As a result of getting back into the routine of working with doctoral students, I was inspired today to develop a presentation to address some of the challenges that folks face when they get into a program like this! And, since over the years I have come to view several key elements as important to success, I took a bit of time to put it all together and at the same time play with Keynote (the Mac alternative to Power Point)!
I know for sure that GRE scores are not particularly important, and even former GPA’s, although a factor, do not predict success. Some (most) of the things that do contribute to success can be developed and learned, but often students (and prospective students) are not aware of how important these skills are!
Here is a link to the presentation … I would love to have your response to it! In particular, I want to know if it “respects” the reader. And, is there anything I left out? Do you see anything that is too repetitive? I welcome your comments and responses!
Nurse Educator Praxis 
Love it! Especially now that I just figured out the 2nd slide had a video introduction to the rest of the presentation. I’m not having success viewing the presentation on a PC (tried both Firefox & Internet Explorer browsers) and somehow I completely missed the video on the first viewing using my phone (when my internet connection was slow). So a PC compatible version is my biggest suggestion, and possibly a brief text summary of your video added as slide 3 for those who miss the video. It’s interesting to me to think back and reflect on how each of the 10 areas you mentioned was important, and how at different times strengths in one area compensated for weaknesses in another.
thank you so very much, Olga!! I have changed a few things — added a note that video will begin momentarily, for example! this actually is not pc or mac dependent … when I put it on the web it all uploaded as html, and the jpg files to support the html. The movie file that goes with the video is also a standard format, with a built-in player that is consistent with web standards. So I suspect the problem was more the slow internet connection … but for sure, please do let me know if the problem persists! A summary slide of the video is a good suggestion too … I will wait and see if too many folks do have trouble getting the video to run now that I have the “wait” notice on the slide! I really did not say much … just more or less a way to be kind of “introduced” to viewers so they know where this is coming from (yeah … very casual for sure!!!). Thanks again, and please don’t hesitate to share with anyone who might be interested! Peggy
Peggy this is excellent. I recently had a similar conversation with a student thinking about graduate school. I plan on passing this along to her as I think seeing some of your questions and thinking seriously about the answers will be helpful to her in making a decision. I am also going to encourage her partner to view your presentation as well. I imagine this will spark some additional conversation between them. Thank you for creating a valuable tool and for sharing it here.
thanks so much for this feedback, Carla! I also have posted a link to this on my web page (it is in the right column on the main home page, as well as most of the other pages as well! while you are there, check out the video I just posted by Kate Clinton reflecting on the wonderful life and work of Adrienne Rich!
Peggy,
To echo Carla, this presentation is excellent and will be extremely helpful to many people. I would really love to adapt it for our program at TC. I have been contemplating how I could present this information to potential applicants, and you did it!! I would suggest a link on our website, but my concern is that it’s not a PhD program. Would you consider adapting it or making another version that says “graduate program”? I think there were only 2 or 3 places that would need to be adapted.
I had no problem viewing the video (on PC using Chrome), and the “wait” message was great – it alerted me to the fact there was a video.
Thanks again!
I would be very glad to adapt it for other kinds of graduate programs … so let me know which items need to be changed … and I will put it together! Peggy
Hello Peggy, This is my very first posting on a blog, so read my technical readiness as zero. I am currently teaching in an ADN program and personally involved in a MSN program and found your presentation personally helpful for me in identifying areas of stress and will use some of your tips for my students. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this feedback! I am planning to update this, and to make a version for Master’s level as well. If you have any suggestions, let me know!! Peggy