advice for new phd students

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 06 November 2018

Twenty things I wish I’d known when I started my PhD

• Lucy A. Taylor 0

Lucy A. Taylor earned her zoology PhD from the University of Oxford, UK. She is now a postdoctoral researcher at Save the Elephants in Nairobi, Kenya, and a visiting researcher in the Department of Zoology at Oxford.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Starting a PhD can be tough. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d known at the beginning. Here, I have curated a list of advice from current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from the Department of Zoology at my institution, the University of Oxford, UK, to aid new graduate students.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07332-x

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

My Advice and Tips for New PhD Students

I started my own PhD exactly six years ago this week and looking back there are LOADS of things I wish I’d known when I started! Previously I’ve written a whole post about my PhD regrets . In this post I want to focus on actionable advice and tips which I hope will help out any new first year PhD students.

Even if you’re already midway through your PhD I hope that you find some of the advice useful. Do you have a piece of PhD advice yourself? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.

1. Set Up Regular Meetings with Your Supervisor

One of the main things which really helped during my PhD was having regular one on one meetings. Not only do you get an opportunity to check things with your supervisor, they’re also a useful way to stay focussed and disciplined.

Rather than set up ad-hoc one on one meetings when you need them, I’d really push for a regular slot. I had a recurring weekly meeting, mostly just with my primary supervisor but sometimes my secondary supervisor came along too. Some people may find this is too frequent but in any case regular meetings are crucial.

Supervisors will be familiar with many challenges you’re likely to face. They can offer invaluable advice  to not only solve the problem quickly but also offer perspective to put your mind at ease. It is almost impossible that you won’t have anything at all to discuss. In fact you are likely to end up receiving lots of other advice which you may not have been actively seeking near the start of your PhD, such as career guidance.

Some supervisors by default only have group meetings with their PhD students. Whilst they can be great for getting to know what everyone in the group does and for getting feedback, these really aren’t the place to raise a lot of issues to do with your PhD. For starters it isn’t an effective use of other students’ time to sit through you doing a deep dive into technical details. In addition, some topics are far better suited to a private meeting: mental health, a review of your progress etc.

For any prospective PhD students reading this, it’s a good idea to gauge how much support you can expect to receive from a supervisor ahead of time. If you’ve already recently started your project, now can be a great time to set yourself up with regular meetings.

2. Don’t Work Too Hard

When you’re new in the research group it is natural to not want to come across as a slacker to your colleagues and supervisor. However please don’t become that person who feels the need to hang around in the office just to be seen to be committed to the project.

A perk of a PhD is that they’re flexible: you should be able to control your own time and work when you want and take breaks when you want. Some people see this flexibility as merely theoretical and instead end up working really long hours. Please don’t!

Instead I suggest treating the PhD like a job (in a good way!). For me personally I found that working roughly 9-5 Monday to Friday was more than enough time to complete a PhD at a top tier university in less time than average. For more details, including my own calendar just over one year into the PhD, check out the separate post:

How much work is a PhD?

3. Work Smart and Learn to Take Breaks

Working in unison with the previous point about the number of hours you put in per week, a top tip for new PhD students is to learn to work smart and take breaks where necessary.

Repeat after me: don’t waste time being unproductive.

An effective PhD student shouldn’t need to chuck their entire life at the PhD. Instead, learn how you work best and use this knowledge to find a work pattern which boosts your productivity. Along with figuring out whether you prefer to start work earlier or later in the day, I personally found it useful to figure out how long I could sit at my desk before my productivity starting dropping. On the topic of working hours and productivity: no, PhDs don’t need caffeine .

Taking frequent breaks are great, not just for your productivity but also your sanity. By breaks I mean everything from a five minute walk through to a proper holiday away from work.

If you realise you’ve started procrastinating, take a break: reading a few pages of a fiction book or taking a short walk can do wonders for PhD motivation and your mental health. Breaks are particularly important for anyone starting to feel the potential effects of burnout. In fact it may be worth reading my whole post about PhD burnout .

PhD Burnout: Managing Energy, Stress, Anxiety & Your Mental Health

Beyond daily walks, take days off when you feel like you need them. While you no longer enjoy months off in a row like undergraduates, do be sure to take holidays too: yes PhDs should definitely take holiday. Here is how much annual leave I used up for holidays throughout my whole PhD .

4. Start Thinking About Publishing

Clearly you’re not going to be in a position to publish original research for quite some time (as first author at least), but your first year is often filled with a lot of reading. In addition to using this reading to help with your project direction, you could turn this into a writing exercise which can be useful for three key reasons:

• Boost your understanding of the topic. Writing things down in your own words will strengthen your comprehension.
• It can form the basis for the literature review in your thesis. Always useful! Also handy for any early stage milestones that your university has. Mine had a checkpoint at nine months where it can be pretty handy to demonstrate that you have some idea about your research field!
• A relatively easy and early publication: a review article. It’ll really help give you confidence in the publishing process.

One of the best research groups I collaborated with during my PhD had an initiative where all first year PhD students should try to publish a review article. I think this is a great idea and wish I’d considered it myself so consider publishing a review article a top tip for new PhD students!

Before I tried submitting my own first original research article , which wasn’t until over two years into the PhD, I found the whole publishing process quite overwhelming and intimidating. Had I dipped my toes in early with a review article I’d have realised it wasn’t as complicated as I suspected (as with most unknowns) and instead probably tried to submit my own research much sooner. I’ve since written an entire series of guides about publishing your own paper, check it out here:

Writing an academic journal paper

5. Get Some Good Habits Started

There’s no better time to get some good habits established than when you’re just getting started with your PhD.

Have a think about what kind of habits you’d like to have by the end of your first year as a PhD student and start putting plans in place to work towards them.

Good habits may include:

• Using a calendar so as to not be late to meetings or lab bookings
• Reflecting on times that you procrastinate and instead pushing yourself to take proper breaks
• Healthy and low-cost eating habits . Nothing is more important than your health, and what you eat is a key part of keeping yourself healthy. At least in the UK it can get really expensive really quickly if you buy prepared food (cafes, restaurants, takeaways) for all of your meals. Instead, I strongly suggest starting to cook for yourself. It is much cheaper and usually more healthy. I wrote a series of posts about cooking during a PhD, check them all out here:

Save money as a student: cook delicious & nutritious meals on a budget!

• Getting a good amount of sleep. I won’t prescribe how much sleep to get or when your bed time should be (I’m not your parent!) but just know that getting into a regular sleeping pattern to stay fully rested will do wonders during your PhD. I already mentioned how caffeine consumption is not a prerequisite for those of working in research and sleeping enough so that you don’t feel tired is a good starting point.
• Doing regular exercise . Try to make it something that you enjoy so that you stick with it. Want to be uber efficient? Combine it with your commute: I cycled to work during my PhD . Bonus points for any exercise which is sociable.

6. Get Involved

As interesting as your research may be, your PhD shouldn’t all be about working on your own in the lab. Take the opportunities presented to you. Such as:

• Collaborations. Working with other people can be much more fun than working on your own and could lead to some interesting developments for your own project.
• Presenting at meetings and conferences. It is a great experience. Scared of presenting? Even more reason to get started.
• Side projects. Got another idea you want to try? Give it a go!
• Make connections. I don’t want to bore you with networking spiel, instead I’ll just say that making connections (or hopefully friends!) with lots of people around your department, university or elsewhere can really enrich your PhD experience.
• Learn new skills. Not just “boring” lab stuff like analytical techniques, think about anything else in life you’ve always wanted to try. For instance you can join student sports clubs and societies like any other students at university. I tried scuba diving and gliding during my PhD and I’m so pleased that I got involved. Read my whole post here about opportunities during your PhD:

How to make the most of opportunities

7. Enjoy It!

There is no doubting that a PhD can be tough at times but do try to enjoy it and remind yourself how lucky you are!

As a PhD student you’re in an enormously privileged position. You’re getting paid to be a student, which in itself is pretty great but on top of that you get to become an expert in a topic you find interesting. It is pretty amazing really. My final tip for new PhD students is to savour the PhD experience. The years will fly by before you know it, so make sure to take a breath once in a while to appreciate where you’ve got to and where you’re going.

A Quick Summary of Tips for New PhD Students

• Set up regular meetings with your supervisor(s)
• Don’t work too hard
• Work smart and take breaks
• Start thinking about publishing
• Get some good habits going
• Get involved
• Most importantly: enjoy it!

Good luck to all you PhD students, new and old. Hopefully these tips for new PhD students help give you some ideas to make your PhD a more pleasant experience. Do you have any other ideas for tips to help out PhD students? Let me know.

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2 Comments on “My Advice and Tips for New PhD Students”

Valuable information I received reading this article. One question in my mind is that how to tackle the course work in start of PhD to get CGPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 in course work which is an essential requirement to qualify for work on research thesis otherwise the student will be dropped from PhD program.

Thanks Abdul. There is no such requirement for PhDs here in the UK, so sadly can’t answer your question from experience. The closest thing we have are progress reviews which are typically annually but these very much focus on research activity which I think may be quite different to the advice you’re looking for. I can’t promise anything but I’ll try to find someone with relevant experience to help answer it. Best wishes

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A guide for first year PhD students: Expectations, responsibilities, advice

The first year of a PhD can feel like a rollercoaster ride. First-year PhD students are ambitious and want to fulfil expectations. At the same time, they may be unsure of what these expectations and their responsibilities are. This guide aims to provide first-year PhD students with some directions and advice.

The first year as a PhD student: Excitement, ambition, overwhelm

Starting a PhD is exciting. Securing a PhD position is a major life event, and often something that first-year year PhD students have been working towards for a long time.

First-year PhD students want to do well, make progress with their projects and meet their supervisors’ expectations. However, it is not always clear what that means.

Questions like these, and insecurities, often develop early on in a PhD journey.

What to expect as a first-year PhD student

Succeeding in academia has many facets, including your thesis or dissertation, but also learning new skills, and developing relationships with supervisors, colleagues and scholars in your field. All of that takes energy.

Set realistic expectations for yourself in the first year of your PhD. Not everything will work out as planned. Research takes time, and setbacks are inevitable.

First-year PhD students can also expect to read and explore a lot. At times, this involves going down the rabbit hole of academic literature: processing new information, frameworks and perspectives before discarding them again.

Responsibilities of a first-year PhD student

However, frequently a key responsibility of a PhD student is to develop a firm research proposal in the first year, which is often coupled with an extensive literature review.

All in all, a first-year PhD student is responsible to get organised and create a feasible plan for the coming years. The first year is meant to set the foundation for the PhD trajectory .

Unless the PhD programme is followed online, and unless there is a pandemic raging, first-year PhD students are additionally often expected to actively participate in the research group, lab or department in which they are based.

