The Unlikely Academic Podcast, The Real Graduate School Experience!

Are you an undergraduate between the ages of 17 to 25? Do you feel lost and confused about the graduate school application process almost to the point of being overwhelmed? You are not alone! In this week’s episode, Dr. Jenny Holcombe and Dr. Chris Silver interview two (Carisha and Melody) brilliant (non-traditional students) undergraduate psychology majors related to their educational journey and what brought each of them to pursue higher education. Carisha and Melody shared the challenges of selecting, pursuing, and navigating their undergraduate programs and the importance their families and teachers played in selecting the colleges and universities they attended. Our interview then shifts to the challenges Melody and Carisha have experienced as working-class undergraduates including themes of understanding college jargon, psychological adjustment to college life, finding encouraging faculty and advisors, the anxiety of being a student with no clear direction or support system, and the financial challenges of fully participating in college including study groups and paying for school. The interviewees shift to discussing the challenges of finding the right university for graduate school including finding the right program of study, plotting their career trajectory, and ultimately finding the best method to achieve their career goals. This episode is more conversational with our interviewee’s sharing their experiences of their current university with southern humor and fun tidbits related to their experiences with current and former faculty. The episode ends with the interviewees sharing their advice with our listeners utilizing what they have learned thus far in considering graduate school as a possible next step. This is a fun and playful discussion with real issues for students to consider. Please be aware that there is a bit more swearing this episode than others, but much of it is based on the passion for learning of our interviewees and the co-hosts.

Drs. Jenny Holcombe and Christopher F. Silver (sans Mr. Tommy Coleman) discuss what to do when you receive a graduate offer. The podcast begins addressing a listener’s feedback regarding the demographic representation of the co-hosts. We share how we came to create this podcast and the reflexivity behind our intentions. We discuss the importance we place on the various narratives that exist in academia seeking to give information to help all that find it useful. We then shift to considering one’s offer or varied offers offering additional data points for consideration when making your decision. Dr. Silver shares his own experience of studying abroad and the unseen costs associated with moving internationally. Further Jenny and Chris discuss finances and other critical data points which should be considered when accepting an offer for graduate school. They highlight the importance of family, distance, and self-reflection in making this life-changing decision and offer guidance on ways to stay mindful of cultural differences and one’s identity when moving to a new place.

As Part 2 of the Graduate School Rejection Series, Dr. Jenny Holcombe is back and adds her thoughts to the previous episode providing further insights into coping with rejection as well as ways to help others who experience rejection. Following Jenny’s ideas, the Unlikely Academics shift to their first interview with Robert Austin Kippes B.A., M.A., a multi-disciplinary philosopher and adjunct instructor at UT Chattanooga. Austin shares his narrative regarding how he came to choose his educational path, the series of rejections applying over two years ago and the current rejections he has received this semester in wishing to continue his graduate work in a doctoral program. Austin shares very personal reflection on his experiences of applying and rejection and his empowerment narrative of continuing to strive to become a professor of philosophy. His inspiring story reflects on the power of teaching and empowerment to continue to strive for his goals regardless of application outcomes. Follow Austin on Twitter at @KIPPEStheDRUMR

The Unlikely Academics sans Dr. Holcombe discuss methods for moving forward after receiving rejection notifications from graduate school. First, assuming one has received rejections from graduating school, we consider ways of conducting what we term “post mortem” where an applicant reviews their applications, decisions related to picking graduate programs, and all the data points used to apply for various types of graduate programs now or in the future. Second, we discuss being supportive of fellow applicants in the form of friends or colleagues and the issues to be aware of in supporting others who received the bad news. The podcast wraps up with some personal advice on how to proceed following the bad news for friends and/or yourself.

As Part Three of the Applying to Graduate School Series, The Unlikely Academics discuss the components of a common element of many graduate applications also known as the Personal Statement or Personal Narrative. They also discuss making it through the first stage of the application process to the next phase called the interview. Both of these can take many different forms depending on the type of graduate program one applies to and can differ wildly. The Unlikely Academics discuss common themes which can strengthen a Personal Narrative including honesty, finding connections between life experience and framing one’s experience as a linear progression toward graduate aspirations. The Unlikely Academics then shift to the topic of graduate interviews and visitation days where the applicate is being considered for graduate school along with others and is meeting the faculty to discuss their interests and demonstrate competency as an applicant for the program.

In Memory of Dr. Paul Watson Psychology Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In this episode, the Unlikely Academics first reflect on the loss of their collaborator, professor, and friend Dr. Paul Watson who recently passed away. The Unlikely Academics shift the topic to discuss methods for identifying potential graduate programs including tips for making contact, organizing information, setting expectations both for you and the program, official and unofficial visits, and getting the information you need to make an informed decision about advisors (in terms of traditional doctorates) and programs (for professional doctorates). The hosts suggest methods for getting all the information to make an informed decision to ensure you not survive but potentially thrive in a graduate program regardless of your background or experience.

In this episode as part of a multipart series on applying to graduate school, The Unlikely Academics discuss Standardized Testing with a particular focus on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). They consider how the GRE is used, the costs of testing, the process of testing, how scores are reported, and the downstream consequences to good versus bad scores when applying to Graduate School. Further, they discuss ways to sidestep Standardized Testing as a primary indicator, taking into account a holistic view of graduate applications and methods for staying competitive even when applicants scores may be low. Further, they conclude by discussing the psychology of standardized testing and how negative self-evaluation and concepts can be false assumptions given the limited predictability of many standardized tests in determining graduate student performance and success. Join the discussion and share your experiences in our private Facebook student discussion group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unlikelyacademicpodcast/

In this Podcast, the Unlikely Academics discuss applying to graduate school for those who do not fit the "graduate student" mold (i.e., non-traditional students, diverse populations, first-generation college students, and other collegiate deviants). What are the types of programs? What do these programs look for? How do they differ in terms of culture? How does one apply when they are not upper middle class applicants between the ages of 20 and 25?

Are you thinking about graduate school? As their initial podcast, The Unlikely Academics discuss reasons not to go to graduate school paying particular attention to themes of the kinds of issues potential applicants may not have considered. Topics include money, family, relationships, life balance, loss, publishing, egos, advisors, working late hours, moving, and the various types of programs available to non-traditional students and other Unlikely Academics. We reflect on our own experiences and how they informed our graduate experiences. Are you ready for the rollercoaster that is graduate school? Going to graduate school is not a light decision and information is power.

Welcome to the Unlikely Academic’s Podcast. As part of our initial test of our Podcast hardware and software, the Co-Hosts provide some insight into their academic journeys. This is to share openly about each of our adventures in becoming academics. It is important to note that we all three are still on this journey of learning and discovery. We share critical milestones in our lives that helped make us the people we are today. More to Come