Author: Kristin Hynes

Kristin (She/ Her) is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Florida International University. She primarily focuses on East Asia. While she has a wide range of interests in that region, her research has mostly focused on South Korean soft power and tensions between Japan and its surrounding neighbors as a result of Japanese imperialism. Her dissertation focuses on postcolonial theory and explores existing parallels between South Korean-Japanese relations with Irish-British relations. Follow her on Twitter: @_KristinHynes

Strategies for Connecting with Other Students Before Beginning Your PhD Program.

Are you a new PhD student looking to make connections before your programs starts? Kristin shares two big tips to help you hit the ground running at the start of your doctoral studies.

Advice for Passing the Comprehensive Exam

In this article, Kristin Hynes describes her experience of comprehensive exams (required by some US universities.) With 5 tips, Kristin shares how other students can be successful in this part of the admissions process.

The Importance of Student Groups and Connecting with Others as a Graduate Student

Feeling isolated while pursuing a PhD is common, but it’s important to build connections with others to feel supported and foster a sense of community. Participating in student-run groups and attending events can help graduate students make friends and even get to know professors in their department.