A supervisor’s expectations of a first-year PhD student

While this can certainly happen, I dare to say that this is not the norm.

For instance, PhD supervisors tend to appreciate some levels of regularity and consistency. While it is absolutely normal to have periods where you make more progress (for instance in writing) than in others, it is not good to contact your supervisor every day for a month, and then fall off the earth for half a year.

Lastly, supervisors often expect PhD students to take matters into their own hands. Instead of simply waiting for instruction, this means that first-year PhD students should be in the driver’s seat of their journey. Therefore, it is no surprise that proactiveness is one of the 10 qualities of successful PhD students.

25 things every first year PhD student should do

Thesis/dissertation, academic skills, relationships and networking, health and well-being, master academia, get new content delivered directly to your inbox, deciding between a one- or a two-year master's degree, email signatures for phd students (content, tips and examples), related articles, a comprehensive guide to part-time phds, the 30 best determination quotes for students, journal editors: what they do, and how to become one, sample emails asking for letter of recommendation from a professor.

• 12 . 16 . 20
• Find Your Direction

11 Pieces of Advice for PhD Students (2023)

• Posted by: Chris

Updated March 8, 2023

I was thinking today about good advice for PhD students, especially those just starting out. And I imagined what I’d tell myself all those years ago.

I stepped into a PhD with very little knowledge of how to do anything. I didn’t get the language used in academia, and I barely understood the program requirements.

I was just excited. Excited by the future. The possibilities. The life-changing experience I was about to go through.

And, although I was disappointed by the lack of a tenure-track job which–let’s be honest–was the reason I got into academia in the first place, I wasn’t actually disappointed by the experiences I’d had.

I learned a lot, grew a lot, and had a lot of fun. But still, I wouldn’t do everything the same.

Here’s what I’d tell myself if I were to start again, which is–surprise–also my advice for PhD students.

1. Achieving won’t make you feel worthy

2. you’re not going to be a professor, 3. define the type of relationship with your supervisor you want, and ask for it.

• Join us in our Career Advance Program and Community!

4. Apply for all the funding, then find more

5. you’re not going to know it all, 6. start building your non-academic exit ramp way before you need it, 7. grow your network right away, 8. treat academia like a job, 9. don’t wait for people to tell you what to do, 10. don’t forget your roots, 11. find your voice.

I published peer-reviewed articles. I won awards, big ones. I had international fellowships and traveled.

I still didn’t feel like I was good enough.

I told myself that the next publication would make me happy, the next grant would mean I was enough.

It never did. I kept running, kept chasing. I never rested, imagining that if I beat myself into a superhuman I’d get a tenure-track job. And then, I thought, I’ll have made it. I’ll feel worthy of being here.

I never got the tenure-track job, but I know for a fact it wouldn’t have made me feel good enough. It wouldn’t have conquered the imposter syndrome.

Because the gift of self-worth comes from me. It happens internally, not externally. And I could have given it to myself on day one.

You’re good enough to be here. You deserve it. You won’t be perfect, but you’ll learn.

And no matter what happens, you are enough.

No, you’re not. Some of you are reading this right now, and you’re thinking, Well he wasn’t. But I will be.

You’re wrong.

No, I’ll be the exception.

No you won’t.

I’ll work harder. I’ll publish more.

Even if that were true, it really doesn’t make a difference. You won’t get a tenure-track academic job.

Of course, I don’t know 100%. If tenure-track jobs exist ten years from now, not a guarantee, by the way, someone will be doing them. Perhaps it will even be you.

But starting a PhD with your vision set on being a professor is, frankly, dumb.

If you can’t look at the other possibilities for your PhD and get excited about them, then you’re chasing the wrong thing.

This is one of the most valuable pieces of advice for new PhD students.

One of the weirdest, new things about the PhD was the realities of working with a supervisor. Nobody ever really told me what this meant, and I’m still not sure I totally get it.

Most PhD students I see look at a supervisor as something between a parent and Gandalf. They look for affirmation, acceptance, approval, and applause from them.

And while it’s perfectly okay to want a good relationship with your supervisor, too many students just expect to fall into this type of close mentor relationship, and some get upset when they can’t have it.

The thing I wished I’d done when starting out was to sit down with my supervisor and ask:

• What does the supervisor/student relationship look like?
• How often should we plan to meet?
• What would you say your supervision style is?

These types of questions are totally fair game. Some supervisors will initiate this conversation. This is ideal. But if they don’t, you can. Get a clear sense of what to expect from working together.

And if you need something specific, say regular check-ins, don’t be afraid to ask for that.

Funding sets you free on this journey. Spend as much time as you possibly can applying for it. Find more. Find better ways to get funding.

When I was holding a major grant that couldn’t be held simultaneously to other grants, I realized that this didn’t include travel funding. So I applied for as much travel funding as I could, won a bunch, and then went and got paid to live overseas on top of my grant.

I straight-up made over $70k in funding that year.

This sounds sort of braggy, sorry. But I have two points:

• This is a game. Learn to play it well.
• You need time to work and get the thesis done. I’ve seen way too many people cram their funded years with teaching, TA work, RA work, etc. and then not have their thesis done when the funding runs out. Get the money and get it done.

I remember stepping into my first seminar. I didn’t know what was happening, and I said some dumb things that I kicked myself for later.

And holy crap, those other students were friggen smart! What the heck was I doing here? I didn’t deserve to be among them.

As we became friends, I realized how many of them shared the same feelings, even though I still think they were all ridiculously smart-er than me.

I spent way too much time in my first years trying to show that I was good enough. Trying to prove that I deserved to be there. Trying to tamp down the feeling of inadequacy.

I wish I’d just recognized that there’s a ton of stuff I don’t know, that’s okay, and that learning is half the fun. I wish I’d asked more questions instead of waiting for chances to spout off answers.

Don’t wait until the week before you graduate.

Like I said above, you’re not going to be a professor. Many students ignore this fact, pretend the end isn’t coming, stick their head in the sand, and finally–after the last academic job application falls through–ask themselves, “So what else can I do with this?”

If you’re going to have to face the reality of a non-academic job , and most of us are, you might as well get started early. It will make your exit a heck of a lot easier.

I made some suggestions in this article for how to get non-academic experience on your resume. Start exploring and figuring out where else you might go. Get involved in a non-academic project. See if there’s a policy report you can input on. Go start exploring your options. Being a PhD Candidate will open a lot of doors.

And that leads me to…

I wish I’d started growing a non-academic network right away. I mean, seriously, this doesn’t have to be hard stuff.

I’d tell myself to aim for one informational interview every month or two, but to make sure it happens consistently.

If I’d made the effort to start doing these informal networking chats right away , transitioning out of academia would have been a cinch. In fact, if I’d had one conversation every month with someone outside of academia, I’d have 60 people by the time I finished my fifth year.

In actuality, I had none.

I don’t know about you, but by the time I got to the PhD I’d been studying a long time. I’d also worked non-academic jobs.

So one of my pieces of advice for first-year PhD students is to treat it like a job. Stop thinking like a student, and start thinking like an employee.

What’s required of you to get a paycheck? How can you get more money? How can you be better at the work you do? What are the metrics of success in your new “workplace” and how can you reach them?

You can figure all this out, and take the steps you need to take to succeed at your new “job.”

This probably also means treating a supervisor like a boss and not like a parent. (Of course, this depends on the supervisor. Have that conversation about expectations.)

Speaking of treating academia like a job , the worst employees are those who sit around waiting for instructions. The best ones either know what to do and do it, or if they don’t, they ask what else they could be doing.

This is something like academia.

Don’t sit waiting for someone to tell you to apply for grants, to research, or to publish. You know this is part of your academic output, so get moving! If you need to get the all-clear from a supervisor, fine. But for the love of God, don’t wait to be asked!

I grew up working class in a small mining village in northern Canada. I’m sorry if I reference it a lot, it’s who I am.

When jet-setting around the world, hobnobbing with famous academics, and getting published in prestigious journals, it’s easy to forget who you are. To ignore where you came from, or to be embarrassed by it.

It’s easy to get mad at your family or the people in your town for being so backward and ignorant–if they are.

But you’ve had the privilege of education. It doesn’t make you better than those people you’ve left behind, it just means that you’ve had opportunities they never did.

And don’t be ashamed of where you came from. It made you who you are.

I was about to hit publish on this article with 10 pieces of advice, and then I saw that my friend Stefanie Ginster at Career Conversations asked this exact question on Twitter–as I write this!

If you could go back and give one piece if advice to your 1st year grad student self, what would it be? Mine would be: "You are not expected to know everything. Ask more questions instead of being ashamed of your knowledge gaps" #phdchat — Career Conversations, PhD (@careerconversa1) December 16, 2020

It made me think of one more thing, especially as I reflect on the interview that I did with Stefanie.

I’d tell my first-year self to find his voice. I never did. To be honest, my imposter syndrome extended beyond the walls of my own academy and made me feel insecure about sharing ideas from my field online. So I never did.

Don’t be afraid to talk about what you’re learning. Do it on Twitter or LinkedIn if you want, or find community groups to share with! Find your voice. It will empower you to speak about your thing, even if you don’t have all the answers.

If you’re starting a PhD, I hope these pieces of advice to PhD students help! And if you’re already along the road, I’d love to hear on Twitter or LinkedIn what advice you would have. Just hit the share buttons and tell me!

Now Read: 10 Meaningful Alternatives to Academia (2023)

Consulting Secrets 3 – Landing Clients

Photo by Christian Sterk on Unsplash There’s a new type of post buzzing around LinkedIn. I confess, I’ve even made a few.  The post is

You’re Not Good Enough… Yet

Last year, I spent $7k on a business coach. She was fantastic. She helped me through sessions of crafting my ideas to become a “thought

$200/hr Expert? Here’s the Secret!

Photo by David Monje on Unsplash I was listening to Tony Robbins this week. He was talking about being the best.  Tony asks the audience,

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Top ten tips for new PhD students

This resourse contains advice for new PhD students on adjusting to post-graduate study. It was written by Helen Johnson for the RGS-IBG Postgraduate Forum.

On my first day as a PhD student I was overwhelmed. As a first generation student from A-level onwards I have been continually figuring out how university works – and a PhD was a whole new experience!

Looking back now, I’m not sure I fully understood what a PhD was, what was expected of a PhD student and the many other taken for granted nuances of becoming a doctor. Somehow, I am now four years in… so please allow this weary 4 th  year to offer some nuggets of advice to anyone starting a PhD this year.

