© Greg A. Chung-Yan, 2024
THINGS I WISH I KNEW AS A STUDENT
Soft skills and other tips for student success
The behaviours of professors might seem peculiar and frightening at times, but they are largely understandable and easily managed. Although the suggestions I’ve put together appear to be obvious, simplistic, or even stupid, for the most part, I was ignorant of them in my youth. I have many regrets, which I will not elaborate upon [he looks forlornly out the window]. My compendium is not terribly systematic or comprehensive. Nor will my suggestions work in all situations. But at the very least, they work on me.
Get to know your professors
early
Eventually you’ll need letters of recommendation or want to work individually with a professor. I cover this in the “Getting into graduate school” section. This advice is still useful even if you don’t want to go to grad school.Communicating with a
professor
Your style of communicating matters. Forms of address matter. Subject lines matter. Craft your e-mails with thought and professionalism.Getting help from professors
“Back in my day….” You’ve probably heard your parents preface a sentence like this before telling you that you’re lazy and entitled. Although you might not hear professors say it, rightly or wrongly, they’re thinking it. Before asking for help from a prof, make sure to do these things first.
Greg A. Chung-Yan, PhD
Industrial-Organizational
Psychology
University of Windsor
Applied Social Psychology
MA / PhD Program
uwindsor.socialpsychology.ca
Getting into graduate school
If you have dreams of some day getting a Master’s degree or PhD, you need to go to grad school. That takes more than good grades. Early preparation is key.
The Department’s hierarchy
It’s not always clear who to go to for help or guidance in the Department of Psychology. It is a large, complex system composed of both graduate and undergraduate programs, and requiring a sizeable number of administrators-- many of whom are faculty--to run. I attempt to break it down for you.
Picture taken in 2015
Picture taken in 2015
Picture taken in 2016
THINGS I WISH
I KNEW AS A
STUDENT
Soft skills and other
tips for student
success
The behaviours of professors might seem peculiar and frightening at times, but they are largely understandable and easily managed. Although the suggestions I’ve put together appear to be obvious, simplistic, or even stupid, for the most part, I was ignorant of them in my youth. I have many regrets, which I will not elaborate upon [he looks forlornly out the window]. My compendium is not terribly systematic or comprehensive. Nor will my suggestions work in all situations. But at the very least, they work on me.
© Greg A. Chung-Yan, 2024
Get to know your
professors early
Eventually you’ll need letters of recommendation or want to work individually with a professor. I cover this in the “Getting into graduate school” section. This advice is still useful even if you don’t want to go to grad school.Communicating with a
professor
Your style of communicating matters. Forms of address matter. Subject lines matter. Craft your e-mails with thought and professionalism.Getting help from
professors
“Back in my day….” You’ve probably heard your parents preface a sentence like this before telling you that you’re lazy and entitled. Although you might not hear professors say it, rightly or wrongly, they’re thinking it. Before asking for help from a prof, make sure to do these things first.
The Department’s
hierarchy
It’s not always clear who to go to for help or guidance in the Department of Psychology. It is a large, complex system composed of both graduate and undergraduate programs, and requiring a sizeable number of administrators-- many of whom are faculty-- to run. I attempt to break it down for you.
