Ah…spring. For some, the start of a new semester. In this two-part series, I will outline a series of tips that helped me successfully complete both a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in the same decade.
- Adjust your expectations of the work level. Graduate programs are like nothing else you have ever experienced. The level of intensity and sheer volume of the work you will need to do at times will overwhelm you. Don’t let it. You will have to work on it every day, and for many more hours than in your undergraduate program. Just keep up with the work, take it one step at a time. Think far enough ahead to plan properly, but don’t think so far ahead as to overwhelm yourself.
- Do not allow yourself to get behind. Create a plan and a schedule for school work, and work the plan, and stay on track. Trying to catch up after being behind takes significant more mental energy than simply keeping up, or even (preferably) getting ahead. Which, by the way, is almost impossible but a worthy endeavor! If you set your goal to be staying ahead by a week, not only will you be more likely to keep current with your work, you may be able to get ahead! And staying ahead helps insure that you won’t suffer too badly if something unexpected should happen that would interfere with your schoolwork, such as getting sick.
- Your relationship with your advisor. This isn’t like a undergraduate program where you may have never actually spoken to your advisor. Or may not have even had one. In the graduate programs, you will form a close, collaborative and long-term working relationship with your advisor. Or at least you should for your own benefit. Advisors are there to help, take advantage of them! It is very important that you work well together. If you feel it isn’t a good fit, request a change. It’s THAT important.
- Your life will change. You will need to re-prioritize. Get rid of anything that isn’t necessary, or is a time-waster. Learn to say “no” to things. Many things. Keep only what is necessary in your life and focus on that. 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. Further, if you don’t take care of yourself you will lose both your health and your academic success. Definitely a lose-lose.
Please stay tuned for my next post, which will give you the rest of my suggestions!
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