1. Remember you are a researcher in training, not a fully formed researcher.

Halfway through my PhD I felt pretty dumb and intimidated by all the papers I was reading and people I met – more so than I ever felt during my undergraduate and taught masters. I felt I knew more back then! I realised I was comparing my current work to academics who were 5, 8, 10 or more years ahead of me. In theory, the thesis is only a documentation of a learning exercise. It shows that you can meet a high level of research and during these 3-4 years you are a researcher in training. You become a fully-fledged ‘researcher’ on gaining your doctorate – so be a little gentler on yourself, you are still learning.

2.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help

PhDs are framed as the ultimate individual endeavour. While that is true, there is a difference between handholding and guidance. It is okay to be stuck, most of us are conducting our biggest instance of data collection to date and writing up our largest piece of work. We may need to grapple with big theories and at the end look to deliver an addition to academic thought. Things will go wrong, and you may want to change direction. That is okay! You should feel like you can ask for help with these simply to point you in the right direction. If you feel you can’t ask your supervisor, start to build relationships with other academics and students in your department and others outside of your university. Don’t struggle by yourself – you don’t get an extra degree for battling on by yourself.

3.  Celebrate the little successes

The PhD is a LONG time to be working on one project, no matter how much you enjoy the topic. Make sure you celebrate the little successes – you handed a chapter in? YAY! You went through and organised all your references? Go you, treat yourself to a nice coffee. You have hit your target word count for the day? Fantastic, shut down your PC and get on Netflix. Read one paper today? Thumbs up, that is one more step forward. Transcribed all your interviews? Well, that is a meal out in a restaurant for sure! The thing is, if you don’t celebrate the little stuff then it’ll be a long time until you feel like you are moving forward. Truthfully, you are making progress every day that you open a document, look at your data or read a paper.

4.  Save a little bit of money each month

If you receive a stipend and/or take on teaching and you are able to, save a little bit of money every month. Most of us only get 3 years of funding and very few will finish within the 3 years. By doing this, you have a little bit of money to get through the final stage of your PhD if you are unable to work because you are writing up. It also means that if anything goes wrong, you have some money to fall back on. I did this from my first year and have been living off my stipend savings for fourth year. If this is not an option, search for hardship funding and other schemes online at the end of 2 nd  year. There are more than you think for 3 rd  and 4 th  year students in the UK.

5.  The PhD does not define you

In a world that often defines people through their occupation, it can be hard to be anything other than the ‘PhD student’. However, you are more than that. You could be a daughter, a son, a mother, a father, an environmental activist, an artist, a friend, a football coach, a small business owner or anything other than a PhD student. Don’t forget these. At the end of the day, the PhD is only one part of the whole of who you are. So, don’t allow your whole life to be subsumed by the PhD.

6.  Embrace change (if necessary)

I sincerely hope that your PhD goes as smoothly as possible. However, there may be times when you need to change things up a bit. Now, I’m the Queen of PhD changes – 3 different sets of supervisors and at least four changes to core theory used. I threw away everything I had written and started again at the end of the 3 rd year. For me anyway, these changes were both thrust upon me or I decided to change. The message here is, if you feel you need to change, trust your instincts. Whether this be supervisors, topic, theory, method or even university. Don’t make a snap decision but don’t put up with a situation that is detrimental to your mental health or academic progress. And when change is thrust upon you, just try to ride the wave and see where you go – remember there will always be people around to support you, so reach out if you need to.

7.  Avoid the Overwork Olympics

In year two I was working in my office when another student asked my friends and I how many hours we worked yesterday. Bemused glances followed – what did it matter? It seemed this student wanted to compare working hours and normalise her 15-hour days. I’ve had academics tell me I should be working 12 hours a day; how I should feel ill. I’ve observed students who come into the office at 4pm and only leave at 7am the next day. Don’t get involved with the Overwork Olympics and its merry band of academic athletes. Look after yourself and take time off. Perhaps the best advice I can provide is to treat the PhD like a job, 9-5 Monday to Friday with the weekend off. And yes, you can have a weekend or at least one day off a week (minimum). Don’t worry, you’ll still get your PhD, and you’ll probably be less stressed to boot.

8.  In your first month or two, pick up a generalised methods textbook

You know which ones I mean, the big chunky tomes that you use to provide the description of ‘semi-structured interviews’ with names like “ Methods for Geographers ” or “ Qualitative Research ”. These are actually fantastic at the start of your PhD for figuring out the practical side of the thesis – from basic research question design to structuring your dissertation. Honestly, I only took these out when writing my methodology, but I wish I had read them right at the start to help with planning.

9.  Don’t punish yourself if you have an off day, week or even month

It happens to us all, and sometimes you need to listen to your body and take a break. However, if it is a planned workday, perhaps switch to easier tasks. A good thing to do is keep a list of little things that need to be done that don’t take much brainpower. These might be organising references, creating a contents page, cleaning your desk, sorting out books to take back the library or filing downloaded papers. Or if you can, take yourself away from your normal workspace and work somewhere else. These might not add much in the short-term but are important for saving time and effort in the long-term. However, if an issue is severe or lasts for longer than a month, please let your supervisor or someone you trust at the university know. You are not showing weakness and you are not inadequate as a student. People are generally a lot more understanding and forgiving than we give them credit for. Relating to this, take a suspension if you need it and are able to. A suspension may give you the time to realign your focus and come back refreshed. You are not a failure for taking time out.

10.  Organise, organise, organise

I can’t stress this enough. Please, please, please figure out some organisation structure for yourself and your data. I am a notebook girl myself: I have a literature review notebook, analysis notebook, methods notebook, general notebooks years 1-4 and research diary. I have a spreadsheet that is my data collection outreach and monitoring system. My folders are split by chapter, ethics documents are with the methods and the literature file has papers organised by general theme. When I am working on a certain section, I can drag a folder out at a time to my desktop and avoid being overwhelmed. Now, I am pretty basic in this respect and I know others who organise papers with NVivo or Mendeley or create impressive searchable spreadsheets. The thing is, you will find your own way to organise your work, because at the end of a PhD a lot of ‘stuff’ is created – both digital and physical! Evernote is also fantastic for organising all sorts and I used it a lot when undertaking netnography.

Promise me you’ll download a reference manager though? Even if you scrap it post-PhD, don’t be stubborn like I was. Download and get to grips in your first year and just store any potential paper in there. When it comes to writing up, all your references will be there, and you’ll be having a right jolly good time clicking ‘insert citation’ in Word.

Those are my 10 tips for new PhDs, just remember that the PhD journey is your journey and will be different from mine, from your peers’ and from your supervisors’. Own that journey, no-one has had a PhD like yours and that is something to be proud of.

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Preparing for Graduate School: Advice for New Student Success

The idea of going back to graduate school as a working adult presents both opportunities and challenges. Here are a few tips for setting yourself up for success in graduate school and beyond.

Maxine Giza

When you’re considering going back to school, choosing the right graduate program is a challenging first step. But perhaps even more daunting is the next step: preparing for success in graduate school.

The thought of juggling classwork with your job and family commitments can be overwhelming. After all, you have made a major commitment in both time and money. But don’t worry. Countless professionals have successfully completed their degree while continuing to work full time. And you will, too!

Life as a graduate student is different from what you remember from your undergraduate days. Professors expect you to be more proactive and self-sufficient. You also likely have many other priorities in your life — from professional responsibilities to family obligations — competing for your time. 

If you have been out of school for a few years, you may also notice differences in teaching tools and techniques. 

“University instruction has changed dramatically over the past few years, especially with the increase of online courses,” says Kelly Ross, predegree and admissions advisor at Harvard Extension School. 

Properly preparing for graduate school before you start your first class can help you start your semester off right and overcome unforeseen challenges that may arise.

Here are four questions to ask yourself as you begin the process of preparing for graduate school .

1. How will you approach work/life/school balance?

Achieving a healthy and appropriate work/life balance can be a struggle for anyone. Toss graduate school into the mix and you have a recipe for stress. While you won’t be able to completely eliminate stress, there are things you can do to minimize it. 

Figuring out how to restructure your time is key. 

You need to be honest with your friends and family about how graduate school is going to make your schedule less flexible than what they may be accustomed to. 

Many people find that establishing a schedule works well. 

Consider carving out specific times in the week for projects, studying, friends, family, and activities like going to the gym. There will certainly be times you’ll have to say no to social functions. But planning ahead carefully will help you avoid schedule conflicts and the scramble to get assignments completed on time.  

It’s also important to seek out flexibility in your schedule wherever possible. 

Consider talking to your employer about flex time and working from home. Depending on your academic program, consider online courses to save you time on commuting. At Harvard Extension School, for example, most degree and certificate programs are online. 

Also, be honest with yourself about what you can handle. Avoid the temptation to take on too much. 

“Remember to be as realistic as possible when deciding how many courses to take per term,” says Ross. 

Remember that a graduate course may only meet for two hours per week. But it will require a significant amount of time outside of the classroom to complete the readings and assignments.

Learn how these Harvard Extension School alumni juggled their work/life balance .

Explore Graduate Degrees and Certificates at Harvard Extension School.

2. Who can you recruit to be your support network?

Your friends and family may initially struggle to accept that graduate school is going to take up time that you used to spend with them. 

Make it clear why you are continuing your education. If they understand why graduate school is important to you, they can find ways to support you. 

If you have children or are caring for elderly relatives, you’ll need to figure out who can step in to lend a hand. If you are a parent with young children, for example, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate child care in place before your first class even starts.  

Don’t forget your classmates can serve as a support network as well. 

It’s likely you’ll have classmates who are also balancing work and family commitments. You can gain insight from their experiences . Nothing compares to learning from people who are coping with the same struggles as you are.

3. What do you need to feel prepared for your first class? 

Are you feeling anxious about returning to the rigors of academic life? One way to prepare for graduate school coursework is to review your syllabus before the class starts so you know when all major assignments are due. This will help you allocate your time around family and work commitments. 

Knowing what your instructors will expect will also motivate you to develop a strategy to avoid procrastination , schedule conflicts, and last-minute scrambling.

If you went to college years ago, you may have memories of lugging heavy textbooks around. Today, however, many resources are accessible online. 

You’ll want to make sure you have all the necessary technology at your fingertips before your program starts. For example, will you need programs like Microsoft Excel or Word? Do you need a stronger Internet connection for online classes? 

You may even need to invest in a dedicated computer. While a family can share one computer for casual use, you may need your own device — especially if taking online courses. 

4. How will you face unexpected challenges?

Even the most prepared graduate student will face unexpected challenges during their time as a graduate student. As the old saying goes, “expect the unexpected.” 

Being flexible with your time is key to handling life when things don’t go according to plan.

And remember: some of the toughest challenges you’ll face may be psychological. 

“A major challenge that many (students) don’t necessarily expect but begin experiencing is imposter syndrome,” says Ross. 

