Grad School Confessional

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].