skip to main content
Ecohydrology Lab
  • Home
  • Team Members
  • Projects
  • Opportunities
  • Publications
  • Blog

Some thoughts on starting grad school

8/17/2020

41 Comments

 
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. – Thoreau

To all the incoming [and returning] grad students – congrats on getting to this point! These are exciting times. You’re about start down a path that’s both exciting and engaging, but also challenging and demanding at times. For many of us, this was also a nerve wracking time.  Impostor syndrome and self doubt are nasty little monsters, and if you’re anything like me, you will have to make a concerted effort to control them. Rest assured, almost everyone has these feelings to some extent! More importantly, if you've made it to this point, you have what it takes to make it in grad school!

Grad school is challenging though. My undergrad advisor told me ‘it’s a bit like stepping on a rake.’  While my advisor was most-definitely exaggerating, there are some big adjustments, especially if you’re coming straight from undergrad. Below are some tips on how to dodge getting hit by the metaphorical rake.  The major themes include: (i) don’t your let insecurities get in your way, (ii) learn to effectively communicate with your team, (iii) be kind to both yourself and others!

(1) Learn to communicate effectively. Have you heard the joke about the extroverted scientists? They look at your shoes instead of their own!  [Womp womp…]  My point here is that communication isn’t everyone’s strong suit. BUT, even awkward introverts like myself can learn to communicate effectively.

(2) Learn to manage your time. Every group is different, but most grad students have a ton of freedom. This freedom is one of the benefits of grad school. However, without discipline, it can lead to disaster. For many students, this means they end up over committing themselves.  Helping friends with their field work; taking on a leadership role in a student organization; or signing up a service learning trip over spring break. These are ALL great things. BUT, over-committing leads to burnout – which will adversely impact the quality of both your life and work. 

One other note here -- I suggest treating grad school like a job. Keep regular hours (i.e., 8-5), avoid working nights and weekends, and set boundaries on your time/availability.  You might also consider tracking your hours.  I did this last semester, and it was really eye opening how I allocated my time.  I was able to use this data to both improve my efficiency and cut out waste! 

(3) Take responsibility for your research and academic progress. Your advisor is likely jugging A LOT [e.g., teaching multiple courses; administrative responsibilities; writing grants; advising multiple students; the list goes on and on]. Further, they are not infallible. [I think my students can attest to this last point!] Thus, it’s your responsibility to understand your degree requirements, to be aware of important deadlines [and the maze of associated red tape], and most importantly, take the lead your research project.

(4) Discuss and define expectations with your advisor. Every lab, and even different projects within that lab, are different! Make sure you understand what your role is and how you should execute that role! Note, your PI might not think to explain this to you. [Many of us don’t have adequate management training after all…]  So, ask them…

(5) Learn to set reasonable goals, and then revisit and adjust those goals regularly. At the beginning of each semester, I develop a list of short-term (i.e., month timescale), mid-term (i.e., semester time scale), and long-term (i.e., multi-year time scale) goals. In this processes, I also evaluate the previous semester – what worked, what didn’t, and how do I improve.  [Note, most employers will ask you to do this periodically. However, I find it’s more helpful when I can do it in a non-formal setting!]

(6) Be kind to yourself.  Self care looks different for everyone, but its absolutely critical.  For me, regular exercise and [atleast] 7 hours of sleep are important.  Unfortunately, these are also the first things that I drop when time is short. I’m learning to be more disciplined and make these non-negotiables. When this happens -- I’m happier, more alert at work, and ultimately, a better scientist for it.

​(7) Be kind to others. Invest in folks your research group and department. Normalize teamwork – help your team mates with their lab and field work; offer to read their paper drafts; and regularly check in to make sure they are doing ok. Consider doing things outside of work with these folks as well – grab coffee, go to happy hour [if that’s your thing], or go on a hike!  Building community [and trust] is important.  When conflict does arise [and it most definitely will], be respectful and remember your lab mates are people too!

(8) Get a good notebook, and take notes in every meeting. At a minimum, write down both the meeting agenda and action items.  If your advisor is giving advice, write that down too.  [We have fragile egos, and it makes us feel important….]

(9) Make sure you have access to a good computer [and if there’s a global pandemic, high speed internet].  While some schools/labs provide students with computing resources, other do not.  For example, in my lab we have two work stations our group shares for computationally intensive tasks. However, students are expected to have their own laptop for school work.  Luckily, there are many cloud based resources like Office 365 and rstudio.cloud available that reduce the need for high powered machines!

(10) Enjoy yourself!  Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and take the time to learn skills you are interested in!   

​Good luck!
Picture
My first day of grad school in Fall 2010 at Virginia Tech!
41 Comments
agario hub link
8/26/2020 01:49:32 am

(10) Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and take the time to learn skills you are interested in!

Reply
Betpas link
9/16/2020 12:05:24 pm

make new friends, and take the time to learn skills you are interested in!