Imposter syndrome —feelings of inadequacy and doubt in your abilities, and that you will soon be seen as a fraud—is common for many graduate students, especially at the beginning of graduate school. 

“Imposter syndrome can be really difficult to overcome,” says Ross. “But students should just take it one day at a time, one assignment at a time, one class at a time. It’s likely that many of your classmates are experiencing it too but no one is talking about it.” 

Remind yourself that yes, you DO belong in the program you’re in!  

Preparation for graduate school is key to your success. Keep your end goal in sight and the payoff will make all the temporary sacrifices worth it.

Ready to get started? Find the program that’s right for you.

Browse Degree and Certificate Programs at Harvard Extension School.

About the Author

Maxine Giza is a Digital Content Producer. She is a graduate of Endicott College and Emerson College. When she isn’t thinking of creative ways to tell stories, Maxine can be found playing hockey, training for a road race or attempting to swing a golf club.

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7 resources to help phd students succeed on their doctoral journey.

It takes a village and a variety of skills to succeed in the doctoral world. Here are a few of the many resources Wharton Doctoral Programs offers to help.

Like most of our doctoral students, perhaps you’re preparing to go into academia after completing your PhD. Being a professor and researcher today often involves opportunities to share your research with a larger audience than a classroom of students. The doctoral journey is meant to prepare you with the wide array of skills you’ll need to be effective whether you’re in front of the classroom or a conference stage.

That includes the polish to present and speak publicly with ease, the writing and communication skills to craft your dissertation and journal articles, the analytical know-how to research thoroughly and gather meaningful data, and the ability to teach — colleagues, pupils, or the general public, whatever the case may be. And, if you have family, you’ll need support in getting them through this journey with you.

Wharton Doctoral Programs offers a wide range of resources to help you thrive in the PhD program and prepare you for life beyond it. Here are a few of the top Wharton resources our students have highlighted as most beneficial:

1. 5 Slides 5 Minutes

Researchers often have the opportunity to share their work with a larger audience through social media and mass media outlets — but it requires nuanced communication skills. How do you take complex findings and communicate them to a general audience concisely without oversimplifying the message?

That’s the focus of 5 Slides 5 Minutes. Launched in 2014, this low-stakes, high-potential event enables PhD students to present an abstract to students, faculty, and staff to practice engaging non-experts in their research topic. Students receive an invitation to participate via email from the Doctoral Programs Office.

After students present, they can work with Wharton Communications Program to review their presentation and get tips on how to improve their communication skills. Wharton’s renowned faculty also share valuable insights with students about these presentations.

“We focus on individuals. We help them convey their research content most effectively given their style and personality,” said Lisa Warshaw, Director of the Wharton Communications Program.

2. Dissertation Boot Camp

The name might sound intimidating, but some students think of Dissertation Boot Camp as a two-week writers’ retreat. Hosted twice a year by the Graduate Student Center, it’s designed for students who have dissertation status but haven’t presented their proposal yet.

The camp offers an environment and support for intense, focused writing time as well as a review on the steps, deadlines, and University policies. Limited to 20 students, the small group gives writers a chance to make connections with others who are going through the dissertation process and provides participants with the structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks along the way.

3. Wharton Communications Program

The Wharton Communication Program helps Wharton PhD students become more effective communicators and thus better presenters, public speakers, and writers — all critical skills in academia. All doctoral students are provided with access to on-site, one-on-one writing coaching during the academic year.

Wharton PhD students are required to attend two workshops: First-Year Communications Workshop in the fall and First-Year Writing Workshop in the spring. The skills-based approach adopted in the workshops helps students develop their personal style and strengthen their confidence as communicators.

Through multiple practice opportunities, video recording of speeches, and rigorous feedback, the program provides students with a thorough foundation in communication theory and for doctoral students, focuses on research presentations and job talks.

4. Teacher Development Program Workshop

Offered in conjunction with the Center for Teaching and Learning , the Teacher Development Program is a four-session course. It gives doctoral students a foundation in core teaching practices to support their teaching at Penn.

By helping with presentation skills and academic job placement, the workshop prepares students to become faculty in the future. Ian Petrie , Senior Associate Director, Center for Teaching and Learning described the workshop as “a collective, collaborative program.” Each week features “microteaching” demonstrations, where participants conduct a brief lesson and get feedback from their peers and the directors.

The intent is that faculty and graduate students will engage and learn from each other to master fundamental teaching methods. “Every PhD student can leave the program having gained some new tools for teaching,” Petrie said. This exchange happens when doctoral students observe “talented colleagues from other departments to get a glimpse of how they teach.”

Students also have the opportunity to enroll in the CTL Teaching Certificate program to hone teaching skills and grasp a commitment to developing as teachers.

“I’d like everyone to come out of the experience feeling more confident about their skills as an instructor or presenter,” Petrie said. “Anything I can do to support doctoral students in achieving their goals is extremely gratifying.”

5. Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS)

With more than 50,000 corporate, academic, and government users, Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) is the global gold standard in data management, research analytics, and thought leadership. Researchers at more than 450 institutions in 36 countries across the globe depend upon this award-winning research platform and business intelligence tool — and researchers are doing the work to grow it right here on Wharton’s campus.

“The fact that the people who create the data, research analytics, and tools are here is super important,” said Prof. Cathy Schrand, Vice Dean of Wharton Doctoral Programs. “I’ve had early access to WRDS before it even became available to other subscribers. Top universities all over the world that have subscriptions to WRDS may only have access to certain elements of it, but we have access to all of it and it’s here on site which does provide an advantage.” The platform allows researchers to access more than 350 terabytes of data in one location that spans across multiple disciplines, including accounting, banking, economics, ESG (environmental, social, and governance), finance, health care, insurance, marketing, and statistics. “WRDS is by far the most important source of datasets for academic researchers. As a Wharton PhD student, you automatically get unrestricted access to every one of these databases,” said Itamar Drechsler, associate professor of finance at Wharton and NYU’s Stern School of Business, who has experience on both sides of the classroom – he earned his PhD from Wharton in 2009.

6. Wharton Behavioral Lab

A shared resource for all Wharton faculty, the Wharton Behavioral Laboratory (WBL) provides a variety of services that support data collection for behavioral research on business-related topics. The primary goal is to enhance the research productivity of Wharton faculty by minimizing the operational costs, both time and money, of conducting research. With two locations — one in Steinberg Hall Dietrich Hall and another in Jon Huntsman Hall, doctoral students can gather original data through lab experiments and panels, instead of using secondary data created by others. Each year, the lab collects about 23,000 subject hours of data. Research from WBL can consistently be found in national and international publications such as the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics, and the Journal of Business Ethics .

7. Support for Families

For some PhD students, attending Wharton means relocating their families to a new city. To help students and their families ease the transition to PhD life, the Wharton Doctoral Program Office hosts the Maternity/Paternity Workshop , an annual event that talks about the resources available to PhD students with families.

Here are a couple of the key resources they highlight in the workshop:

• The Doctoral Programs Office allows eligible students to apply for up to one year of additional school-level funding beyond their allotted funded year. Furthermore, students are eligible for up to eight weeks of time-off for childbirth and adoption and have the option of taking unpaid Family Leave of Absence.
• At Penn, the Family Resource Center provides additional resources and facilities, such as a children’s playroom and two private lactation rooms, which cater to the needs of students with families. The Center also has two grant programs for PhD students to help offset the cost of childcare and family expenses, and health insurance for dependents.
• Wharton Doctoral Partners & Families is a student-run online resource created to communicate the resources at Penn and Philadelphia to partners and families. Its mission is to empower members to transition and settle into their new lives.

Posted: November 6, 2018

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10 Tips for New Doctoral Students

By  Jamie Hipp

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Four years ago, I sat alongside dozens of first-year Ph.D. students in an introductory class in graduate school. The professor encouraged us to read widely in our field and to become versed in journals within our areas of interest, and he expected us to stay abreast of current higher education news and trends though Inside Higher Ed .

I heeded his recommendations. Along the way, I also learned some lessons on my own about how to succeed as a Ph.D. student. The following tips represent the blueprint I wish I’d had prior to the start of my doctoral adventure.

No. 1. Find your tribe. Doctoral research can be an isolating endeavor. Finding professors as passionate as you are about your research interests can seem almost impossible. But finding professors who support your research interests is not. Although I was blessed with an excellent adviser, many of my colleagues felt obliged to constrain their research to themes congruent with their major professor’s research agenda.

Avoid frustration (and eventual burnout) and find your support system. Read professors’ CVs, particularly the often overlooked service component, to gauge their priorities and passions. Search thesis and dissertation repositories for studies that align with your interests and note the committee members and major professor listed.

No. 2. Service will serve you well. The peer-review process is fundamental to the production of scholarly work. Contact the editors of journals in your field and express interest in reviewing for them. The benefits are plentiful. Each review becomes a line added to the service section of your CV. This process also allows you to see what is being submitted to journals and what these journals eventually publish. Should you eventually submit your own manuscript to the journal, you have knowledge of both the appropriate writing style and characteristics of accepted work.

No. 3. Get credit! Many doctoral students will acquire teaching assistant responsibilities. That may be part of your graduate assistantship duties, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the professor of record to add your name to the syllabus. It will give you teaching experience as well as provide future hiring committees with evidence of that experience.

No. 4. Libraries are not just for books. Campus libraries offer a multitude of research and writing-based workshops, free of charge. I have personally attended workshops on APA-level headings, citation management software and thesis/dissertation formatting. Work smarter, not harder, by learning to cite sources and format correctly early on in your doctoral career. It will cause fewer headaches down the road.

No. 5. Fellowships are out there. For those who maintain a high GPA, campus honor society membership affords more than cords and stoles at graduation. Most societies offer scholarships and/or fellowships for doctoral study. For example, Kappa Omicron Nu, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa award fellowships to doctoral students engaged in dissertation writing that range in value from $2,000 to $20,000.

No. 6. You’re not the keynote speaker. Conference presentations serve as an opportunity for graduate students to meet leaders in their fields. Professors encourage doctoral student presentations as a means of developing facilitation and speaking skills. Yet presentations are usually unpaid, and in addition to paying for their own travel and accommodations, most selected presenters pay a registration fee, albeit an often discounted one.

That said, numerous conventions and conferences extend opportunities to review proposals and/or volunteer on site in exchange for a waived registration fee for the service. Rather than shelling out on your own, you should explore such options.

No. 7. You’re not the only priority. Your major professor has an abundance of obligations including teaching, writing, research, crafting grant proposals and academic service. This person also usually works with many graduate students. Particularly at the outset of doctoral study, do not expect an immediate reply to emails or voice mail. Be respectful of your professor’s time and obligations when dealing with deadlines or time-sensitive issues.

