How to Succeed in Graduate School
Successful Graduate Students Make Intelligent and Informed Choices
Dec 22, 2008
Graduate students can no longer afford to simply follow their academic interests in choosing a graduate program. Success in graduate school often comes down to the sheer determination of the individual student to succeed in the face of formidable hurdles. Furthermore, being a successful graduate student at the expense of a marriage or child’s well-being may not be a success at all.
Graduate students can increase their odds of success by proactively choosing the characteristics of their graduate program. The choice of mentor is also important. However, a graduate student is ultimately responsible for how their personal and professional behavior affects their chances of success. Graduate students also must have a fertile imagination for proposing questions to be researched and good work habits.
How to Choose a Graduate Program
The biggest name university does not always have the best graduate program. Often lesser-known universities are better equipped to train graduate students if the focus of the institution is on graduate teaching rather than on having a superstar faculty. If the requirements for faculty tenure focus on teaching, then the faculty is more likely to be good mentors. Prospective students can also gauge the quality of a graduate program by investigating the success of previous students. Well-trained graduate students tend to be successful across the board.
How to be a Good Graduate Student
Individuals with good habits of mind and a strong work ethic are likely to succeed as graduate students regardless of the situation. Critical thinking and attention to detail are important. In addition, graduate students can increase their odds of success by:
- Communicating clearly and frequently with their mentors will ward off disastrous misunderstanding in the future
- Clearly defining goals for themselves and regularly evaluating their progress towards those goals.
- Practicing self-discipline. Students must set a schedule for themselves and stick to it in order to complete graduate-level work.
- Developing the tools of scholarly endeavor. Thinking critically and reading broadly provides students with a knowledge base. Good writing skills and practice writing proposals, papers and other scholarly documents helps them to communicate their work. Oral presentations develop speaking skills. Carefully planning and documenting of scholarly efforts aids in the publication process, later. Checking and re-checking details reduces the chances of error. Maintain a professional demeanor and appearance communicates that the student wants to be treated as a professional.
- Practicing productive work habits. Long hours do not necessarily equal productivity and can be a detriment to the personal relationships that graduate students need to sustain their long term efforts.
- Putting their work into the perspective of being one graduate student among many. Students who are prepared and in charge are more independent and less likely to be manipulated. They are surer of the relative importance of their own work. Successful students recognize the needs of others and develop outside interests or seek psychological counseling in order to manage the stress of graduate school.
- Planning for the future. Students should build a framework for a future career by attending national meetings and communicate with other scholars. Likewise, students should not view graduate school as the only career path option. Sometimes, switching schools or degree programs or pursuing other important opportunities is a viable and a valuable investment in the future.
One of the most important things a graduate student can do is to have a fulfilling personal life. Success in life is not solely measured in publications or awards. A well-rounded graduate student who seizes opportunities to step back from their studies in order to maintain perspective will be able to navigate the frustrations of graduate school.
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