Graduate school can be a rewarding experience for those who make it to graduation. Unfortunately, not every student who aspires to graduate with an advanced degree makes it through graduate school. Many factors affect student attrition, but overall, students who are better informed about the expectations for their individual graduate program, are more likely to succeed. Other factors contribute to graduate school success, such as outside responibilities, work, preparedness, and support, but there are many things that graduate students can control to make the graduate school years as memorable as possible.
Surviving and Thriving in Graduate School
Students who succeed in graduate school, often do more than just survive it. Graduate studies should narrow down a broader field of study to a more defined, advanced area. This makes graduate school very different than what most students have experienced as undergrads. Instead of half the time being spent on core college courses, graduate school courses are typically designed specifically for advanced study in a certain area. Most courses taken in graduate school will be in the field of study that you have chosen. With that in mind, many students rush into graduate programs without thinking about whether the field of choice is a good fit with their interests, abilities, and future career goals.
Choose a Graduate Program Carefully
In order to survive graduate school, it is important to choose the right program. Randomly picking a graduate program, without doing some research about requirements, program details, and campus information, is not advised. Do not apply to a graduate program based on a sudden, new interest, because your friends are in it, or because you heard it was easy. All of these reasons will work against your success in graduate school, and your chances of surviving graduate school are less than those of students who have put some thought into what graduate program would best meet their career goals ahead of time.
If you have chosen a graduate program that you feel will fit your career goals and interests, investigate the program requirements before you begin your studies. Meet with an advisor in the graduate program and ask for details about the program requirements. Printed program information does not always tell the full story. On paper, 400 internship hours might seem fine, but finding out that you will have to quit your current job to complete all of them within one semester, will make a difference. This is one of the setbacks that many graduate students stumble across after starting courses.
Create a Support Network
Student support has consistently been cited in research studies as one of the most important factors for graduate school success. Once you start graduate studies, the demands of school and everyday life may begin to conflict. Many students return to school, and begin graduate school after they have married, had children, or worked for some time. The conflicting demands between graduate school and life roles can feel overwhelming to many graduate students. Starting a support network can help.
Academic support can be found in advisors, college professors, and other students. Keep in touch with your academic advisor and ask for support before you become overwhelmed. Professors may offer academic support for the individual courses that they teach, but you have to ask. Most campuses have tutor lists and study groups to provide extra assistance to students that may need more academic support. Other students can be great sources of academic and emotional support during graduate school. Sharing the struggle of a difficult course together with another student or group of students in your graduate program will lighten the stress load some. Study partners and groups are often very helpful.
Emotional support plays a role in surviving graduate school. Some students have friends or family outside of school who can be a shoulder to lean on when the stress levels rise in graduate school. Other students find that their outside friends and family cannot really understand the demands of graduate school. Finding a fellow student or campus friend to talk to when you feel stressed out or overwhelmed, may be more helpful in such cases. The campus counseling center is another great resource for graduate students. Many campus centers have free counseling services, support groups, workshops, or wellness materials that students can use as resources.
Study Hard, but Give Yourself a Break
Surviving graduate school will require endless hours of study and some determination. If you've been accepted to a graduate program, it is likely that your academic potential has already been assessed. Yet, there are many intelligent, capable, graduate students who do not make it to graduation, despite academic ability. Some of the keys to surviving and succeeding in graduate school involve both academic efforts and personal wellness.
Successful graduate students know where the campus library is because they spend time there when big assignments are due or research is necessary. Get to know what resources are available at the campus library and use as many as you can. Universities often have access to large databases for research that you are entitled to use as a student, but would pay for otherwise. Take advantage of library resources to maximize the quality of your work.
Study time is essential outside of the classroom in graduate school. Graduate students often differ in how and when they study, but successful students generally have a plan for study time that works for them. Treat your study time like you would a job. Schedule yourself the time to complete assignments ahead of time. Faulty planning will leave students feeling more overwhelmed by an assignment due the next day, when it's put off until the last minute.
