Category: Succeeding in Graduate School

Did you know that the career paths for a PhD are (probably) infinite? Since all PhD students are trained in academic environment, the assumption has been that most doctoral students enter academia after graduation. This assumption, however, is not based in current reality. Graduates can find rewarding careers in industry, government labs, and a variety of academic positions. Read more about this in the Chronicle of Higher Education, where they profile a number of participants in a Preparing Future Faculty program and see where their careers are today.

In a recent article in Tomorrow’s Professor, the authors advocate that the three keys to success are:

• Follow your passions and talents
• Pick your advisor and lab wisely
• Learn to write well

In the article, they expand on these ideas, and offer tips and suggestions to achieve them. One piece that particularly stood out to me is to “follow your passions.” Graduate school is challenging, but your goal is achievable if you lay a good foundation. One piece of that is to find a project that will motivate you even when the research is difficult and it seems like the project can’t be completed.

If you haven’t heard of Tomorrow’s Professor, it’s a great newsletter with tips and article for those pursuing or interested in careers in academia. It’s worth your time to read.

What are your keys to success in graduate school?  Do you agree with the authors?

Choosing an advisor is one of the most important decisions a graduate student makes in their career.  Having an advisor whose goals support your aspirations is essential to ensuring your success as a student and young professional in your chosen field.

This article from the Journal of Higher Education illustrates some of the ways students can shape their advisor experience by putting their goals first and leveraging each other’s strengths to get the most out of the partnership.  One idea, for example, is to ensure you get career feedback by asking for it.  Although good advisors are willing to give this advice, most simply don’t have the time to plan to provide this feedback at regular intervals.

Finding support and taking responsibility for your graduate education are key to being successful in graduate school. This interesting article written by graduate students describes the formation of a peer support group, activities they found useful, and some of the challenges they faced.  They also talk about how to “manage up” to get what you need from your advisor.

What have your experiences been with finding support among fellow students? Let us know in the comments!

Written in a (slightly) humorous fashion, and recommended by Dr. Andrew Storer, these “laws” for graduate students provide an overview of some of the guiding principles of being a graduate student.

For example, “Your vacation begins after you defend your thesis,” and “Your adviser wants you to become famous, so that he/she can finally become famous.” remind me that it is hard work to complete a thesis, and that your advisor really does want you to succeed – even if it might be for selfish reasons!

As we start a new academic year, this column from the Chronicle of Higher Education reminds us that although it’s important to work hard, don’t forget to make time for yourself.  We all need to participate in activities that bring us joy outside of academics.