Graduate Student Corner

Greetings to all! The end of another academic year is fast approaching, and I am sure that everyone is digging in for the summer months ahead. Congratulations to recent graduates and to new faculty members and practitioners who are looking forward to new transitions and adventures.

I would like to take a moment to thank Amanda Burgess-Proctor for all the great columns she has submitted to the DWC's DivisioNews. To be sure, she is going to be a tough act to follow. However, I am really looking forward to heading up the Graduate Student Corner column, and I really appreciate all her insight and help. Also, thanks to Kristin Winokur for such a warm welcome and helping me get acquainted with the newsletter.

Considering that this is a time of endings and new beginnings, I have been thinking back to my early years as a graduate student. As I write this, I believe this time is very poignant because new cohorts of graduate students will be descending upon their respective departments and universities within the next four months. As a new academic year approaches, new grad students may experience a variety of emotions including, but not limited to: excitement, nervousness, fear, confusion, and exhilaration. What might their new roles bring them?

Looking back, there are several things that I wished I had known, done and/or had not done as a new graduate student. These insights, to me, might have helped me get through my first couple of years with a better idea of what the graduate student experience can bring- they could have also mitigated the anxiety, fear and confusion that I encountered.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the national graduate student attrition rate has averaged around 50 percent across disciplines-with some departments losing even higher percentages of their grad students. In hopes of keeping our students around longer, I designed this piece to offer some insight and advice to new graduate students to give them an idea of some of the issues that many grads face as they begin their programs. I had the opportunity to chat with grads with multiple years under their belts, as well as a professor or two. My thanks go out to Stacy Mallicoat, Jadi Morrow, Garian Vigil, Patricia Vigil and others for their observations, thoughts and time.

Graduate students who are in later stages of their programs may be able to recall the excitement, trials and tribulations of their first couple of years. As a grad who has been in a program for a couple of years or more, it is often easy to overlook (just from self-induced post traumatic stress alone) how new graduate students may feel as they navigate the hallways, and campuses of their new "home." Some of us may even be jaded enough to forget, or wish to forget, what it was like to be in their shoes.

At a recent conference, I asked people to look back at their grad experiences and think about anything they would have done differently during their first couple of years-or if they wished they had discovered what they know now about the graduate student process. I also asked some professors if there were any characteristics or strategies they have observed among their own students who may have contributed to success. Talking with other graduate students and a handful of professors, it appears that suggestions and advice fall under three broad categories: time management issues, mental and physical health issues, and communication. Although many themes overlap into these three broad categories, I am including some of the more common themes that were offered during these conversations.

Time Management. Issues surrounding time management came up often during discussions. Perhaps one of the biggest areas of consternation, everyone (especially from self-identified procrastinators) had mentioned some aspect of graduate school where strategic time management skills were needed in order to manage the first couple of years. Some of the advice offered follow.

"Try not to take on more than you can chew." Easier said than done in most cases, many students overwhelm themselves early in the game. With coursework, comprehensive exams, teaching and research assistantships, departmental functions, and involvement with various activities and organizations, it can become difficult to put adequate effort into everything at one time. Being ambitious if fine, just remember to prioritize in order to stay on top of it all.

"Try not to get too caught up and overwhelmed your first couple of years." This piece of advice is a variation of the above. However, some students commented that this also includes getting too caught up in departmental politics. Consider keeping a low profile your first year to allow yourself time to observe how the department operates. Nurture this time to recognize nuances about the department and individuals that you may not learn directly from other students or faculty.

"Procrastination hurts. . .a lot!" Yes, Marx was a notorious procrastinator, and still managed his education quite well. However, he also was vilified, banished from multiple countries and impoverished (not necessarily in that order). Before asking what the point of that example was, keep in mind that even the most successful students in a department have experienced bouts of procrastination. For me, nothing elicits more psychic, mental, emotional and physical anguish than procrastinating a final paper or research assignment-and I have done it often over the years. Finally, professors (those who will admit to this) procrastinate too. They do not, however, appreciate it in their students.

Mental and Physical Health Issues. Concerns over physical and mental well-being are all too common among students. With good reason, grad students are often more concerned with issues of health insurance and access to health facilities than undergraduates. It is also important to note that the health issues of immediate family and friends may also seriously impact your academic progress. Although we do not often think about how others may play a part in our continued success through school, the health concerns of loved ones can slow down one's progress.

I know of several students (myself included) who have been affected by the deteriorating health of parents, children and partners, who have dealt with unexpected health emergencies and procedures, been in accidents, and experienced childbirth during graduate school. These issues add to the unique dilemmas and problems experienced by grads, and one overarching suggestion that deals with these concerns is: "expect the unexpected."

"Don't be afraid to seek help." Many campuses offer student advising or counseling services. Additionally, they may offer seminars and workshops on other issues that may indirectly affect your progress (e.g., stress management, body image issues, etc.) These are great tools, and it also helps to be familiar with the types of resources offered on campus. If not for yourself, than for others.

"Do have a life outside of graduate school. Nurture personal time and space." Although this suggestion seems trite and obvious, oftentimes students forget that one can exist within, and without, graduate school. Seek out classes and activities outside the department. Meet other grads from other disciplines. They can provide the support you need from other grads, and provide the added bonus of being unbiased when it comes to immediate departmental issues. Consider making friends and connections outside of academia, as well. Work hard at your degree; play harder.

Communication. Many students could not stress the need to keep open lines of communication with other grads and faculty. E-mail, phone and face-to-face conversations helped many individuals get through trying times during their first couple of years.

"Start a relationship with faculty early." Consider introducing yourself to faculty members immediately. Having a mentor or an advisor early on can help a student feel more stable and in-touch with goals and expectations.

"Talk about your interests and ideas with other grads and faculty. Develop your niche." Think about having discussions about your academic interests with others. They can help you to hone your ideas and develop successful ways to meet your goals.

"Make connections with grad students who have been around longer." They have been there for a while and can give you advice and clarity on particular issues. They can help debunk myths about the department or about particular professors, provide insight about how they got through their first years, and tell you about the lessons they have learned over the years. They can also mention what to look out for and who to avoid.

Other insights and suggestions. Finally, students offered many useful suggestions that did not necessarily fit into time management, health and communication issues. These insights are useful (and colorful) nonetheless!

"Don't forget to eat!" Yes, a hard one to fathom for many of us. Forget to eat? But this one resonated with me when it was mentioned. I recall times when I had gone many days in a hectic month surviving on red licorice and black coffee. For instance, as difficult as comprehensive exams are, it is made even more complicated when one has not had a decent meal in days.

"Try to steer clear of gossip." It does not take much to get entangled in some messy situations.

"Make it a point to say 'hello' to people in the department you meet in the hallways-especially professors" A simple hello in passing may help professors recognize you in the future. Even if you may not take a class or work with them in the future, it is nice to be recognized by faculty. They may not know you yet, but they will.

"Be friendly, patient, courteous, appreciative and respectful of department staff." When it comes to department staff (e.g., secretaries, administrative help, work-study assistants), it will make your life a lot simpler if you extend even the most simple gestures of kindness and appreciation to them. In other words, do say "hello" to them on a regular basis too.

Thanks again to those who contributed their time and ideas to this piece. Please feel free to email me at nagaim@colorado.edu if you have any questions, comments or feedback on this piece. If there is anything you would like to see addressed in the future, please feel free to drop me a note. Thank you!