Adjusting to Graduate Study

Finding Your War Buddies: Grad School Friends

Published: 14 October 2013
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Adjusting to Graduate Study, Surviving Grad School
Tags: grad school friends

At times, graduate school might feel like a never-ending battle. In fighting with your dissertation, coursework, grading papers, and any attempt to have a life outside of graduate school, you may feel overwhelmed at times. You probably have some friends and family members who have been supportive, but unless they have been to graduate school, they probably have no idea how hard you really have to work. The only…

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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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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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The Competition

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
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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…

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

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
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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…

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You Deserve To Be Here

Published: 15 June 2011
Written by PhdStudent
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Categories: Adjusting to Graduate Study, Surviving Grad School
Tags: graduate from graduate school

Many graduate students were among the top students in their undergraduate programs, so competition in graduate school is fiercer than it was in undergraduate school. A very common reaction for many students as they begin their graduate programs is to believe that there was some kind of mistake and that they are not nearly good enough to be in the program with all the other high-achievers. This is referred…

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