Academic things to consider before going for a PhD | Part 2 | IIT prof's advice | PhD Admission

This is the 2nd part of the video series on "Things to consider before going for a PhD". The first video was on non-academic things like job prospects, stipend, and marriage issues. This video is on the academic side of things.

In this video I try to help students decide if they are academically suitable for going for a PhD by asking a series of questions:

* Should they think of going for a PhD just because they have been academic toppers?

* If they have not been academic toppers, does it make them unsuitable for a PhD?

* Do they have the correct mentality in terms of exploring things on their own academically?

* Do they have a proper problem solving ability?

* Do they have a spark of academic creativity?

* Have they inculcated a reading habit (a must for PhD)?

* Are they able to comprehend, critique, and analyse what they read?

* Are they open-minded about developing soft skills like communication and presentation?

* Do they have the habit of writing? Are they at least open-minded about developing such a habit? (Writing is of utmost importance for PhD success.)

* What can they do to overcome the language barrier (not knowing English well enough)?

00:00 Introduction
00:28 Background about myself
01:18 Does being a topper make you suitable for PhD?
01:53 Does not being a topper make you unsuitable for PhD?
02:22 How do you know about your academic suitability for PhD?
03:30 Do you like to explore things beyond syllabus on your own?
04:05 Example of Nobel Prize winner Prof. Klaus von Klitzing
05:29 Do you have the proper problem solving ability?
07:38 Do you have an academic creativity?
08:25 Beginning of discussion on non-technical academic aspects
08:42 Importance of reading
08:57 Studying from slides vs Reading
09:33 Problem with textbooks by foreign authors
10:05 Language barrier
11:28 Importance of reading habit irrespective of language
11:58 Reading is like gym work for the brain
12:45 Importance of comprehension and critical analysis
13:46 Discussion on GRE
14:42 Importance of communication
16:20 Importance of writing
17:23 Do you have the habit of writing?
18:23 Barriers in writing
20:30 Non-english medium students
22:14 Judge for yourself!






This video is part of a YouTube playlist where I give various general advice to students at different levels (Bachelor, Master, PhD):
    • Advice to students  

Video by: Dr Jeevanjyoti Chakraborty, Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur

Fill this form if you wish to post a question to me for a deeper discussion: https://forms.gle/M3ksxwjJHSB9zB4D7
Interesting questions, comments from the above form may be featured in future YouTube videos.

 Website: http://www.facweb.iitkgp.ac.in/~jeeva...
 GitHub: https://github.com/jeevanjyoti4
 Twitter:   / jeevanjyoti  
 Blog: https://jchakraborty.wordpress.com/

Disclaimer: I am a faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department of IIT Kharagpur. However, the views expressed in this video are my own and do not necessarily represent those of my Department or my Institute.


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