No. 8. What’s in a name? Know the academic lingo. When a student begins their foray into doctoral study, they are simply considered a doctoral student. When all course work is completed and comprehensive/qualifying exams are passed, this student becomes a doctoral candidate. The label “All but Dissertation,” or ABD, is often not considered an actual title -- rather a state or condition of having finished course work but having yet to defend the dissertation. Use the term “ABD” with caution.

No. 9. Broaden your writing horizons. The process of doctoral study prepares scholars to become experts within their niche of study. Yet that does not mean a doctoral student or candidate must only submit to top-tier journals. Consider the substantial readership and impact your work might have in an alternative publication, such as a practitioner journal, scholarly magazine or newspaper, for example. Indeed, this Inside Higher Ed publication will reach more readers than all of my prior publications combined.

No. 10. They often don’t hire their own. From the outset, ponder where you eventually see yourself after graduation. If you are hopeful for future tenure-track higher education employment, consider the geography of doctoral programs carefully. Most colleges and universities tend to seek candidates from other institutions and rarely hire Ph.D.s they produced for tenure-track positions. Adjuncts and professors of professional practice are the exceptions. A multiyear doctoral study commute might be worth it to eventually secure tenure-track employment in the city you call home.

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The Life Scientists’ Guide For New PhD Students

As scientists ourselves, we know how daunting it feels when you embark upon on your first PhD. Especially right at the beginning, when everything can feel totally new and overwhelming.

Whilst 91% of the life scientists who took part in our Big Life Scientist Survey said they’re passionate about their research, only 25% said they feel there’s adequate support for early-career life scientists.

To show you just how much support there is for you in the life science community from your peers (and from us!) we’ve put together The Life Scientists’ Guide for New PhD Students.

Here, you’ll find the fantastic advice our fellow scientists have shared with us, as well as a few tips from our personal experience.

Before you get started with your PhD

If you know you want to pursue a PhD and you’re looking at your options, there are a couple of things to consider right at the beginning. These two pieces of advice might well be the most important ones, because they’re going to make your entire PhD experience less stressful and more rewarding in the long run.

Don't pursue a PhD for the wrong reasons

Dr Bryan Roth, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, has worked with many PhD students over the course of his 35 year career.

I always urge folks to study what they are passionate about. Dr Bryan Roth

Don’t follow the route of academia just because you feel like you should. You have to truly love what you’re doing and believe in the importance of the results you’re pursuing.

Adriana Humanes, a postdoc at Newcastle University, agrees: “If you’re really interested in research and love dedicating a great amount of your time to thinking, reading, and discussing your ideas, you will love being a PhD student.”

If you have doubts about your subject, or the level of commitment required to complete a PhD fills you with dread, then it might not be the best option for you right now. There’s absolutely no shame in taking a step back and having a rethink.

Find a supervisor and a project you love

Even if you’re the most dedicated scientist in the world, there’ll be times when things don’t go as planned and you doubt yourself. This is perfectly normal, and something that every postgrad experiences at some point in their career. Trust us. And this is where having an awesome supervisor will be essential.

“There will be times you will struggle with motivation towards your project, and if you have a good supervisor they will help guide you and keep you on track,” says Rachelle Balez, PhD student at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute.

“However, there may also be times you are having issues with your supervisor and if you are passionate about your project, this will give you the drive and motivation to push through potentially challenging times.”

Dr Caroline Copeland, a lecturer in Neuropharmacology at the Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education at St George’s seconds the importance of finding the right supervisor for you:

When you’re going to PhD interviews, you should also be interviewing your potential supervisor in return: are they someone that you can work with?. Dr Caroline Copeland

In the early days of your PhD

So you’ve just started your PhD, and you’re probably feeling like a rabbit in the headlights. We get it, and there’s no need to panic! You’re part of one of the most supportive communities out there, and we have all got your back. Here are our top tips for getting through those first few months.

Read, read, read!

Right at the beginning of your PhD, set time aside to read as much as you can about the existing research and theory relating to the field you’re about to delve into.

Christina Murray, postdoctoral research associate at UCL, speaks directly from experience: “As I already worked in the lab I was doing my PhD in previously, I missed this step and found myself playing catch up later on with the reading. It may feel frustrating to not get straight into research, but having that background knowledge behind you will help when you are interpreting any results you get.”

It’s not just the topic you’ll want to research either. “Get familiar with the techniques you plan to use too, so that you can design your experiments appropriately,” says Dr Samantha Murray, a researcher at the University of Otago.

Establish good habits right away

The end goal of your PhD is your thesis, meaning you’ll want to do everything you can to prepare yourself along the way. If you get the right processes in place from the beginning, and start as you mean to go on, ‘future you’ will be very thankful to ‘past you’.

“Keep a tidy lab book,” says Dr Samantha Murray. “This will be so important when you come to writing your thesis. Along with this, keep thorough records of each experiment: what you did, and why, and most importantly the result! Three or four years on you will have forgotten why you changed that buffer, or that incubation time.”

Establish a great relationship with your supervisors

Your PhD supervisor will be your mentor, your champion, and your go-to when things don’t quite go as planned. That means having a great relationship with your supervisor is hugely important when it comes to determining the success of your PhD.

Lucka Bibic, a PhD student at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, stresses the importance of great communication from the beginning: “Tell them if you’d like to learn a specific technique or develop some additional skills … [and] try to get to know your supervisors. Learn how they work and how to get the most out of them.”

Our own Sam Roome seconds this, adding to remember what your supervisor’s role is: “They may appear to be a scary boffin, with an encyclopedic knowledge of every piece of supporting literature that you will ever need, and a real skill for asking you questions about your experimental design, highlighting flaws that you had never even considered, but they know what you are going through – and they want you to achieve your very best!”

Making the most of your PhD

As you get further into your PhD and gain confidence in what you’re doing, things will start to feel far less daunting (we promise!) That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges, but believe us, you’re more than capable of dealing with them.

When it feels like the stabilisers have come off and you’re getting in your flow, here’s how to keep focused and on track.

Take ownership and lead your PhD

Leading the direction of your research project is key, says Catriona Cunningham, a PhD student at the University of Manchester. She recommends taking control by suggesting what experiments you want to do, and what you want to focus on: “Your PhD is the first step to becoming an independent researcher and you have to defend your work at the end of it.”

Taking ownership and being a leader doesn’t mean you have to know it all though.

“Don’t be shy, always discuss your doubts with your supervisor and colleagues who have more experience,” says Agnese Solari, a PhD student at the University of Genova.

Get involved in the wider scientific community

In starting your life science PhD, you’re stepping into a hugely supportive community both offline and online. There are a whole host of incredible scientists out there, willing to offer advice, encouragement, and opportunities. You’ve just got to get involved.

“Become an active member of a science society and help organise workshops, community engagement events, or conferences,” says Rachelle Balez. “Not only is this a great way to network and meet new people, but it also helps diversify your skill set outside that lab and can be highly rewarding.”

Don’t underestimate the power of networking – work on your networking skills early. Dr Samantha Murray

Dr. Chinmaya Sadangi, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, says: “Networking is as important as doing science. So go ahead and attend conferences and workshops. They are the best place to network. Going to the departmental seminars is also very helpful.”

And it’s not just networking at conferences and events that will help you. Tap into online communities as well: “Read the PhD comic strips, sign up to Twitter, and surround yourself with other PhD students that are going through the same process as they might be of great support to you at some point!” says Lucka Bibic.

Stay positive, even when things don't go to plan

As anyone who’s worked as a life science researcher will tell you, you’re definitely going to experience ups and downs. Whether you make a mistake and have to start from scratch, you don’t get the results you’re after, or your project just doesn’t seem to be going to plan, keeping positive is important.

“If things are going horrendously badly in the lab remember that it is not the end of the world and negative results are still important,” Chloe Thomas, a PhD student at University of Birmingham, advises.

Don't be afraid of making mistakes, and don't give up!

Deep down, nobody likes making mistakes. Even though we all know mistakes are necessary to learn and grow. We’ve all heard the Edison quote: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Another, less well-known quote from Edison is: “Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.”

And his mistakes didn’t work out too badly for him, did they?

If you don’t want to take work/life advice from the 1800s, take Dr Deborah Kronenberg-Versteeg’s guidance instead. She’s a Junior Research Fellow at Homerton College, Cambridge who told us: “I would advise any PhD student not to be afraid to make mistakes, it is ok to do so and is part of learning.”

Brittany Berdy, a postdoctoral fellow at The Rowland Institute at Harvard is one of the most upbeat and positive scientists we know. She gave us a pep talk that every PhD needs to hear:

“Don’t get discouraged. In many cases people starting their PhD were top of their class, totally awesome students who excelled during their undergraduate years.

“All of a sudden they’re thrown into this world where everyone is incredibly smart and creative and top of their class. It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder if you are in the right place, studying the right thing. And then experiments start to fail! Constantly!

Science is hard… and students find themselves doubting their own abilities, wondering if they know enough. Don’t give up – it's just part of the PhD experience. Dr Brittany Berdy

Do everything deeply

“Question deeply. Read deeply. Think deeply.” This is the advice of Dr Tim Mosca, Principal Investigator at Mosca Lab at Jefferson University, Philadelphia. By embarking on a PhD, you’re bravely going where few others have gone before you. This requires courage and thorough investigation. Always go deeper.

Dr Tim Mosca goes on to say: “The ethos that you build now will serve you for the rest of your career. Don’t just focus on one narrow area. Learn what your colleagues and fellow students are doing. If you’re a molecular person, learn systems.

“If you’re a systems person, know about development. You’ll be able to participate in, contribute to, and learn from so many more people if you know the basic concepts.”

A PhD is all about learning

This is your chance to really immerse yourself in academia. Of all the life scientists we’ve spoken to over the past few months, this is a theme that comes up time and again. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and push the boundaries of your learning.

“Don’t be afraid to be wrong, and don’t be worried about saying I don’t know,” says Hello Bio’s Director of Commercial Operations, Dr. Huw Davies.

“There will be times when you are asked something that you simply can’t answer – don’t see it as a problem, use it as a way to expand your knowledge. Most academics don’t try and trap you with a question, they want you to help them to understand why you’re performing the research you are. In my experience a question asked of me was invariably about how what I was doing could help further existing research.”

Focusing on your wellbeing

It’s easy to get consumed by your PhD. After all, it’s a huge part of your life. Remember though that you can, and absolutely should, have a life outside of your PhD. Achieving a good work/life balance is key to your success – after all, you can’t perform at your best if you’ve run yourself into the ground.

