As we prepare for another year, many of us face challenges in balancing the demands of individual, scholastic, and career goals. Although all graduate students have in common a neverending spiral of deadlines, our specific concerns vary depending on our progress through graduate school. Whether you are beginning or nearing the end of your grad-school tenure, consider the following ideas as you plan this year.
Faculty at Duke University (2005) suggested that graduate students should consider several issues when planning professional and social interactions.
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Plan to be in situations where you can talk with faculty members (and other students) about research interests and possible collaboration.
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Utilize social and scholastic resources when selecting classes and advisors. Talk with others who have interacted with faculty with whom you are interested in working.
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Enroll in classes with productive faculty, regardless of their research interest. Also, view undergraduate lectures among productive faculty. Both of these experiences will provide valuable guidance in future teaching and research.
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Volunteer to become involved with service initiatives during local and national conferences. Participating in event planning and/or execution will enable you to network with other students/professionals in the field.
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Always start earlier, rather than later, when working on professional projects. Many graduate students find that analysis, writing, and editing take much longer than expected. Plan to allow yourself the time to submit projects that reflect your true ability.
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Get involved in professional associations related to your discipline. These experiences will give you a more thorough understanding of such processes and place you in touch with other professionals in your field.
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Last, but definitely not least, ENJOY the process of graduate school. This is a very unique time in your life when you are able to learn from professors and other students during everyday interactions. Use your social and professional experiences, and have fun while you learn. Also, take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health during your graduate school experience.
Are you a student or faculty member who has advice on success in a graduate program? Would you like to write about that or another topic in this column? If so, we want to hear from you! Please contact Rebecca Hains at rhains@salemstate.edu and Mikaela Marlow at mmarlow@umail.ucsb.edu with your ideas, queries, or suggestions.
References
Duke University: The Graduate School (2005). Faculty tips on adjusting to graduate school. Retrieved on August 18th, 2007, at http://www.gradschool.duke.edu/student_life/