Personal coping skills are important to surviving graduate school. Identifying healthy coping skills is a key factor in graduate school success. If graduate school stress is combined with long weekends of partying, avoiding school assignments, or missing classes, it is likely that there will be difficulties ahead. Many students find that the golden rule of , "everything in moderation," works well in graduate school. Students who study too much and avoid any personal time away from the books may feel just as stressed as students who head in the other direction. Get a life outside of graduate school, but not at the expense of your success.
The Bottom Line
The truth about graduate school can be found in the stories passed down from one graduate student to another. Some graduate students describe graduate school as an intense academic form of Military Basic Training, or a Survivor episode that will not end. In many ways, graduate school is a challenge not unlike both of those examples. It takes endurance, and strength in all forms to make it to the graduation ceremony. It is unlikely that there are many graduates who did not feel like giving up at one point or another during their graduate studies, and yet they persisted. Graduate school is much like that, just as you feel like giving up, you realize that you have new strengths, new skills, and a new way of looking at the world. You can survive graduate school.
(From: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/155895/how_to_survive_graduate_school.html?cat=4)
More information:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2090537_survive-graduate-school.html
http://happylists.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/10-ways-to-survive-graduate-school/
http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/How_to_survive_in_graduate_school
http://gradschool.about.com/od/survivinggraduateschool/Surviving_and_Succeeding_in_Graduate_School.htm
http://www.gradschools.com/article-category/surviving-graduate-school-203
2010年7月15日 星期四
How To Survive University
Surviving the transition to university can be smoother if you know some of the differences from high school. Here are some differences you’ll need to cope with:
No one to check up on your attendance. Skipping class can be highly addictive and hazardous to your GPA, but attending lectures and actively participating helps you learn the material and the prof’s focus.
Bigger classes, less attention. No one will know you’re floundering unless you ask for help. Take advantage of TA labs and office hours or find a tutor. Smile at the person next to you to find a potential study partner, or join a study group.
No spoon fed notes. Notes on the overhead just aren’t as clear as in high school days so learn to take good notes.
Less in-class time, much more homework outside of class. High school classes often include time for homework and review. University assumes you’ll do the work (review, readings, lab reports, papers) on your own. Plan your time to include a bit of studying every day. And stick to your schedule!
Harder academic work. You’re responsible for more material (and harder assignments!) in a shorter amount of time. Develop strong study habits now. Know your learning style and strengths. Learn to write papers and lab reports well.
More brain power required. Unlike many of your high school classes, university requires active use of your critical thinking skills. Understanding the “why” and being able to discuss the implications or significance of material takes higher priority than memorization and regurgitation.
Longer range assignments. Things can be due even months down the road! Waiting to the last minute can be disastrous. Plan ahead to keep up on readings/labs and start early on larger projects. Give yourself intermediate deadlines.
More electives to choose from. While you’ll still have core courses to take for your chosen major, for the most part (except for maybe Engineering) you’ll have more opportunity for electives. Take courses you didn’t even know existed when you were in high school. Discover what you enjoy. Be well rounded. Take advantage of practical courses.
More opportunities. University gives you more space and experiences to be able to get to know yourself better. There’s more extra curricular opportunities. Get involved on campus, meet new friends. Take advantage of any apprenticeships or internships available.
More freedoms and responsibilities, less time. On top of all the academic stuff, you’re now responsible for housing, food, laundry, cleaning, bills, money and social life. Learning how to prioritize and manage your time well is key to your adjustment and continued success.
More life learning. Develop a positive learning attitude. Though you may have had a “I know everything” attitude in high school, university is an ideal place to remind yourself there’s always room for growth.
(From: http://powertochange.com/students/academics/highschool/)
More related topics:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/academicsupport/nav02.cfm?nav02=50367&nav01=59481
http://www.corrupt.org/articles/lifestyle/alex_birch/how_to_survive_university
http://www.adambate.com/2009/05/20/11-step-guide-to-surviving-university/
No one to check up on your attendance. Skipping class can be highly addictive and hazardous to your GPA, but attending lectures and actively participating helps you learn the material and the prof’s focus.
Bigger classes, less attention. No one will know you’re floundering unless you ask for help. Take advantage of TA labs and office hours or find a tutor. Smile at the person next to you to find a potential study partner, or join a study group.
No spoon fed notes. Notes on the overhead just aren’t as clear as in high school days so learn to take good notes.