From time to time, you’ll find yourself in a different world where only your PhD project exists – but try not to spend too much time in this world as it helps to get out from time to time. Lucka Bibic

The results of our Big Life Scientist Survey support this further. 73% of life scientists we spoke to feel their ability to do their job is impacted by high levels of stress. Taking control of your stress levels and actively focusing on your wellbeing now will only serve to help you further down the line.

Celebrate the victories

It’s easy to get consumed by everything that’s not working, but remember to take time out to celebrate the incredible progress you’re making. Always remember that you’re doing something hugely worthwhile.

“It’s important to set achievable research goals and celebrate successes, no matter how small, as they happen. After all, every small success (and failure for that matter), gets you closer to the result you’re looking for,” says Lizzie Mann, a PhD student at King’s College London.

Don't be afraid to talk, and take time out

Your PhD is likely to be one of the most stressful and all consuming things you’ll ever do. As we’ve already said though, the life science community is huge, and extremely supportive. We understand the challenges you’re facing, so don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to someone.

Maintain your social life – it’s always good to have someone you can rely on to join you for a break when things go badly in the lab. Lizzie Mann

Maz from Have you Ever Wondered, agrees. She says: “Make sure you take time out regularly to de-stress, and make sure you have someone to vent to when you need to! So many people who go through PhDs will experience mental health issues at some point (myself included), so it’s super important to talk.”

Enjoy yourself!

Your PhD is going to be a BIG part of your life for the next few years. This means, you’ve really got to enjoy what you’re doing, and have fun while you’re doing it.

Remember to have fun, keep learning and to look after yourself – it can be challenging to maintain a healthy work/life balance at times. Rachelle Balez

Above all, when things get difficult, take yourself back to the reason you started all of this in the first place. And give yourself a huge pat on the back for how far you’ve come.

Additional Resources & Support

If you enjoyed reading this article, why not check out the other resources available on our blog for life scientists. We are really passionate about supporting scientists, including early-career life scientists and PhD students - with affordable reagents and biochemicals , grants , and resources to help with both personal and professional development. We know how tough it is - so we hope you find these helpful!

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Click below for our resources to help improve your wellbeing:

Travel grants

Every month we give away $500 to PhD students and Postdocs so that they can attend a scientific conference - click below to find out more:

Technical resources

Try our Molarity Calculator : a quick and easy way to calculate the mass, volume or concentration required for making a solution.

Click below to see our Mini-reviews, Pathway Posters & Product Guides : a set of technical resources to answer your questions on a wide range of topics and to help you get started quickly.

And - when you get to the stage of planning your experiments, don't forget that we offer a range of agonists, antagonists, inhibitors, activators, antibodies and fluorescent tools at up to half the price of other suppliers - click below to see how we compare with other suppliers:

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Philip Guo's Advice for Early-stage PhD Students

Hongtao Hao / 2021-09-22

#1 Stop caring about classes. Just do what you need to pass.

• Only spend some time on classes when you have made progress on your research.

#2 Undergrad versus phd research

• Every student admitted into PhD programs has a lot of potential for creative research, but very few of them realize this full potential. The reason is not because they are not smart enough. The reasons are possibly lacking resilience, perseverance, metacognition, and self-discipline. But you can foster these traits through self-reflection and mentorship.

#3 Uncertainty, isolation, and project scoping

uncertainty: you have no idea whether your hard work on a certain project will pay off.

isolation: nobody around you cares about what you do, either because they are busy or lack technical background.

project scoping: you don’t know how big the scope of your paper should be.

What you should do:

• make consistent progress every day;
• get feedback from your mentor every week or two;
• get feedback from paper submission a few times a year.

#4 develop research taste

How to develop research taste?

• read good papers published in the past few years suggested by your advisor
• assist others on their own projects.
• A lot of mediocre work is needed before you have a good research taste. Keep grinding before you reach that stage.

#5 most of the daily work you do will not feel like research

If this is the case for you, be mindful of the big picture. Don’t be trapped in trivial stuff.

#6 understand your advisor

If your advisor does not have tenure yet, her primary goal is to earn tenure. Her job will be highly dependent on PhD students' performance.

#7 there is no perfect advisor

People succeed in spite of their advisor’s imperfection. Don’t rely on your advisor for your success.

#8 be patient

What you do in the first three years of your PhD probably won’t count towards your PhD dissertation. be patient.

If you don’t have publication after three years in phd, that’s okay. Don’t be stressed because of those ahead of you.

If you work with an untenured advisor, then she expects quicker publication from you.

#9 make professors want to help you

Professors want to help students who already know how to do research, those who need less help.

To make professors want to help you, you need to show them your potential to be a good researcher.

#10 find peer support

In PhD, isolation is the default. You need to proactively seek out peers for support.

#11 avoid infectious negativity

Negativity is infectious. Even if you feel negativity in life, academics, or research, try to stay positive, at least not infect others with your negativity.

#12 be careful about getting advice from senior students, especially those outside of your area

Advice from senior PhD students outside of your specialty may not apply to you. However, senior students are good sources of advice on how to interact with your current advisor.

#13 understand your job

What’s your job in PhD: publish high quality research papers that contribute valuable new knowledge to your chosen field.

#14 make yourself accountable

Try to make yourself accountable to other people or to a deadline. For example, work with a postdoc, an untenured professor, or sign up for a talk at a lab meeting.

#15 develop a fixed work schedule

Always do the most important thing first. This is because you’ll have other obligations and distractions which make it so difficult for you to focus on important things.

As a PhD student, research is your most important thing. ALWAYS prioritize your research over other things: class assignments, TA, department administrative paperwork, etc.

The author here suggests working at home or anywhere near your home (without commuting) on research from 8-11 am each and every day before doing any other things. Treat this as a sacred period when nobody is allowed to disrupt or distract you.

#16 do everything you can to protect your mornings

As the title says.

#17 politely turn down volunteer service work requests

#18 pushing back against professors who overwork you as a ta

#19 keep moving

if you get stuck in your research, let your advisor or other mentors know IMMEDIATELY.

Many Ph.D. students fail not because they’re not smart or hardworking, but because they get stuck for extended periods of time and they grow demoralized.

#20 avoid the dreaded loop of despair

It’s really a vicious circle when you get stuck, do not get help ASAP, and keep procrastinating. Many students fail this way.

#20 everyone is busy, but ask them for help anyway

If you do your homework, it’s okay to ask help from those who are super busy. They’ll emphasize and help.

Don’t be afraid of wasting others' time. If you’ve done your work and have a desire to grow, you are not wasting people’s time.

#20 managing your advisor

To have quicker and more meaningful replies from your advisor, leverage their skills: making decisions. To do that, don’t ask open-ended questions like “what do you think of this version of draft”. Give them a detailed description of your questions: “given the situation here, do you think I need to use model A, B, or C?”

This way, you are making use of your advisor’s time most efficiently.

#21 contact hours

Relying on external metrics like publications or awards isn’t sufficient since they happen only once or twice every year. Instead, focus on the number of your contact hours with your core work every day .

3-4 solid contact hours per day with your core work and 1-2 hours of advisor meetings per week is good.

focus on the action, and ignoring the result, moves you closer to the result. – quoted from the video linked in the article.

#22 My project stinks…should I quit and find something else?

• If it’s your own project, try sticking with it for at least 3 months.
• If it’s others' project, try switching if you’ve done enough to earn authorship from the first author after you quite
• Try to develop transferable skills from a project you walk away from.
• It’s easier to quit switch at the beginning of your phd

#23 writing papers

• Writing a research paper takes a surprisingly long period of time. much longer than you expected.
• Get enough content first. don’t worry about quality. even 12 pages of junk is better than nothing!

#24 don’t worry about big-talkers

95% of a researchers' time is spent silently, working alone. only 5% is social interactions. when you see a “big-talker”, don’t be too self-conscious about them, thinking that they somehow do better than you. if you do great work, and you keep silent, everyone will still think highly of you.

#25 don’t compare yourself to other students

#26 social media and online presence

You need a personal website. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but you need one.

Use social media carefully.

• “when you check your feed it may seem like every single week somebody is publishing a newspaper or winning a new fellowship or getting a new award or getting their research covered by the press or starting a prestigious internship or landing a coveted faculty or industry job or getting a huge promotion at work or launching their own company or whatever. this can be hugely distracting and demoralizing if you let it get to you.”
• “it’s a lot easier to complain, vent, and speculate online than to make slow, steady, hard-fought progress on research day-to-day.”
• What really matters for career advancement … is publishing well-regarded academic papers in your field. everything else is secondary.

#27 commonly observed struggles

• If no faculty can summarize what you are doing, then you’re probably not doing it right in phd.
• It’s good if you can be on one single advisor’s critical path so that she can motivate you to work hard.

Last modified on 2021-12-06

Community Blog

Keep up-to-date on postgraduate related issues with our quick reads written by students, postdocs, professors and industry leaders.

5 Tips for A New PhD Student

• By Zebastian D.
• December 2, 2019

Starting your PhD can feel like a daunting, exciting and special time. They’ll be so much to think about – has all the paperwork been completed? Which desk is yours? Where’s the best place to get coffee? You’ll also need to think about how to best get going with your multi-year research commitment. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Start Writing

You’ll no doubt get to writing up your research as papers for peer-review towards the latter half of your PhD but definitely get into the habit of regularly writing up your notes from day one. This could be something like writing a diary of your thoughts every day or a summary of your week on a Sunday – whatever works for you, as long as you can be consistent about it. For lab-based projects, in particular, you’ll need to keep a lab book which keeps a record of your experimental workflow; important for you, your supervisor and your examiners to refer back to.

Writing regularly early in your PhD will help you develop your scientific writing skills and help you think about your work analytically from early on. Along the way, you’ll also have written useful content that could be transferred directly into journal manuscripts and future grant proposals.

2. Know Your Research Field

A key element of your PhD is to develop knowledge that is novel and adds to the body of work by others in your research field. You need to have a good understanding of what others have already done and what new things are being worked on – this single best way to do this is to read papers. Lots of papers!

Staying up to date with current knowledge by reading papers will help you ensure the novelty of your work and avoid unnecessarily duplicating what is already known. You’ll also get a feel of the key journals that your peers publish in and the expectations of writing style, content and format for these papers.

3. Read More than Just Papers

Doing a PhD is an enormous commitment; one that will give you challenges in managing your time, money, motivation and energy. Reading papers related to your research is essential however looking into other material could be useful in helping you manage your life during the 3-5 years of research. Good resources to start at include Google Scholar and ResearchGate .

You’ll find there are A LOT of books published on the topics of productivity and general life skills so choose wisely. Better options may be to follow blogs and even listen to podcasts to pick up tips and advice on getting through your PhD smoothly.

