Dr. Tim Van Huis Advice

• Trust yourself - try not to lean too hard on others, or you will fall over when you are on your own. Second guessing is O.K., but do not give in to self-doubt.
• If you don't know why you are doing something - the best thing to do is stop. Find out why you are working on something rather than going forward blindly.
• Prelims stink - I don't have any help for you there - they stink!
• Oh - and T.A.ing stinks too, sorry about that!
• If you are in Dr. Allen's class, and you are married - the best way to get out of the final is to have a baby on the same day - trust me!! (well - you still have to take it, but jeez, how well do you have to do, you just had a baby for pete's sake!) - Otherwise, this stinks too, sorry.
• AT AT COMPADRES! (Note: Compadres is now closed.)
• EAT AT INOKO'S! (i miss athens sometimes).
• You will never make anything better by putting it off.
• Here's my Pollyannaish view: Just because you are in grad school, that doesn't mean you have to be a professor. Your Ph.D. will open more doors than those of a university. Your degree is one of persistence and creativity; try to emphasize the creative part and you will go far. Obviously I'm a little biased on this point - check out what I do at www.aaarims.com.
• Following number 9. - Since it is possible to obtain a Ph.D. through simple persistence, never think that you are smarter than the average guy on the street - or you will be that guy!
• Discover your niche. Find out what you are good at, and do it. Do not try to stretch yourself too far out of your niche, or you will end up doing a lot of things good (or worse), but nothing will be great. This is true in business as well.
• Vote Republican - once you own your own business you will thank me for that advice!
• Don't be afraid of a little beer - but run away from alot of it.
• Stop quoting the following: Caddyshack, The Simpsons, and Star Wars - It's just not that funny anymore :)
• Last thing - if you are a person of faith - you can get around point number 1 - you can lean on that as hard as you want since it will never leave you.