to admit that GradShare is objective -- "Reasons Not to go to Grad School"
• I saved the best for last. A very insightful article by Mark Bauerlein about the state of graduate studies in humanities.

Check back soon for more grad school news, in the meantime you can follow GradShare on Facebook & Twitter

"You're determined", my supervisor commented during a progress meeting. I've never thought determination is a quality that I've had all along but I'm sure it's a quality I've improved upon during this dissertation journey. It took me 7 years before I decided to go back to school. Working full-time as an IT administrator while studying part-time for a Master in Computer Science has enlightened me in the last 3 years. Now that I'm near to the finish line, I'm reflecting on my learning experience in this journey, something that I'm proud to have experienced in my life. I don't regret embarking on this journey, though the thought to give up did cross my mind at times when balancing work and study were difficult. It's like juggling a few balls with two hands; trying hard not to let any fall to the ground, while at the same time keeping them as high up as possible. As if that's not enough, there are always more to juggle: new events in life, family commitment, work pressure, and of course, writing pressure. Just thinking of the juggling act can cause me stress.

That's the reality I faced while doing a master's dissertation. Let's not think about what entails in doing a PhD, which is far from my goal right now. As a matter of fact, life is always about juggling act even if you are not studying. I'm sure if we are studying full-time or even working full-time, we still juggle around all aspects of our lives. It's just a bit harder with added studious commitment, together with a full-time job that requires at least 9 hours of my time working in the office daily. Nonetheless, nothing is impossible. I've proved that I can do it no matter how difficult it is, so I'm sure other people can do it too. That's where determination comes in to play. The desire to succeed has to be so strong that nothing can deter us. I've known many people that wanted to give up during this dissertation journey because the process was overwhelming and success was not immediate. Many tend to let go when facing obstacles, of which there are many in life regardless in working or studying. People sometimes choose the easy way out because it's easier to give up than to pursue something difficult.

The worst enemy in writing a dissertation is procrastination. Procrastination is common, but it can be overcome with correct techniques as long as we want to succeed. During the journey, I found many helpful peers that were more than willing to provide support. The twitter community became my best support system, and I really appreciated all the help I get throughout the journey. I also learned that worry doesn't help in any way, so I worry less nowadays. I focus my effort on completing tasks, especially writing my chapters and journal article. I've cultivated a daily writing habit that has aided my completion. My new habit has been working for me. From a writing target of 100 words per day, I've increased it to 300 words per day. During the last few months of working on my dissertation, I've increased it to 2 hours per day instead. Some weeks I've worked extra hours to complete the unfinished chapters. Weekends are used to complete bigger tasks that were not possible during the weekdays due to work. These are the sacrifices that I have had to make in order to succeed. It has been difficult but it will all be worth it.

Completing a dissertation is not about setting aside how much you can write or how much time you are willing to sacrifice. It's about setting your ultimate goals and using your determination to reach those goals. Most importantly, you have to make things work for you regardless of what you choose and keep working until you succeed. That's perseverance. Writing a dissertation is a journey that doesn't yield result immediately. No one can complete this journey in days or weeks. All in all, I'm very sure that all problems have solutions. All we need to do is to keep working on it until it's completed. We cannot make excuses and give up. I'm definitely not someone that likes to give up without a battle. We need to try our best to succeed. That's part of the learning process. If you have determination and perseverance to succeed, success is definitely not very far from reach.

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Jennifer S. H. Lim is a Computer Science graduate, currently working on her final submission of her dissertation as part of the fulfillment for her Master in Computer Science at University of Malaya, Malaysia. She blogs about her studious life at http://mystudiouslife.wordpress.com and tweet as Studious Jenn @mystudiouslife

This is the second guest blog brought to us by Jennifer Lacey. Enjoy!

Graduate Scheme Test Guide

You will find that most graduate employers use some form of testing to whittle down the number of applicants in their schemes and find the right candidate for their graduate programme. Often these tests are used in the beginning of the process when there are most applicants and they will then lead onto actual interview places or in person test days.

These tests are structured and systematic ways of evaluating how people perform different tasks. No doubt you'll have faced some of the different testing methods while completing an application. More often than not these tests are taken online in the beginning of the application process and can take the form of several different types of tests.

Aptitude Tests

The sole purpose of these tests is to test your reasoning and cognitive capability in an exam environment. They are generally comprised of multiple choice questions and you receive a full set of instructions and a practice question before you embark on the real thing.

These tests generally used in graduate recruitment include;

- Numerical tests

- Verbal tests

- Spatial reasoning

- Subject specific tests - e.g. Programming

Tips for Success

- Ask the recruiter what types of test you will face in the application process - this way you can prepare yourself ahead of time.

- Use free online resources to practice questions. If at all possible find out what company the exams are run by.

- Work quickly through the questions but try and be as accurate as possible.

- Continue past questions you don't understand/can't do and go back to them if you have time at the end (be aware that this may not be possible on online tests).

