How to Survive Graduate School: A Guide
Author: Mohammad Ali
Like a zombie apocalypse, grad school can also be a sort of apocalypse. Between coursework, research, and the constant pressure to publish, it can feel like you're always on the run to survive. However, with the right strategies, you can survive and take control of your graduate school experience. Here are some tips to help you survive graduate school.
1. Manage Your Time Like a Pro
Not balancing your research, classes, and life can be a recipe for disaster. With multiple deadlines, projects, and assignments, it can be easy to fall behind. This is why it can be helpful to use a planner or digital tools like Google Calendar to keep track of deadlines, meetings, and experiments. I have a dry-erase board with all of my essential deadlines on the door of my room; that way, I always see it no matter what. Once you have all of your projects/deadlines written, prioritize your tasks based on urgency and importance— start with the easiest and fastest tasks to give you momentum and confidence to tackle the larger projects.
2. Find a Support System
This might be the most important tip on this list. You need to find your Glen (from The Walking Dead). Grad school can be isolating, especially when you're alone in the lab. But it's important to know that you're not in this alone. Build relationships with your lab mates, fellow grad students in the program, and mentors. Think of the neuroscience program as our own survival camp. A strong support system can help you troubleshoot experiments, vent about setbacks, as well as celebrate the small and big wins.
3. Learn to Take Constructive Criticism
This might actually be the hardest tip to accept. Rejections and critical feedback are part of the process. Especially when we're already battling with imposter syndrome, it becomes extremely difficult to accept a harsh manuscript review or have a tough meeting with your PI. But it's critical to try to detach emotionally and focus on how you can improve. Take each piece of feedback in a way that improves your work rather than resenting it. Every scientist has been there, and resilience is key.4. Ask for Help When You Need It
When you're struggling, whether it’s difficulty solving a stats problem, grappling with writer's block, or even managing your mental health. There's no shame in asking for help with an analysis or needing clarification on a concept. Reach out to colleagues, meet with your PI, or find online resources. Grad school is about becoming a scientist, not proving that you're already a scientist.
5. Keep the Big Picture in Mind
We can easily have tunnel vision during graduate school and focus on the day-to-day frustrations of failed experiments or seemingly endless revisions. But remember why we decided to start our graduate school journey. Our passion for neuroscience, long-term career goals, and the impact we hope our research will have. As humans, we search for purpose in life. Thinking of this graduate school journey as a way to fulfill our goals can keep us motivated through even the most challenging days.
Grad school may be one of the most challenging periods of our lives, but it's also a time of immense growth. f we stay organized and focus on these tips, along with strategies you develop on your own, you will not only survive but thrive and conquer this apocalypse!