Reply
Vdcasino link
9/22/2020 09:19:37 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and take the time to learn skills you are

Reply
Betpas link
9/22/2020 09:20:09 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and take the time

Reply
Ngsbahis link
9/22/2020 09:23:56 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and

Reply
Betcup link
9/22/2020 09:27:20 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make

Reply
Bahsegel link
9/22/2020 09:30:05 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines

Reply
Betvole link
9/22/2020 09:31:59 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new

Reply
Restbet link
9/22/2020 09:33:58 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore

Reply
Elexbet link
9/22/2020 09:36:23 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun

Reply
Betebet link
9/22/2020 09:39:53 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of

Reply
Timebet link
9/22/2020 09:41:37 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton

Reply
Kingbetting link
9/22/2020 09:42:43 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a

Reply
Klasbahis link
9/22/2020 09:44:20 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and

Reply
Nakitbahis link
9/22/2020 09:48:33 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging

Reply
Tipobet link
9/22/2020 09:54:08 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly

Reply
Mariobet link
9/22/2020 09:57:59 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school is

Reply
Betonbet link
9/22/2020 09:58:53 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad school

Reply
Betcup link
9/22/2020 10:00:44 am

Enjoy yourself! Grad

Reply
Betpas link
9/22/2020 10:02:05 am

Enjoy yourself!

Reply
agario link
9/23/2020 04:21:46 am

(10) Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and take the time to learn skills you are interested in!

Reply
decaf coffee beans link
9/29/2020 03:32:14 am

This web site is really a walk-through you discover the knowledge it suited you about this and didn’t know who to inquire about. Glimpse here, and you’ll undoubtedly discover it.

Reply
Phone Repair Shop Preston link
9/29/2020 06:38:27 am

Hope that you all have a great rest of your winter. I have finished up my paper already for the fact that I am leaving for vacation tomorrow to some place warmer with little internet access.

Reply
Propagate Plants link
9/29/2020 10:53:35 am

Propagation Stations by Cooper&Smith, the best gift idea for a plant lover or indoor plant enthusiast. Hydroponic planters with round glass vases or test tube vases to grow plant cuttings in water

Reply
Best Led Light Therapy For Wrinkles link
9/30/2020 10:44:03 pm

What’s up everyone, it’s my first visit at this web page, and piece of writing is truly fruitful in support of me, keep up posting these articles or reviews.|

Reply
Seafood Restaurant Perth link
10/1/2020 03:03:28 am

Wow, fantastic blog structure! How lengthy have you been running a blog for? you make blogging glance easy. The total look of your website is wonderful, let alone the content material!

Reply
Industrial Mould Remover Brisbane link
10/2/2020 02:12:36 am

Im not sure if it has been talked about, but when using Chrome I can never get the entire site to load without refreshing many times. Could just be my computer. Thanks

Reply
Seindo Travel link
10/23/2020 01:30:39 am

Salam kenal dari Seindo Travel. <a href="http://seindotravel.com/domestic/5-hotel-terbaik-di-dunia-2020/">Pesan hotel murah</a> untuk setiap perjalanan kalian.

Reply
Leisure link
10/23/2020 01:33:23 am

This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am actually
pleassant to read everthing at single place.

Reply
Rent link
10/23/2020 01:34:07 am

Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article! It’s the little changes which will make the most significant changes. Many thanks for sharing!

Reply
blog link
10/27/2020 04:35:10 am

Tips belanja online<a href="https://portalseindo.blogspot.com/2020/10/belanja%20online.html"> disini</a>

Reply
Vdcasino link
10/30/2020 05:37:01 am

(10) Enjoy yourself! Grad school is incredibly engaging and a ton of fun! Explore new disciplines, make new friends, and take the time to learn skills you are interested in!

Reply
Gifts for plant lover link
11/17/2020 04:43:19 am

This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am actually pleassant to read everthing at single place.

Reply
Restaurant Perth link
11/18/2020 08:24:52 am

love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It is the old what goes around comes around routine.

Reply
Led Light Therapy Pigmentation link
12/2/2020 04:17:12 am

Thank you for helping people get the information they need. Great stuff as usual. Keep up the great work!!!

Reply
Seindo Travel link
12/7/2020 10:24:12 pm

Thanks for nice article, this post is very useful :)
<a href="http://seindo.support/home/tips-liburan-aman/">Tips Liburan</a>.

Reply
internet güvenliği link
1/9/2021 02:20:10 am


Teknoloji, hacker haberleri ve siber güvenlik üzerine bilgilerin yer aldığı web sitesi.




Reply
betbaba giriş link
1/9/2021 03:11:07 pm

Betbaba yeni giriş adresi, bahis oyunlarına yönelik bonus, promosyon ve diğer bilgilere yönelik web portalı.




Reply
onwin giriş link
1/10/2021 04:48:05 am



Onwin yeni giriş adresi, bahis oyunlarına yönelik bonus, promosyon ve diğer bilgilere yönelik web portalı.

Reply
sultanbet üyelik link
1/10/2021 11:26:38 am


Sultanbet yeni giriş adresi, bahis oyunlarına yönelik bonus, promosyon ve diğer bilgilere yönelik web portalı.


Reply
sultanbet giriş link
1/10/2021 01:38:10 pm



Sultanbet yeni giriş adresi, üyelil, bonuslar ve diğer tüm bilgilere yönelik bilgi portalı.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    News

UA wordmark
Accessibility | Equal Opportunity | UA Disclaimer | Site Disclaimer | Privacy | Copyright © 2019
The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 | (205) 348-6010
Website provided by the Center for Instructional Technology, Office of Information Technology

  • Home
  • Team Members
  • Projects
  • Opportunities
  • Publications
  • Blog