Less in-class time, much more homework outside of class. High school classes often include time for homework and review. University assumes you’ll do the work (review, readings, lab reports, papers) on your own. Plan your time to include a bit of studying every day. And stick to your schedule!
Harder academic work. You’re responsible for more material (and harder assignments!) in a shorter amount of time. Develop strong study habits now. Know your learning style and strengths. Learn to write papers and lab reports well.
More brain power required. Unlike many of your high school classes, university requires active use of your critical thinking skills. Understanding the “why” and being able to discuss the implications or significance of material takes higher priority than memorization and regurgitation.
Longer range assignments. Things can be due even months down the road! Waiting to the last minute can be disastrous. Plan ahead to keep up on readings/labs and start early on larger projects. Give yourself intermediate deadlines.
More electives to choose from. While you’ll still have core courses to take for your chosen major, for the most part (except for maybe Engineering) you’ll have more opportunity for electives. Take courses you didn’t even know existed when you were in high school. Discover what you enjoy. Be well rounded. Take advantage of practical courses.
More opportunities. University gives you more space and experiences to be able to get to know yourself better. There’s more extra curricular opportunities. Get involved on campus, meet new friends. Take advantage of any apprenticeships or internships available.
More freedoms and responsibilities, less time. On top of all the academic stuff, you’re now responsible for housing, food, laundry, cleaning, bills, money and social life. Learning how to prioritize and manage your time well is key to your adjustment and continued success.
More life learning. Develop a positive learning attitude. Though you may have had a “I know everything” attitude in high school, university is an ideal place to remind yourself there’s always room for growth.
(From: http://powertochange.com/students/academics/highschool/)
More related topics:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/academicsupport/nav02.cfm?nav02=50367&nav01=59481
http://www.corrupt.org/articles/lifestyle/alex_birch/how_to_survive_university
http://www.adambate.com/2009/05/20/11-step-guide-to-surviving-university/
2010年7月6日 星期二
To Choose an Adviser
As a graduate student, one of the most important decisions you'll make is your choice of dissertation or thesis advisor. This is important because you're going to be working with this faculty member on a detailed piece of writing for a semester, a year, or longer. Another reason why you need to weigh this decision carefully is because your advisor will be the person you work with most closely in graduate school, and therefore his or her letter of recommendation will make a difference. When looking for an advisor, here are some important criteria to consider.
Interpersonal rapport. Find someone with whom you have a comfortable rapport and relationship. This may be the most important criteria. A faculty member may be prestigious, but if you two rub each other the wrong way, so what? Your thesis or dissertation is going to be a major part of your life for a while, so take care of your sanity by finding a director you actually like. In addition, it's important to have a strong relationship with your advisor because he or she will be instrumental in finding you a job in the future. The quality of this relationship will affect your reputation.
Knowledge and expertise. Look for an advisor who has a strong background in the areas relevant to your research topic. Your life is going to be much easier if your advisor can give you solid advice about journal articles and information you need to include. Sure, if your advisor has gaps in knowledge, you can always ask other scholars to be on your committee who have this background. However, it's helpful if your advisor has at least a working background in all or most of the research and information you'll be using in your project.
Enthusiasm. Look for an advisor who's excited about your project In some ways, this is more important than #2. You have a passion for this topic, and it will be a real drag to work with someone who doesn't share this. When you're talking to prospective advisors, try to gauge their level of enthusiasm.
Academic politics. As a graduate student who's been around for awhile, you know that there are certain arguments in your field that can get very heated. Be sure you and your advisor are on the same side of any of these debates that are relevant to your research. In addition, find an advisor who gets along with the other people you want to put on your committee. It's unfortunate that you have to consider this kind of interpersonal drama, but it's reality. Some professors just hate each other and may even refuse to do committee work together.
Availability. Is this faculty member planning a sabbatical? Is there some doubt about whether he or she will get tenure? Is he or she looking for another position? You can't always predict these things, but get as much information as you can about the faculty member's availability. Switching advisors is a pain, as is working with someone long distance.
Ability to make a time commitment. A disadvantage to working with prestigious faculty members is that they may have many other obligations and a heavy load of graduate student advisees. It's very important that you find an advisor who will get your drafts back in a timely manner and spend a considerable amount of time evaluating your work. Find out how many graduate students the faculty member already advises, and whether they will be working on a big project in the near future.
