Today, we’re talking about the top questions I get asked by grad students. If you are looking for grad school advice, here are a few of my thoughts!
Picking grad programs
A common question I get is, “How do I pick a grad program that’s right for me?” Deciding on grad schools is a weird process–there’s not a clear national ranking because you will want to pick a specialized program that fits your needs (which may lead you to like, North Dakota, instead of an Ivy League school). My best advice is to ask professors in the field. They usually know who is researching what and can direct you to good connections. It’s also good to ask professors for advice if they’re going to be your recommendation letter writers! It keeps the relationship going and helps them to know more about your goals before they write.
Next, I would reach out to the grad director at each school. I typically asked: 1) What funding or assistantship opportunities were available (these pay tuition!! If possible, I definitely recommend going to a grad school with assistantships versus paying out of pocket), 2) if they had anything in particular they wanted to see in personal statements (personal statements for grad school could be their own blog post!!).
Finally, I make a spreadsheet of all relevant info. I kept track of schools, who the grad director was, their deadlines, and had a spot to check off when I wrote statements, submitted, and if my recommendation letters were in. I also noted any relevant pros/cons of each program, the name of professors I would like to work with, and anything else I wanted to keep track of.
Starting to publish
Next question is “How do I start publishing articles/get over my fear of publishing?” This is such a valid fear–rejection stings, and submitting to journals feels like its own world that no one really teaches you about.
Here is my advice: reach out to faculty, especially if you started a paper or study in a graduate class, reach out to that instructor. Ask if they will read the paper again like a journal reviewer and give you feedback. Warning: this might be more feedback than you are used to! If it seems harsh, remember that they are trying to help you grow to the level where the paper can be published.
Next, research journals. This is another great time to ask faculty where they suggest sending a manuscript. I keep a spreadsheet of potential journals, their impact factors/acceptance rates, who the editor is, what keywords they are looking for, their word count, and the citation style. You can build this as you go (and here’s how I keep all my projects organized)! Every time you submit somewhere, add it to the spreadsheet.
Finally, create a rejection reward. Rejection is sad! But it’s a sign you are putting yourself out there. My rejection reward is ice cream. It also helps me to remember that no one knows when you submit to a journal, so no one is judging you but you.
Dealing with impostor syndrome
Another question I got asked was how to deal with impostor syndrome, comparing yourself to other grad students, etc. Grad school is as much a self-esteem challenge as it is an actual intellectual challenge. A few things helped me. First, identify good mentors who can help you with impostor syndrome. Some faculty get it. Some don’t. Seek out multiple perspectives until you find someone you can talk to about it–many of us have been there.
Second, if your campus has counseling options, take them, take them, take them! Rarely will you find cheaper therapy than on a college campus, and it is absolutely worth it to talk to someone who does not know you and can help you
Finally, the best thing I learned in grad school is that everyone is making it up, and people who are constantly telling you about how great they are doing are probably having the hardest time. It’s ok to distance yourself from them but still be nice to them. Reflect on how you feel after you hang out with people. Then hang out more or less accordingly.
Work life balance
Another common woe: how to create work-life balance, take breaks, and otherwise overcome guilt about resting as a graduate student. Here is a post I wrote about how I trained myself to take weekends off, and one I wrote about feeling guilty when not working. Otherwise, my best advice is to surround yourself with good influences (other people who want to take breaks and have fun!) and move away from anyone who makes you feel bad for not working. And remember, rest is a habit. The more you practice rest the easier it gets!
Advisor issues
A final question I get asked about is how to build a good relationship with your advisor, including when to decide if an advisor isn’t great for you, and when to decide to push back on their advice. First, on picking a good advisor: if possible, talk to other students before you pick an advisor to get a sense of what they are like to work with. One unhappy student isn’t a big deal, but a train of unhappy advisees is.
Second, if you and advisor aren’t seeing eye-to-eye, build a network of support. No one advisor can be great at everything. If you want to go into industry, ask some recent alumni to coffee. If you’re a new grad student and your advisor has been at their job for years, perhaps ask the newest hire in the department for job market advice. It’s good to identify peers, people a couple years ahead of you, research peers, and older mentors. You don’t need to have an extremely formal relationship with someone to learn from them. A couple emails a year, an occasional meeting, or a conference chat can make all the difference.
Happy semester, grad students! You’re doing great!