Surviving Grad School

Facing the Challenges of Graduate School

Published: 16 September 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Standing Out in Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: graduate student support

It’s very easy to become overwhelmed by various academic pressures during graduate school, especially if you isolate yourself from potential sources of support. Yes, there are sources of support out there for graduate students. Though it’s easy to forget sometimes, you do not have to face the challenges of graduate school alone. The following are some suggested sources of academic, personal and practical, and financial support for graduate students who…

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Beyond Stafford Loans

Published: 29 August 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Paying for Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: PLUS loans

What loans for graduate students are out there? Paying for their children’s education is often a dream for many parents; however, this is not always feasible because of increasing tuition rates. The PLUS Loans program offers parents an affordable opportunity to pay for their children’s higher education. This program is a government-assisted program that provides parents and students with another way to pay for continued education. Stafford loans are available…

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Joining Research Teams

Published: 26 August 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Strategies for Grad School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: research group, research groups, research team, research teams

One of the fundamental principles of graduate school is to produce educated researchers who have strong, reliable, and ethical research skills that they can use to benefit their fields in some way. Because research is so fundamental to graduate school, graduate students can  improve their chances of succeeding academically and professionally by joining research groups at their universities. The following is some advice about why you will benefit from joining…

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The Graduate Student Backpack

Published: 26 August 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Managing Time and Stress, Surviving Grad School
Tags: graduate student list

As a graduate student, you will quickly find yourself with a million things to do at any given moment, so you should be prepared to work at any free moment: waiting at the doctor’s office, getting out of class early, or using time during a cancelled appointment. To be most productive at the drop of a dime, you should carry what you need with you to be most efficient in…

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Student Loan Information: Direct Student Loans

Published: 12 August 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Paying for Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: student loan information

There is so much student loan information on the internet; it is hard to decipher what is accurate and what is not. What is important to know about student loans? Student loans are often the only way for students to fund their continued education. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) has become a way for universities to offer their students direct student loans. FDSLP eliminates third-party lenders and offers…

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Role of GPA: Before, During, and After Grad School

Published: 24 June 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Adjusting to Graduate Study, Surviving Grad School

Some students automatically presume that the higher the grade point average (GPA) the better. However, this is not always the case because the role and importance of your GPA changes throughout your academic career. In other words, your GPA can signify different things to different people at different times depending on your current academic progress, your area of study, and your goals after grad school. GPA Before Grad School…

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The Importance of Self-Care: Advice to Graduate Students

Published: 29 April 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Managing Time and Stress, Surviving Grad School
Tags: advice to graduate students

Here is a shocker for you: life as a graduate student is hard work and quality advice to graduate students is hard to find. Graduate school takes a lot of time, money, effort, and endurance. Earning a PhD has been hard since its creation, and though some technological advancements have made some aspects of graduate school easier (i.e., a little thing called the Internet), earning a PhD will still be…

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Different Types of Research Presentations

Published: 25 March 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Standing Out in Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: research presentations

There are many different types of research presentations, but the different types of presentations can be divided into two general categories: written presentations and oral presentations. Written research presentations include dissertations and theses, posters, grant and project proposals, blogs, websites, PowerPoint slides, etc. Oral research presentations include lectures, conference presentations, job talks, etc. Often, oral and written methods of presentation are combined to effectively convey information about research. For…

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Best Laptop for Grad School

Published: 18 March 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Strategies for Grad School, Surviving Grad School

From writing term papers to uploading assignments on university network systems (e.g., Blackboard), computers have become an essential school supply for modern students, particularly for graduate students who spend significant amounts of time conducting research online. Because of the limited space in most grad students’ living quarters and the increasingly mobile trend in technology, most grad students prefer portable laptops to stationary desktops. With the overwhelming number of laptops currently…

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Treat Graduate School Like it’s Your Day Job

Published: 18 March 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Adjusting to Graduate Study, Surviving Grad School
Tags: finish graduate school

What tips can you give me to help me finish graduate school? Transitioning from an undergraduate program into graduate school can be an adjustment even for the most hard-working and disciplined individuals. Obviously, cramming for exams at the last minute or not completing the recommended readings for class simply won’t fly in graduate school. Although the amount of work you will have as a graduate student will depend on your…

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