Prepare for Graduate School With These 3 Strategies
07/15/2017 by HIGHERGRAD
Hard work over the last few years has been leading up to this moment. You have been accepted into graduate school, and the start of this new endeavor is only a few short months away. The excitement of moving on to a different part of your life is quickly diminished with the thoughts of mentally preparing for graduate school. The spring is filled with last-minute undergraduate assignments and upcoming finals all while determining how to prepare for grad school after acceptance. Take time to get ready with these three strategies to prepare for graduate school
Am I Ready for Grad School?
Most are never really ready for graduate school. It is a completely different experience then what you have experienced as an undergrad. From the way you manage your time to the difficulty involved in completing tasks and assignment, all make the transition tough. Do as much research as you can to help you determine what to expect in graduate school prior to starting. In addition, use these three strategies to tackle those days leading up to the start of grad school, the first few days after you start, and into successfully completing your graduate degree.
Organize Now to Be Prepared Well Later
Organization is a critical part of college life, especially graduate school. Exemplified as you prepare for your master's program, whether it is an online graduate program or traditional program or even an MBA degree. Not only do you need to maintain your organization as you finish up your undergraduate degree but add to that the organization necessary to prepare for graduate school.
The flood of paperwork (both on paper and digitally) and associated tasks are often more than applying to graduate school. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, manage this by creating folders to store graduate school documents to ensure you are keeping on track with necessary tasks. A simple approach is to start an account with a cloud storage provider like Dropbox or Box. These document storage apps allow files to be shared securely, and they offer the ability to view files from any device at any time. Already using one or another of these file management tools? Simply add separate folders for your graduate school documents to avoid overlap with current coursework and your day to day activities.
Email frustrates all of us. Most receive email after email each day and furthering your education will only see that trend continue. You will be starting to build relationships with professors, communicating to school administrators and starting to reach out to professional organizations. Isolate these communications by creating additional folders in your email client to track all things graduate school in one spot. This will make it easy for you to respond to admissions emails or professor correspondences all while maintaining connections with your daily life.
Project Management Skills Are Critical as Your Prepare for Graduate School
With both the end of your undergraduate career and the beginning of grad school on your plate at once, it’s possible to forget to complete certain tasks. Some tasks are less critical than others but missing anything could be a potential disaster as you begin to prepare for graduate school.
Project management will not go away in today’s fast-paced work environment. Tools like Trello, and other project management apps, give you the ability to stop the sticky note madness and opt for a clean, flexible client that can manage multiple parts of your life all while keeping you on task with the information you need.
Just as you created separate files and folders for your undergraduate and graduate items, create two separate task lists. These lists should include all of your assignments or important tasks, such as submitting documentation to graduate (undergrad list) and registering for first-semester graduate courses (grad list). By checking off and documenting each task as you complete them, the transition to graduate school will be seamless.
Preparing for Graduate School by Finding a Mentor
Finding a trusted professor or a friend who has been through the process successfully to serve as your informal mentor as you transition into graduate school can help you stay focused and calm, no matter how stressful things get. He or she can also keep you on track to meet important deadlines and walk you through expectations of your graduate degree program or assistantship.
When choosing a mentor, look for a person who knows you well and has time to help you. The most common mistake made when selecting a mentor is choosing one with a great resume and connections but no time to help you. Ask the prospective mentor if they are comfortable serving as your mentor as well as if they have time to devote to mentoring you into graduate school and beyond. Usually, it makes the most sense to choose a person with experience in your chosen academic field or who knows how to prepare for graduate school well. Start with those that may have written recommendation letters to support your application to your graduate degree program. These are most likely your biggest supporters and are often willing to see their recommendation through by helping you succeed.
Your mentor should also be familiar with the tasks you need to complete up to graduation and the start of graduate school. Schedule regular meetings with him or her to discuss the things you still need to complete and questions that may come up about your graduate school timeline. Mentors can serve as a great sounding board when you need advice or inspiration, and they can help hold you accountable for all you need to get done. Additionally, your mentor can be a valuable resource throughout graduate school to answer questions on program requirements, discuss research topics and connect you with other professionals in the field for future opportunities.
Linkedin is also a critical resource. It is not a substitute for a mentor but can offer similar aid by finding answers to questions and connecting with people in your field of study. If not already on LinkedIn, signup and get started working on your professional profile. Keep things professional, as an undergraduate (and graduate school student), by adding relevant coursework, past jobs and extracurricular activities like volunteer engagements. Start by connecting with your mentor and others you are familiar with in the field. Also, reach out to those involved in the graduate degree program you are enrolling in to start building those relationships.
Your decision to enhance your future by continuing your education in graduate school is one that will pay dividends throughout your life. The transition, however, can be one of confusion and stress. Preparing for graduate school means taking time to organize, managing your projects and finding a mentor in the months leading up to the start of grad school. Focusing on these three strategies will make the experience much more rewarding.
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