4. Get Feedback

Whether it’s through meetings with your supervisor or discussions over coffee with your colleagues in the lab, getting regular feedback on your ideas and work is essential to keeping you on track with your project. It’s all too easy in this type of independent research to get lost down a rabbit hole which may not lead to the results you’re after. Sense checking with people you trust is always a good idea.

5. Set Mini Milestones

The big milestones will be clear for you: (1) pass the upgrade viva to transfer from being an MPhil student to a PhD student (a common approach in UK universities) and then (2) pass your PhD viva! A lot of things need to happen for you to hit these milestones and so setting smaller short-term goals can help both with focus and motivation – it’s all about the mini-wins! This could be things like your first meeting with your supervisor, your first abstract submission to a conference or collecting your first series of experimental data.

Learn 10 ways to impress a PhD supervisor for increasing your chances of securing a project, developing a great working relationship and more.

Are you always finding yourself working on sections of your research tasks right up until your deadlines? Are you still finding yourself distracted the moment

Considering whether to do an MBA or a PhD? If so, find out what their differences are, and more importantly, which one is better suited for you.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Browse PhDs Now

The scope and delimitations of a thesis, dissertation or paper define the topic and boundaries of a research problem – learn how to form them.

Is it really possible to do a PhD while working? The answer is ‘yes’, but it comes with several ‘buts’. Read our post to find out if it’s for you.

Nathan is about to enter the 2nd year of his PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. His research looks at how lifestyle stresses can impact skin barrier biophysics and skin barrier and oral cavity biochemistry and microbiology.

Dr Nikolov gained his PhD in the area of Anthropology of Architecture from UCL in 2020. He is a video journalist working with Mashable and advises PhDs consider options outside of academia.

Join Thousands of Students

12 Pieces of Advice for New Grads That Everyone Should Take

As a soon-to-be college grad, I know that the world of work can catch you unawares. In preparing for the job search, I’ve found that experienced professionals often have a lot of great advice to dispense (also some not-so-great advice, but that’s an article for another day).

And it’s true that sometimes the wisest tips don’t come from experts, but from real people with real stories . So, with that in mind, The Muse team asked the LinkedIn community what wisdom they’d bestow on recent grads.

And upon reading all the tips, I couldn’t help but think that anyone—and really everyone—should read them, too. So with no further ado, here are my favorites:

1. Remember These Four Words

Be positive, principled, pro-active, and productive.

2. Discover Yourself

Consider this job a journey to learn about yourself. The purpose is to grow as a human being; to discover what you’re good at, what you love to do, and what you dislike. Discover your why, and you’ll become happier and more passionate in life!

3. Be Open to Change

Don’t get discouraged when a job you really want does not pan out for you. It just opens up doors to other opportunities.

4. Don’t Hide From Mistakes

Be honest. Not sure about something? Ask questions. Screwed up? Own up! I’ve always valued someone willing to learn, and we do that in different ways. I’ll always highly regard someone willing to be honest about their mistakes because we learn from those just as much as our successes!

5. Keep Moving Forward

Learn to hear feedback and never let it fester. Instead consider it, take what works, and move on.

6. Learn From Everything

Remember every moment is an opportunity to learn from everyone around you, no matter their title. Pay attention when things go well; pay extra attention when they don’t, and watch how people react to it. Build relationships with the people who face problems by being their solution.

7. Make Connections

Your biggest asset is your network.

8. Be Patient

Networking + Resilience = Success It won’t be easy but you have to start somewhere. This is just the first step on the stairwell, so don’t give up, and know that the best is yet to come!

9. Utilize Your Co-workers

Don’t be intimidated by your colleagues and superiors! Remember that they were once in your shoes when they began their careers. Leverage their knowledge and experience and find ways to take what worked for them and adapt it to work for you.

10. Treat Everyone With Respect

Speak when you walk into the office everyday. Say good morning to your boss and peers as you walk past their offices, smile at janitors and receptionists in your office. Don’t be so focused on getting ahead that it’s all business all the time. Treating people with humanity and integrity is most important.

11. Keep Your Own Counsel

Don’t assume that a co-worker won’t repeat your criticisms of a colleague. When asked how you feel about individuals in the office, be open and vague with your answers. Always reserve judgment on your co-workers until you have enough time to make up your own mind.

12. Prepare for the Future

Develop good time management habits early on. Your workload will only increase with time, and so will your responsibilities. Be ready when they do.

From making the right impression to getting a handle on time management, a new work environment can be tricky to navigate. And, that goes for anyone, no matter how high up the ladder you are.

So if you want to set yourself up for success, pay attention to these sage tips.

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Essential PhD tips: 10 articles all doctoral students should read

Phd advice: from choosing the right topic to getting through your thesis.

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If you’re still deciding whether to study for a doctorate, or even if you’re nearing the end of your PhD and are thinking about your next steps, we’ve selected 10 articles that you really should take a look at.

They cover everything from selecting your topic to securing a top job when your years of hard graft come to an end.

14 essential PhD questions answered Welcome to the  Times Higher Education  PhD surgery with Tara Brabazon, professor of education at Charles Sturt University , Australia.

The PhD experience: this far, and no further Five students on how doctoral study changed them and their futures.

10 steps to PhD failure Top tips on making postgraduate study even tougher (which students could also use to avoid pitfalls if they prefer).

How not to write a PhD thesis If you want failure, this is your road map to getting there.

Realistic expectations keep you on the path to a PhD Isolation is part of the experience, but peer support groups and co-working can combat loneliness and quell students’ self-doubt.

10 truths a PhD supervisor will never tell you There are some important dos and don’ts to bear in mind when choosing someone to oversee your doctoral thesis.

Me and my PhD supervisor: tales of love and loathing Academics discuss how supervisors shaped their teaching.

How to get students through their PhD thesis Tara Brabazon shares her 10-step regime for steering emotionally drained postgraduate students through the final stages of their thesis.

Choosing a PhD subject A well-chosen doctoral thesis will have a focus that can be explored in the appropriate time and built on in the future.

How to get ahead with a PhD Postgraduates do not to realise how employable they are. Pat Cryer explains how to get a well-paid job.

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• Even Better

Post-graduation advice you’ll actually use

Set a budget, don’t center your life around work, and other advice for graduates.

by Allie Volpe

Graduation season can be one of both opportunity and existential dread. You’re about to embark on a new chapter of your life and have seemingly endless possibilities ahead of you, whether you’re graduating from undergrad, are beginning your career straight out of high school, or have taken a non-traditional path. All that promise and potential can be just as liberating as it is terrifying.

Almost everyone has well-wishes for new college graduates, advice ranging from trite (“Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!”) to the ill-advised (any platitude with the word “hustle” in it; anyone who recommends you sacrifice sleep to be more productive).

However, professors who actually work with students, financial experts, and people who’ve been at the crossroads of life say otherwise. Their advice for new graduates is all about relationships: your relationship with your job, your money, and yourself. If you’re looking for a little bit of guidance post-graduation, try a tip or two.

Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.

Think about work as something that supports your life, not the other way around

“Rather than think of your job as the central axis around which your post-grad life will orbit, start with your vision of a life well-lived, and then consider how your work can support that vision. There’s no shame in prioritizing your career or life outside of work — you’ll likely have seasons of each — but it’s important to be intentional about your choice. If you consider what you value and what the market values, you’ll avoid the trap that exists by over-indexing on just one.” —Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work

Remember that your job will never love you back

“A company is not your friend! Don’t be fooled at a first job into doing so much work you exhaust yourself or burn out because you’re thinking of your boss or the company as a buddy. Protect yourself and join a union if you can. Make sure you’re getting all you can from the job: 401(k) matching, HR benefits, anything they offer. It’s for you. Do not be afraid to ask and get.” — Gabe Dunn , host of the podcast Bad With Money

Consider how you’ll make a mark on the world

“‘Find your purpose in life ’ is a common refrain at graduation ceremonies. If only it were that simple. A purpose in life is cultivated, not found. We cultivate purpose by taking the time to consider what we want out of our lives. What do we hope to accomplish? What matters to us? We cultivate purpose by reflecting on our strengths. What special skills or talents do we possess? What do we enjoy doing? We cultivate purpose by considering how we want to give back. How do we want to contribute? How do we want to leave our mark?

“Reflecting on these questions is a process rather than a one-time event, and it takes time. If we remain attentive, though, we will begin to notice that the answers to these questions draw us in a consistent direction, a direction that allows us to contribute to the world in a personally meaningful way. The world desperately needs the skills we each have to offer.” — Kendall Cotton Bronk , a professor of psychology at Claremont Graduate University

Have constant conversations about money

“Ask for a raise annually. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Talk to your friends about money. We’ve been told for far too long that it is rude, tacky, and taboo to talk about how much we make, how much we spend, and whether or not we invest. But staying silent only benefits corporations — not us. You know your BFF’s deepest, darkest secret, why don’t you know how much they get paid?” — Vivian Tu , former Wall Street trader, personal finance expert, and host of the podcast Networth and Chill

“Create your own curriculum at the University of You, and whenever someone makes you feel like you’re doing life wrong, just remember that they’re in another major at another school”

Accept that plans will change

“The advice that I wish I’d taken — and still remind myself of every day, if we’re being honest — is staying open to the idea that your path, your interests, your needs, and your ambitions will change. And that’s a good thing. There can be a lot of pressure to find the ‘right’ path and stick to that plan, so venturing off a so-called track is spun as failure rather than growth or curiosity. Sometimes it’s not giving up, it’s changing direction. It’s not failing at a dream, it’s meeting a new version of yourself and embracing new ones. Letting yourself change ensures your work and ambition grow as you do. And it means that doing what you can, and learning as you go, is enough.” — Rainesford Stauffer , author of All The Gold Stars: Reimagining Ambition and the Ways We Strive

Continue your education at the University of You

“When faced with the seemingly endless abyss of your post-grad future, break up that future into smaller ‘semesters’ and decide for yourself what the focus of each semester will be for you. Speaking up more in meetings? Taking a creative writing class? Pivoting your career? Spending time with family and friends? One of the hardest things about life after school is figuring out what you want to be doing with your life, and not just what others — parents, professors, coaches — have mapped out for you.

