Ask Dr. Johnson

15 Apr 2025 • 4 min read

Networking Feels “Dirty”. Should I Just Do It Anyway?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I’ve noticed that most advice about landing jobs, including yours, emphasizes networking—introducing yourself to people who could help you get...

3 Apr 2025 • 4 min read

My Toxic Advisor Destroyed My Passion for Research. What Now?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I’m a PhD student at a top-ranked university in my field. I am privileged to be here, and I was...

3 Mar 2025 • 5 min read

How Can I Change Careers With No Clue What To Switch To?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I am 32 and have been working in data analysis in corporate finance since graduating college, somewhat unintentionally (I was...

6 Jan 2025 • 4 min read

What if Others Say Grad School is Not Worth the Cost?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I applied and got into a graduate school program, but it is a very niche field that many people I...

10 Dec 2024 • 4 min read

Can I Exclude a Problematic Transcript / GPA?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I’ve had a nontraditional academic journey. I initially enrolled at a 4-year university for undergrad but had to withdraw my...

18 Nov 2024 • 6 min read

How Can I Stand Out Among 900+ Job Applicants?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I’m a 2024 college grad who’s been job hunting for 6 months. I’ve applied for more than 200 jobs. I...

28 Oct 2024 • 4 min read

How Can I Balance Work With My Grad School Applications?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I’m currently working full-time while applying to PhD programs in the humanities, and I’m finding it challenging to balance both...

30 Sep 2024 • 5 min read

My PhD Overqualifies Me For Jobs. What Now?

Dear Dr. Johnson, Last year I graduated with a PhD in Communications. I’m burnt out from academia so I’ve been applying for non-academic...

9 Sep 2024 • 5 min read

What Makes Certain People Such Good Applicants?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I’ve always wondered how some people manage to get into almost every university they apply to. It’s clear that having...

19 Aug 2024 • 6 min read

Why Are Accomplished Women Labeled “Unqualified”?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I am a 25-year-old Black female graduate student in Engineering. Discussions in class keep coming to politics, and I am...

29 Jul 2024 • 4 min read

Is It Ok To Buy A Recommendation Letter?

Dear Dr. Johnson, I hold a PhD in Sociology and I’m currently applying for some postdoc fellowships. However, I’ve been facing the challenge...

15 Jul 2024 • 4 min read

Is This Impostor Syndrome or Am I Incompetent?

Dear Dr. Johnson, After my first year in my master’s program, I feel self-conscious about my intellect and embarrassed by my mistakes in...