The Backward Glance is a blog written by Lincoln Mullen, a Brandeis University PhD student in American History and historian of religion. Mullen?s study and expertise are basically on early American history and the religious history of New England. His blog is composed mostly of tips and articles on education, digital humanities, religion, history, and the life of a graduate student. The targeted audience are graduate students and aspiring graduate students, history students and practitioners, and those who are interested in American history, religious history, and digital humanities.
The site’s strong points
Lincoln Mullen?s blog is basically what you would expect of a blog: an array of the latest articles on the main blog page composed of titles, excerpts or lead in paragraphs, and links to each entry?s page. The articles are mostly about Mullen?s field of expertise, though there are a lot of articles about being a graduate student. There are entries and interesting bits and pieces of trivia about America?s history and the religious history of England, religion in America, graduate school book reviews, and frequently asked questions about graduate school, among many others. There was an article providing a list of materials that one must read before and after applying for graduate school. It includes short descriptions for each book, along with short previews on what the books are all about and what a person could get out of reading it.
The site’s weak points
One good point about the blog is that it makes use of pictures to spice up the articles and make the blog more visually interesting. The articles are also written in a simple and conversational manner, at least the advice articles, which makes them easy to understand. The website also serves like a portal to other websites that the author is interested in, since it provides a number of links. Making use of more pictures, videos, and having a more interesting layout of photos and texts in articles would perk up the blog tenfold.
When you say PhD, what come to your mind are tons of paperwork, endless research hours, and rigorous work schedules. While these are true, the rewards you’ll get from having a PhD may outweigh years of graduate studies. Getting a PhD is perhaps one of the most rewarding for a true-blue academic professional. But aside from personal rewards, others pursue having a PhD also for the career boost it may serve.
Grounds for higher income and better career salary
With a PhD, you may rise to higher positions or even be considered automatically for promotion. Expect to have better career opportunities to come your way. Offers may not only come from the company you’re working for but also from other industries. By specializing in a particular field of study, your expert knowledge and skills are considered worthy investments for different workplaces. You may also explore other opportunities through consultancy services or easily shift to another field. With all these, you’ll surely enjoy a bigger paycheck as well as better employee benefits.
The rewards of learning
The learning process is in itself rewarding to those who have completed their PhD. By specializing in their field of interest, such as applied or pure science, arts, and humanities, those who earned their PhD titles are considered true-blue experts. They may conduct their own studies or spearhead a special project that centers on discoveries, proofs, and validation of a study. With higher academic title to back you up, you’ll have less trouble when it comes to funding or sponsorship. You’ll also earn the respect of your colleagues and of other people.
Traits to have
For you to earn your PhD and be a so-called expert in your field, you should possess highly desired traits such as high literacy skills, strong motivation, persistence, industry, and passion for learning.
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