Personality Questionnaires

These tests may not mark your personality with a grade but they do split candidates into personality types and from there graduate recruiters can decide whether you're right for a role on the scheme. This means that there will be no right or wrong answers but just an overview of your personality and working style.

A set number of questions or a series of statements will be given out to the candidate and you will have to select a multiple choice answer. It will probably feel like you are being presented with the same questions over and over again and this to establish a consistency to your answer and increase the accuracy of the tests results.

Tips for Success

- Always practice before hand so you know the general layout of the test and can feel relaxed.

- Be yourself - inconsistency will show on the results so go with your gut instinct.

- If you don't understand a question simply move on.

Understand that if you don't pass you probably wouldn't have been suitable for the role and that there is a better one out there for you.

This guest blog is a cross-post from Robert Bochnak, a Senior Writer/Communications Manager from Tufts University. You can read more of his blogs at Grad Matters: The Blog for Tufts' GSAS. Additional social media links are posted at the conclusion of the blog. Enjoy!

While teaching in academia isn't a contact sport, it can definitely leave a bruise (typically an internal one). Like many athletic contests, an academic life demands agility, stamina, persistence, and sacrifice-and there are definitely times when an audience of intellectually ravenous students is much scarier than a blitzing linebacker, a ninety-five mile per hour fastball, or preparing to summit New Hampshire's Mount Washington. But the life of a faculty member is survivable-even enviable-and in this post Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni share what they did (and what they didn't do) to make it through the first year in one-albeit slightly frazzled- piece.

Manage Your Expectations

First-year faculty members are an ambitious bunch. They arrive on campus revved up, eager to pursue their research agendas and affect young minds in the classroom. But it's important, especially in the first year, to manage your own expectations.

"One of my main challenges during the first year was trying to gauge the amount of material I could cover in a semester," said Angela Speece, who earned a master of fine arts from GSAS in 2011 and is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston. "I highly overestimated what I could get through-setting out to cover much more material than I had time for-and I should have factored in time for lengthy and thorough explanations of specific concepts. I also overlooked how much time I needed to answer student questions and to clarify information at the beginning and end of each class; activities which interfered with my designated teaching time."

Natasha Seaman, an assistant professor at Rhode Island College who earned a master of arts in art history from GSAS in 1997, recommends a particular reflective exercise at the end of each semester-an exercise that can help first-year faculty members both improve their teaching and keep their ambitions in check.

"One of the most useful exercises I did (and still do) to improve my teaching was to write a self-analysis narrative of each class soon after I submitted final grades," she said. "I considered what had gone well and what had not, and tried to think of solutions to problems and ways to expand on what was successful. My first year, this process made me realize I could have avoided killing myself and my students by having fewer, but more meaningful graded assignments. Plus, these narratives are useful for preparing your tenure application."

Do Your Homework

Homework doesn't end-at least for faculty members-with the final test or paper. For those new to academia, it's essential to rely on the experiences of seasoned faculty members, many of whom have written about the craft of teaching or are willing to provide advice over a cup of coffee.

"I worked really long hours during my first year; it felt like graduate school all over again," said University of Virginia Assistant Professor Neeti Nair, who earned a master of arts and Ph.D. in history from GSAS in 2000 and 2005, respectively. "I relied on articles in The Chronicle of Higher Education which provided advice for those on the tenure-track. I also sought out advice from mentors, both inside and outside of my department, when I felt particularly overwhelmed."

Natasha Seaman took a similar approach, reading books aimed at, primarily, first-year teachers.

"Three books really helped me develop my teaching," she said. "These books were: My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student; McKeachie's Teaching Tips: Strategies,Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers; and The Joy of Teaching: A Practical Guide for New College Instructors. I also read, and still do, pedagogy blogs and articles on The Chronicle of Higher Educationwebsite and the "Professor's Guide" from U.S. News and World Report; the guide is intended for students, but the material is useful for the 'other side' as well."

Prepare for (Possible) Double Duty

Some new faculty might find themselves in a precarious position: having a one-year appointment which makes it necessary to both teach courses and search for a full- or part-time position simultaneously. This was a predicament encountered by Nathaniel Goldberg, an associate professor at Washington and Lee University who graduated with a master of arts in philosophy from GSAS in 1999.

"Teaching a heavy course load while simultaneously being on the job market presented some challenges, specifically how to do it all and not attract the ire of my superiors who were not so approving of the time spent on job searching," said Goldberg. "I overcame this challenge by getting to my office before 6:00 am and not going home until 8:00 pm; my weekends were full, too."

Find What Works for You

Every teacher is different. Some bring fiery emotion to their teaching, while others are more, well, subdued. Because of this innate uniqueness, it's important for new faculty members to find things-whether it's technology or a new approach to time management-that supports his or her particular brand of teaching.