Advising reputation. Ask other students about their experiences. Does this faculty member get drafts back quickly? Does he or she offer lots of excellent feedback? Be sure to ask as many students as you can, as one student's bad experience isn't necessarily representative of everyone's. Another thing that's useful to know: how quickly did the advisees of this faculty member complete their projects? If his or her advisees have taken an excessively long time to finish, this is not a good sign.
Respect for family obligations. If you have a family, find someone who respects this. This is much more important than you might realize. Family obligations, including pregnancy, can increase the time needed to complete a dissertation or thesis. Some faculty members are very understanding about this, but some are insensitive and clueless.
Academic connections. This is where the prestige part comes in. Look for someone with lots of connections and a stellar reputation, and this will help you out immensely in the long run. However, please keep in mind that this isn't the only consideration, and that sometimes you might be much better off working with someone who isn't as famous.
(From: http://graduate-schools.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_choose_a_graduate_advisor)
More articles to read:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2007_07_20/caredit_a0700102
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/loui/www/advisor.html
Interpersonal rapport. Find someone with whom you have a comfortable rapport and relationship. This may be the most important criteria. A faculty member may be prestigious, but if you two rub each other the wrong way, so what? Your thesis or dissertation is going to be a major part of your life for a while, so take care of your sanity by finding a director you actually like. In addition, it's important to have a strong relationship with your advisor because he or she will be instrumental in finding you a job in the future. The quality of this relationship will affect your reputation.
Knowledge and expertise. Look for an advisor who has a strong background in the areas relevant to your research topic. Your life is going to be much easier if your advisor can give you solid advice about journal articles and information you need to include. Sure, if your advisor has gaps in knowledge, you can always ask other scholars to be on your committee who have this background. However, it's helpful if your advisor has at least a working background in all or most of the research and information you'll be using in your project.
Enthusiasm. Look for an advisor who's excited about your project In some ways, this is more important than #2. You have a passion for this topic, and it will be a real drag to work with someone who doesn't share this. When you're talking to prospective advisors, try to gauge their level of enthusiasm.
Academic politics. As a graduate student who's been around for awhile, you know that there are certain arguments in your field that can get very heated. Be sure you and your advisor are on the same side of any of these debates that are relevant to your research. In addition, find an advisor who gets along with the other people you want to put on your committee. It's unfortunate that you have to consider this kind of interpersonal drama, but it's reality. Some professors just hate each other and may even refuse to do committee work together.
Availability. Is this faculty member planning a sabbatical? Is there some doubt about whether he or she will get tenure? Is he or she looking for another position? You can't always predict these things, but get as much information as you can about the faculty member's availability. Switching advisors is a pain, as is working with someone long distance.
Ability to make a time commitment. A disadvantage to working with prestigious faculty members is that they may have many other obligations and a heavy load of graduate student advisees. It's very important that you find an advisor who will get your drafts back in a timely manner and spend a considerable amount of time evaluating your work. Find out how many graduate students the faculty member already advises, and whether they will be working on a big project in the near future.
Advising reputation. Ask other students about their experiences. Does this faculty member get drafts back quickly? Does he or she offer lots of excellent feedback? Be sure to ask as many students as you can, as one student's bad experience isn't necessarily representative of everyone's. Another thing that's useful to know: how quickly did the advisees of this faculty member complete their projects? If his or her advisees have taken an excessively long time to finish, this is not a good sign.
Respect for family obligations. If you have a family, find someone who respects this. This is much more important than you might realize. Family obligations, including pregnancy, can increase the time needed to complete a dissertation or thesis. Some faculty members are very understanding about this, but some are insensitive and clueless.
Academic connections. This is where the prestige part comes in. Look for someone with lots of connections and a stellar reputation, and this will help you out immensely in the long run. However, please keep in mind that this isn't the only consideration, and that sometimes you might be much better off working with someone who isn't as famous.
(From: http://graduate-schools.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_choose_a_graduate_advisor)
More articles to read:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2007_07_20/caredit_a0700102
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/loui/www/advisor.html
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