In this post, I will give you the rest of my best tips for being a successful graduate student.
- Use your advisor. In your undergraduate program you probably didn’t have an advisor, or if you had one you never met with him or her. Graduate school is different. You will be assigned an advisor. The purpose of this person is to advise and support you. It would benefit you to take the time to meet with your advisor and tell him or her about where you are in the program, how you are doing, and what your educational and vocational goals are. That way, when you need them for something they will already know you and can help you more effectively. If you think your advisor is a poor fit, ask the chair or program coordinator to reassign you.
- Your life will change. You will need to re-prioritize. Learn to say “no” to things. Many things. Get rid of anything that isn’t necessary, or is a time-waster. This may sound cold-hearted, but if you are going to be successful your studies have to be a priority. Ideally, they are your second priority (the first is your health), but they may move down your list depending on what else is going on in your life. However, it is essential that you be very selective about what causes this shift. For example, now would be a great time to cut back on time with your drama-loving friend. You simply cannot afford to spend hours on the phone anymore comforting someone with their problem du jour. That’s what therapists are for. And it’s not just relationships that need to be re-prioritized. Tasks also. For example, I never cooked during the week for the entire time I was in my doctoral program. I simply did not have time. Instead, I made sure to stock up on ready-made meals. It really helped cut down on my stress.
- Don’t neglect your health. You will need to create balance. Actually that term is too gentle. You will need to make your health a priority, even if it means stopping work (temporarily!) on an assignment to go work out, sleep or eat healthy. If you lose your health, you will lose your ability to focus and concentrate, which is absolutely essential in order to be a successful student. Then, you won’t have either your degree or your health. So make sure you are eating right, sleeping enough, and getting enough exercise. You may also want to consider adding a yoga or meditation practice to help you relax.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
