Surviving Grad School

Maintaining Large Classes

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Surviving Grad School, Teaching in Grad School
Tags: classroom management

Think back on your undergraduate career, do you think your professor or GTA had good classroom management skills? Do you remember sitting in the back of a large lecture hall talking with your friends, texting, and taking notes that consisted of nothing more than doodles? If this was you, you were probably thinking that no one even noticed you—you were just one person in a room of 300. The beautiful…

Read More

Loans for Graduate Students

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Paying for Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: loans for graduate students

Higher education can be funded through a variety of resources, including loans for graduate students. For students who exhibit financial need, Perkins Loans are a viable option. Though debt from Perkins Loans can be excused under some specific situations, this debt must be paid back like most other student loans. The policies of student loans for graduate students are constantly being amended. Types of repayment and consolidation and interest…

Read More

Teaching in the Virtual Classroom

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Surviving Grad School, Teaching in Grad School
Tags: teaching an online course

How is teaching an online course different than teaching a regular course? Education is changing in many schools and programs worldwide. In recent years, the number of courses and entire programs–both undergraduate and graduate–that are being offered online has dramatically increased. As a graduate student, you will likely be either assisting or teaching an online course at some point in your graduate career. There are some important differences between teaching…

Read More

Relaxation Techniques

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Managing Time and Stress, Surviving Grad School
Tags: life as a graduate student

During graduate school you could be demanded to write a term paper, finish your research assignments, and plan a birthday party for your best friend all in the same day. Because you are so busy, you probably find yourself overly stressed from time to time. Although having a little stress in your life as a graduate student is a good thing and results in high productivity, too much constant stress…

Read More

The Grad School Dash: Tips on How to Graduate from Graduate School

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Adjusting to Graduate Study
Tags: graduate from graduate school

If you have ever seen the 400-meter hurdle dash on the Olympics, then you already have a pretty good sense of what it will take to graduate from graduate school. You will start out going as fast as you can, and every so often you will jump, sometimes praying that you will make it over your next obstacle and not eventually drop out of graduate school. The good news…

Read More

Time Management 101: Learning to Say No

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Managing Time and Stress, Surviving Grad School
Tags: graduate student organization, Time management

Saying no is not always easy, although it is vital to time management. Telling your major professor that you do not have time to write a literature review for his or her upcoming manuscript because you have to study for your comprehensive exams will be really difficult. It might even be harder to tell your best friend that you cannot make it to his or her birthday because you have…

Read More

Student Debt Assessment

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Paying for Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: relief from student loan debt, student debt

As the price of higher education has been rapidly increasing, so has the national amount of student debt. Funding student loans has been a recent priority of the government and banks. A law passed in 2007 discouraged private lenders from consolidating student loans, which caused problems for students with debt. Lenders do not want to consolidate debt, but students need to save on interest and to have lower monthly…

Read More

What To Do in Graduate School Classes

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Managing Time and Stress, Surviving Grad School
Tags: graduate school class

Just because you’re in graduate school doesn’t mean that you will be an expert in every graduate school class you take. Maybe you have been in the corporate world and have forgotten how to play the academic game. Maybe your success as an undergraduate was mostly due to your good test-taking or essay-writing abilities, and you managed to graduate despite your tendencies not to go to class or pay attention.

Read More

Student Loan Consolidation

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Paying for Graduate School, Surviving Grad School
Tags: how to consolidate student loans, student debt consolidation, student loan consolidation

The numerous types of student loans are commonly organized into two categories: federal student loans and private loans. Over $60 billion a year is disbursed through federal loans, military compensations, work-study programs, and grants. Federal student loans issued through the U.S. Department of Education are usually simple to consolidate.   Private loans are granted through lending institutions, such as signature loans through Citibank or Sallie Mae. Private loans are often…

Read More

The Competition

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
No comments
Categories: Adjusting to Graduate Study, Surviving Grad School
Tags: tips for graduate students

Most individuals who end up in grad school were often in the top of their undergraduate classes, perhaps that is why they don’t think they need any “tips for graduate students.” Because you will be in class with the top of the top students, you might find it more challenging to stand out as a shining student. Here are some tips for graduate students to make sure that you stand…

Read More