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Resilience in STEM

Angelina Baltazar
15 episodes   Last Updated: Apr 22, 24
“I’ve been thinking about this for years, and now it’s my turn.” I have decided to document my journey as I begin focusing on applying to graduate school. I will be talking about how to get involved in research, scholarships, awards, applying, interviewing, and so much more! I also will talk about how being a Latina has impacted how I view STEM research. This includes community, policy, and just advice from an undergrad in STEM. New episodes are released monthly.

Episodes

The end is here! After a little over a year I have decided to commit to the University of Pennsylvania for my Neuroscience Ph.D.! I did not expect I would have this opportunity for my graduate education and other offers to consider. Just wanted to thank you all for listening to one, two, or many all of my episodes over the last year and I hope you enjoyed some of the advice/resources I have. Next stop: Philadelphia! Check out the transcript of the episode I include in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-14-breathe-in-breat
Decisions and Deadlines. These can be hard to face in a high-pressure environment, which can lead to burnout. In this episode, I go over the important of addressing burnout early, my experiences with burnout, and some general strategies on how to mitigate it. For me it is important to breathe in, breathe out, face the burnout, and make the best decisions. Check out the transcript of the episode I include in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-13-the-interviews
You made it past the most difficult hurdle in the graduate school application process!!! All is left is an interview, but what does that entail? Since institutions are doing a mix of both virtual and in-person interviews, this process looks different. In this episode, I go over the main components of an interview and what it entails. I also tell you how my experience has been going through interviews by sharing some advice I learned myself or recieved from my mentors. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to be yourself during the interview. Check out the transcript of the episode I include in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-12-is-this-the-one
Jan 15, 2024
Is This the One?
Sometimes it's a feeling. Other times it's a very calculated decision. Picking something can be quite difficult, especially when it's a graduate program. It's a decision I've had to think about for the past few months as I am currently applying for Ph.D.'s. You will be spending the next 5-6 years of your life and it will be rigourous. So you should have the institution make it the best possible experience for you. In this episode, I go over a condensed list of factors to consider when making that decision and my rationale behind it. Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-11-balance-is-key
Dec 15, 2023
Balance is Key
When you are involved in multiple activities, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and actually discouraged from making your impact. I've seen this happen to myself at time and others around me. In this episode, I share what a typical day looks like for me, some strategies to continue being successful, and the reason why I do all of this. As we enter the new year, this can help you implement some practices to set your goals for the upcoming year. Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-10-putting-the-piece
One month remains until most graduate application deadlines approach. What do you need to include to create a strong and success graduate school application? The key is every component, or piece, needs to tell a different side of your story. Together it should tell your story and explain why you are the best candidate for the institution. I go over stories I have encountered thus far and what advice I've recieved from multiple sources, such as current graduate students, program officers, admissions committee members, and faculty members from top universities. Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-9-and-the-award-goes
During my undergraduate experience, I had a lot of opportunities to apply and receieve awards. This was due to a great research mentor showing me university resources, effectively searching for these opportunities, and having my network share them with me. I want to do the same by sharing my experiences from applying awards, receiving awards, and the rejections that came along the way. A lot of resources will be included in this episode for what I have heard and applied for. Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-8-the-beginning
Sep 11, 2023
The Beginning
Yes, throughout these past episodes I've always included a graduate school update, but this episode goes into an update of my life. What's going on with my graduate school applications? How are my extracurriculars doing? What are my thoughts or goals for my senior year of college? Have I even learned anything from the application cycle? As this episode is less of an informational episode, I will be covering all of those questions. Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-7-it-s-good-to-have
Sometimes your dreams can become things that obtainable in your future. That is because dreams motivate you keep going and put yourself out there. In the case, the "dream" we talk about are national fellowships. This episode discusses the unique opportunity that are national fellowships and the great benefits to them, whether they come from the award or something you learn along the way. Whether you get a national fellowship or not, you always end up benefitting from the process. Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-6-wait-how-do-i-start
Applying to graduate school, specifically for a Ph.D. program, can be challenging whether you know someone who had done it before or you are the first one. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming. This episode covers 4 key steps on how to get started in the application process from someone who is also beginning their application. While it may seem early, it's better to start now and give it your best shot! Check out the transcript of the episode I included in my blog post: https://eangelb29.wixsite.com/portfolio/copy-of-episode-5-summer-research-ex