Dr. Leanne C. Powner

The key thing to know about waitlists is that they're used heavily. The top students will get 4-5+ acceptances but can only take 1 - meaning 3-4+ spots will open up for waitlist candidates.

For those waiting for PhD program acceptances: I got rejected by my top two, deferred to a MA by the third, and waitlisted at the 4th, my lowest preference. Got into Michigan off the waitlist -- it's VERY common -- and it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

It's the first working day of February! Time to set some new research goals for the month! WRITE THEM OUT and stick them somewhere you can see them, then rough out a weekly plan for how you'll achieve them. Revise if necessary.

The "Let It Go" commercial needed a cameo from @idinamenzel . Getting a bag of ice at a convenience store.

I have trouble accepting that that halftime show was deemed appropriate for a family entertainment event. Nothing in it was inappropriate - for a different time and audience.

Sunday Planning time! Print your calendar or grab your planner, and ink in those priority tasks! Block off time for research; plan your meals. Food and nutrition matter! Then fit in the lower-priority tasks as you can. Don't overload! Better to have extra time than not enough.

For those of you who have been external examiners on PhD dissertations/theses: How do you respond to a paper that is clearly below PhD standard? As in, does not even minimally meet expectations for argument, literature mastery, research design, or analysis? (field is poli sci)

Self-care Saturday! Clean the bathroom sink, toilet, and tub - preferably with something disinfecting. It will only take 5 minutes, so quit your whining and do it. :-) Treat yourself to a hot bath this evening as a reward. Home care is self care!

Another Friday night, another dissertation chapter to edit. What about you?

It's the end of the month! Time to check in with your research goals for January. Did you meet them? What changes do you need to make to your routines to meet them more easily? Not sure? I do free consultations! DM or email leanne@leannecpowner.com to schedule.

Law Office of Elizabeth Schwartz offering LGBT folx free name change (you pay filing fee unless fee waiver applies) in Travis County TX. Last name changes possible too under certain circumstances. For more information: 512-827-9870, schwartz.assistant@gmail.com. Please RT.

A frequent problem with dissertations is that everyone wants the hottest current thing. Problem is, by the time your research is ready for publication, that thing will be passé and your research - topic or technique- will be stale. Aim for the next hot thing, not the current one.

The part of running my own business that I hate the most is the business side: invoicing, tracking payments, all that. But my business is not quite big enough to justify hiring someone else to do it for me.

Failure and rejection are natural parts of academic life. We must learn to see them as growth opportunities rather than obstacles or knock-downs. Feedback is intended to help you improve. If feedback is harsh, filter it through a trusted friend first.

Have you touched your research today? Just 5 minutes a day will really add up! Write 50 words (2-3 sen), read a page or two, hunt down an article, etc. Staying connected to your research now makes it easier to get back into when you have loner chunks of time later.

Please consider completing this important survey if you qualify, and circulate it to others who may qualify. Mental health matters!https://twitter.com/chronicle/status/1221983739590455296 …