By Samantha Beal, Shelby Clarke, Amy Irvine, Kate Ortenzi, Hannah Solway, Rebecca Stevens-Green, Leticia Magpali Moura Estevao, Jasmine Talevi, Ellie Weise, Emily Yeung
The purpose of this article is to provide an updated collection of advice from both new and veteran graduate students. Most articles of this nature are outdated, and therefore lack applicability to the current graduate student experience – however, this is not to say that they are irrelevant. We hope that this article will add a more contemporary perspective to the existing literature and communicate small pieces of wisdom we have learned over time.
1. Graduate school is a job
And with that, come expectations that you will spend a significant portion of your life on your degree. We found that a few key things are important to remember for tackling graduate responsibilities sustainably.
- There is life outside of your projects – dedicate time to rest and do things you enjoy that give your brain a break from critical thinking. Most importantly, learn to not feel guilty about it.
- Try experimenting to find what a good work-life balance is for you. Find habits that you can maintain long-term.
- You may need to find additional sources of income to your stipend/TA-ships. In an ideal world this would not be the case – but finding a job that is low-stress and lets you flex a different set of skills will help.
2. Put yourself first
Be honest with yourself if things aren’t working out. You won’t be able to do all of the amazing things you are capable of if you are not okay. Your mental health is of principal importance.
- Put things into perspective: in the grand scheme of your life, is that deadline you are unable to make really going to matter? Things often don’t weigh as much as you think in the moment
- Destigmatize asking for professional help and benefitting from treatment. Mental health issues are very common in graduate students. It is important and completely okay to seek support.
- It may seem counterintuitive to step back from your project to work on your mental health, but forcing yourself to operate on a drained battery is less effective than taking some time, and coming back to work with a healthy mind and clear vision.
- You are more than your research, and you deserve to be taken care of.
3. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and others
Western science is dominated by white men and universities are financial institutions as much as they are educational institutions. You will likely encounter scenarios where the status-quo works against you, and you may have to fight for what’s fair. That’s okay, and you can do it!
- Do not be afraid to ask for help. Your supervisor is there to teach and support you, and a good one will listen to your concerns.
- You might get pushed from department to department if you have an issue that they’ve “never heard of before”. Keep good notes and document everything, eventually you will find a person who can help.
- If you need financial help – ask for it.
- If you are a diverse voice in science, you have a right to be here.
- Support voices that need to be heard, confront injustices and be a good ally.
- Understand that there are other ways of understanding the world outside of a University institution. Traditional Indigenous knowledge and other cultural perspectives is valuable knowledge.
4. Develop a support system
You will inevitably feel lonely at some point during your studies. Maybe your lab isn’t very social, or you’re limited to virtual interactions by a global pandemic.
- That anxiety you feel in your first graduate class? Everyone else feels the exact same way. Sit down and introduce yourself.
- For international students: if you are homesick, look for a place or group that make you feel at home. Sometimes, little things like having a favourite meal or speaking to other people in your language after a long time, are all it takes to set your mind at ease. Remember that you deserve to be here and you are not alone!
- Grad school is one of the best times to make friends. You will be surrounded by people with similar interests who are going through the same process. Enjoy the time you have together – but these friendships will last a lifetime.
5. It’s a little bit about the result, but more about the journey
A degree is an incredible thing – it’s a reward for years of hard work and dedication. But it’s easy to develop tunnel vision. It can be endlessly frustrating when things aren’t going the way you planned.
- Ultimately, the main goal of grad school is a finished project. It doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be a big accomplishment. You contributed something completely new to the world, and that is incredible.
- Even though you might feel unproductive, every sentence you write, every paper you read, every time you sit and think about your research questions, is progress.
- Celebrate your little milestones, nothing is too small.
- You do not need to know everything. You will not know everything. No one expects you to know everything. But when you are done you will know a little bit more.
- When you finish your defense and revisions, take some time to recover and don’t look at your project at all. Not a few days, like a month.
- However, much time you think you’ll need to complete a task: DOUBLE THAT. Don’t beat yourself up if it takes longer than you thought, it happens to everyone.
- Find something you’re passionate about! Allow yourself to explore different interests and ideas and take some time to reflect on what drives you more than anything. Grad school is a challenging path, but you deserve to work with something that makes you happy and feel like you are creating good for yourself and others.
6. Think beyond your degree – invest in professional development.
- A graduate degree can open many doors, not all of which are in academia. Take some time to explore all options.
- Take advantage of free learning opportunities offered by your university.
- Theory is not everything, and practical skills will take you a long way.
7. Practice science communication whenever possible
As a scientist, it is your responsibility to share the knowledge you produce with your community. After all, science is a social activity and a public investment.
- Look for opportunities to explaining your project with a non-specialized vocabulary. With all the jargon we encounter on a daily basis, it is easy to forget how to talk in plain language.
- Be excited about your research and remember the impact of your work and the work of those in your field. In the grand scheme of things, it will lead to a better understanding of our world.
- Science communication does not have to be a formal lecture. A quite conversation with a curious or concerned mind can contribute to overcoming the issue of science seeming distant and inaccessible to non-scientists.