For Kara Miller, who graduated with a Ph.D. in English from GSAS in 2008 and is an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, her first-year was made easier by sticking to a schedule (as much as she could), as opposed to trying to "juggle" everything at once.

"I think that consciously dividing up your time can be really helpful," she said. "Try to keep yourself on a schedule if you can; for example, Mondays could be for developing courses and correcting papers, but Tuesdays could be dedicated to research. A schedule like this can free you up in a sense, allowing you to focus on one task at a time, rather than trying to manage it all."

Angela Speece relied on technology during her first year and hasn't looked back.

"There are many ways social networking, blogging, YouTube, and TED talks can enhance your teaching," she said. "I have personally set up an interactive website where students can upload files for assignments and add to classroom discussions."

For Neeti Nair, making time to write is critically important.

"Set aside time for your writing every single day," she said. "It could be early mornings, evenings, or different times each day. Don't rely on the illusory sabattical fellowship-it doesn't exist! As for teaching, know that there will be good and bad days. Don't be too harsh on yourself, but try not to make the same mistakes over and over again. And take the student evaluations seriously, especially the critical ones."

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"Oh, crap." Those are the words you utter to yourself as you enter a room full of undergraduate students on your first day teaching class. You're a few minutes late because you weren't familiar with the location of the classroom. Some students, merely a few years younger than yourself, carry on personal conversations and text, as if you're invisible. The jeans and t-shirt you are wearing isn't exactly a professorial ensemble. You've seen a handful of the students at the bars that you frequent, and you're not sure how to handle this awkward realization. Should you be the classroom dictator or the cool professor? Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High , or Mr. Shoop from Summer School ? Questions and off-color jokes swirl around the room. You're unsure of how to begin your introductory lecture, and the students smell your fear; they envision a semester of cutting class, disputing the syllabus, and negotiating grades.

Meanwhile, across campus a fellow T.A. is strolling into a similar classroom. Wearing a sport coat and khakis he appears comfortable, yet academic. Writing his name on the board, proceeded by the title "Mr." -- he gives off an air of authority. After calmly asking the students to get settled and handing out the syllabi, he outlines the class requirements, grading policies and his office hours. Some students are chatting in the back, the T.A. stops mid-sentence and makes eye-contact with them. Feeling awkward, they quiet down, and the rest of the class understands who is boss. After a brief exercise that helps students get to know one another, the class is dismissed. The students appreciate that he let them out early; however, they walk away with a clear picture of the course requirements and an understanding of the T.A.'s mature demeanor.

What's the difference between you and that other T.A.? The other guy read The Teaching Assistants' (T.A) Bible: Guide for Graduate Students, Adjuncts & College Instructors by Bakari Akil II, Ph.D. After reading the book, it becomes clear that preparation is the key to success as a new teacher/professor. Dr. Akil is well-versed in dealing with graduate education; he has Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Florida State University, he's currently an Assistant Professor at Florida State College in Jacksonville, and he has numerous other publications. If being properly prepared helped him to accomplish such a great deal, new T.A.'s can clearly benefit from his advice.

Early in the book Dr. Akil advises that new teachers, "Never wing it! Even though you may know the subject cold, it is best to practice your lecture a few times before teaching it to your class." Being prepared and professional will help new teachers "build credibility" with the undergraduate students. Furthermore, Dr. Akil stresses the importance of mentally visualizing potential problems/questions, as well as visiting the classroom beforehand to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. These words of wisdom seem simple; however, these exercises can "increase the probability of you conducting a relatively trouble free class."

The book also introduces potential T.A.'s to several common scenarios that can arise in the classroom. Various issues with students, complaints about grades, or questions for which you have no answer -- how are you supposed to handle these situations? If students are often tardy, or exhibit rude behavior that disrupts class, "a good way to handle these transgressions so that students understand that your classroom is an orderly environment is to address the issues immediately." In addition, Dr. Akil stresses the importance of relying on the syllabus. It's not necessary to "re-invent the wheel" when it comes to the syllabus, but it is important to clearly list office hours (and stick to them), as well as grading policies that are in accord with the standards of your department. These steps are solutions to problems that can arise throughout the semester; however, there will always be a question for which a you have no immediate answer, and that's okay. "Simply admit that you do not know [the answer] and and that you will find out for the student or class...the class will sniff you out if you try to fake a response."

Although the book isn't quite prophetic enough to be described as a "bible," it's at least a T.A. "catechism." The chapter titles read like FAQs, and they're followed by answers that can lead you toward T.A. enlightenment. The bottom line is that this book offers simple answers to questions that people often over-complicate. The value of being prepared and professional is clearly outlined by Dr. Akil, and he supports his lessons with real-life scenarios. If you think back to when you were an undergraduate, you can recall what separated the good professors from the bad professors -- and if you've forgotten, this book will undoubtedly jog your memory.

By Bakari Akil II, Ph.D.
$2.99 e-book
Published: April 09, 2011
Words: 10877 (approximate)
Language: English