“The sudden disappearance of the structure of school creates a vacuum. If you don’t designate goals for yourself and your life, you will get sucked into someone else’s goals and end up living someone else’s life. So create your own curriculum at the University of You, and whenever someone makes you feel like you’re doing life wrong, just remember that they’re in another major at another school.” — Cece Xie , privacy and tech lawyer, lecturer at Yale, and author of the forthcoming book Big Bad Law

Don’t compare yourself with others at work

“My first piece of advice has to do with your mindset: Remember that the only competition you have at work is with yourself. My second piece of advice is understanding that comparison is the thief of joy. You and your colleagues might work at the same place, but you have your own goals, dreams, and values. I suggest that you give yourself permission to take the time to assess what your career goals are in this season of your life. Be careful and intentional with the stories you tell yourself, because sometimes we put pressure on ourselves to over-perform.” — Minda Harts , workplace equity consultant and author of The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table

Set a budget immediately

“It might be exciting to enter the corporate world and have a salary, but it’s never too early to learn how your compensation breaks down into net versus gross income. Be sure to implement a budget so you know that you have enough money to cover all your expenses and save some for a rainy day (read: unexpected emergencies and fun adventures). There are plenty of budgeting formats and ideas, so try them out to see what works best for you.” —Alyssa Mairanz, founder of the online platform and e-course Adulting in the Real World

Break larger goals into smaller ones

“As you prepare to graduate, please know that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the sudden shift into a career and the pressure to have everything together. The key is to break down the big picture into smaller, more achievable snapshots. As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, ask yourself, ‘What’s one thing I can do today to bring me closer to my goal?’ By committing to one small task at a time, you’ll be building up your mental muscles while you make progress. Over time, you’ll find it easier to make better choices that support your dreams.” —Joanna Grover, co-author of The Choice Point: The Scientifically Proven Method to Push Past Mental Walls and Achieve Your Goals

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How to make the most of your first year at Harvard

Shop classes, avoid echo chambers, embrace the Red Line — and other faculty tips for new students

Harvard Staff Writer

For the more than 1,650 first-year students who moved in last week, College has already started amid excitement and occasional jitters. We asked faculty to share advice with members of the Class of 2028 on how to make the most of their first year. Here is what they had to say, in their own words.

‘Just about everyone feels overwhelmed, or lonely, or stupid, or unprepared for College at some point’

Alison frank johnson professor of history, department of history.

My first recommendation for new students is to take at least one risk academically. I don’t mean a course that seems like it’s going to be “hard” so much as something off the beaten track for Harvard first-years. There’s a lot of passed-down knowledge about what to do: take a freshman seminar, Ec 10, a big gen ed, expos, and maybe Math 1. Hundreds — literally — of your classmates will choose four out of those five options in the fall. And you might think that if everyone does it, it can’t be the wrong thing to do. Fair enough. But I would still say: Consider doing something else. Consider taking a class in a discipline that didn’t even exist in your high school but that you’re curious about. Maybe anthropology.

My second recommendation is to go to office hours, but I figure everyone says that, so I probably don’t have to elaborate.

As for as things to avoid — I guess I would say suffering in silence. It’s easy — especially at Harvard — to assume that everyone else is having a great time, that everyone else thinks classes are easy and has a ton of friends and is just having the best time ever and so if you are struggling with anything, it’s because you don’t actually belong at Harvard. But I would bet that, whether you know it or not, just about everyone feels overwhelmed, or lonely, or stupid, or unprepared for College at some point. Whatever you’re struggling with, there’s someone who wants to help you with it. There are tutors, and teaching fellows, and faculty; there are counselors, and proctors, and peer advisers, and coaches. Somewhere in that group of people is at least one person who deserves your trust and will help you. Reach out!

Dig deep when picking classes. Don’t overpack schedule.

Jie li professor of east asian languages and civilizations, department of east asian languages and civilizations.

In my last year of high school, I came across a memorable quotation from Arthur Miller at my public library. He recalled his university experience as “the testing ground for all my prejudices, my beliefs, and my ignorance.” I took this as my motto for what I wanted to get out of College as well. College is a space to meet kindred spirits, but this doesn’t necessarily mean spending time exclusively with people like you. Rather than the comfort of any echo chamber, you learn much more from people from different backgrounds. Be an empathetic listener and refrain from making quick judgments.

Don’t be afraid to take risks and venture out of your comfort zone in your choices of classes and extracurriculars. Apart from continuing what you excel at, follow your curiosity and try something new. Browse through lists of courses by department rather than only search for keywords you are already familiar with. Before classes began in my freshman year at Harvard, my roommate and I spent hours reading through a thick printed course catalog and sharing our discoveries of interesting classes and fields unavailable to us in high school. Had I only relied on algorithms to choose classes, I may not have ended up studying anthropology or film studies. Take some small classes. You will get to know your professor and classmates much better, feel more invested in the class, and thus participate more actively. Don’t overpack your schedule. Drop a class or extracurricular commitment if you no longer have time for fun, friends, meals, exercise, or sleep.

Attend events on campus and across the Charles. Explore library treasures.

Joseph blatt senior lecturer in education, harvard graduate school of education.

My daughter Talia graduated from the College last year; I graduated so long ago that I no longer divulge the year. But despite the time lapse, we find that our advice for first-years is quite similar. Our joint recommendations:

Your academic experience will be far richer if you make the effort to get to know some of your professors. Take advantage of office hours — they are often shockingly underattended — and don’t be shy about engaging in conversations that go beyond the boundaries of the course. You can even invite them to dinner, and Classroom to Table will pay!

Think of Harvard as your fifth course (or sixth for the overzealous). The torrent of talks, performances, and other events that flow across campus every week will offer some of the most powerful learning you’ll experience here — along with the chance to meet new people, exercise your body and mind, and indulge in an unbelievable amount of free food.

Explore Harvard’s more than 60 libraries, where you will find treasures not available on screen: wonderfully obscure books, an amazing historical map collection, precious manuscripts, famous people’s recipes … along with brilliant reference librarians who are unfailingly eager to help.

The Red Line, with all its faults, is your ticket to downtown Boston. Don’t miss the Freedom Trail, art museums, music venues, and cuisines from around the world. And that way, when people ask, “Where do you go to college?” and you respond “er … Boston,” you’ll be closer to telling the truth.

This is starting to sound too much like “Let’s Go,” so we leave you with two thoughts focused on your studies: Pay attention to how you learn and choose courses and classrooms that make you happy; and don’t compare yourself to your peers — be pleased for their success, not threatened by it.

Ask for help. Study abroad.

Gabriela soto laveaga professor of the history of science, antonio madero professor for the study of mexico, department of the history of science.

I would definitely tell first-year students to think of asking for help as a necessary part of being successful at Harvard and beyond. Time and again, I see that the most successful Harvard students are the ones who not only reached out for help (either with writing, math, mental health, for instance), but knew who or where to ask. First-years need to explore the support network that is offered to them and use it. It is there for them.

Also, they must all do a study abroad while they are students.

Try everything. Share projects. Requirements can wait.

Stephanie burt donald p. and katherine b. loker professor of english, department of english.

Starting with academics, and moving into the rest of your life:

DO: Take classes that look interesting, especially if they’re small. Your first year can let you explore your actual interests, even if they’re not connected to your planned concentration, grad school, or career. You might even change those plans to reflect a talent, or a power, or a strong interest you didn’t know you had!

DO: Shop. We’ve got an add-drop period for a reason. Listen to the professor and see if you vibe with that teaching style. Speak with the professor if you like! And talk to non-first-years who’ve taken courses with that professor before.

DON’T: Try to get all your requirements out of the way early. You can take the requirements that don’t matter to you (for most people those are gen eds) junior or senior year when your other classes are big-deal, high-effort courses in your concentration. There’s no reason to take more than one gen ed in a term: Especially curious or ambitious first-years might take none.

DO: Study the past. Don’t confine yourself to the present as you choose courses in the arts and humanities. A lot of fascinating people died a long time ago. Some of them made some cool stuff.

DO: Try everything, including stuff you didn’t think you were good at. Many of us got to Harvard by choosing, in high school, mostly to do stuff we considered ourselves very good at. You got into Harvard. You have room to experiment. Comp or do something you never thought you could do.

DON’T: Stay on campus all day every day. The musical, literary, theatrical, gamer-nerd, ethno-cultural, culinary, recreational, and technical offerings of the Greater Boston area far exceed what you can find on campus, even though campus has a lot to offer. You may find your favorite new band at the Middle East (the rock club in Central Square, not the geographic region). You could find your new best friend at MIT.

DO: Look for people like you. Intense Dungeons and Dragons players, fashion plates, curling obsessives — Harvard’s big enough that you can probably find at least a few peers.

DON’T: Assume people unlike you won’t hang out with you. Some of the friends you make this year will have backgrounds much like yours. Some very much won’t.

DON’T: Spend all your time studying. Honestly, Harvard students probably spend less time on average studying — especially if you exclude future doctors — than students at some other super-elite colleges, and that’s a feature, not a bug, for Harvard: You’ve got time to meet students who share your ambitions, and take part in massive shared projects, and build what you want to build, and discover what you want to discover, both with, and far away from, classrooms and grades and professors like me.

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Meet Our New PhD Students!

We’ll be featuring mini-profiles of our new PhD students over the next few weeks. We look forward to welcoming them into our community!

Hi there! My name is Shanta Murthy. I am originally from the Maryland/DC area and have lived in Atlanta for the past two years. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2019 and a Master of Science in Systems Medicine in 2022, both from Georgetown University. During the interim, I worked as a post- baccalaureate researcher at the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at The National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since completing my Master’s, I have been working as a bioinformatics analyst at Emory University.

My research experiences have strengthened my passion for understanding personalized disease signatures. With the advent of new big data approaches, I recognize the importance of employing data science practices that ensure reproducibility. I am excited to train in statistical genetics, computational biology, and additional areas in biostatistics to improve methodology related to parsing high-dimensional data and multi-omics integration.

During my post-baccalaureate at NIH, I analyzed and integrated multiple -omics datasets to clarify the gene regulatory networks driving T cell differentiation. This experience offered me insight into the utility of different datasets, including transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility, in studying gene programs. I also recognized the importance of quality assessment and parameter selection when analyzing high- dimensional data.

As a Master’s student in Systems Medicine, I studied multiple topics pertaining to bioinformatics analyses of human data, including biostatistics, epigenetics, microbiomics, and genomics. In my research project, I applied this knowledge to study potential pathogenic variants in African American patients with aggressive prostate cancer. I probed the functions of these variants from whole-genome sequencing analysis by conducting experiments to determine aberrant RNA and protein levels of these targets. This experience gave me a lens into combining computational and wet-lab approaches.

In my current role as a bioinformatics analyst at Emory University, I am involved in multiple analysis projects, primarily investigating single-cell and spatial transcriptomic signatures in patients with relapsing or remitting Crohn’s disease. I have enjoyed integrating these datasets, and in secondary projects, I have also assessed links between DNA methylation signatures and environmental factors, as well as investigated rare variants and polygenic risk scores for patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).

Outside of work, you’ll likely find me spending time in nature, dancing, or doing yoga. I love immersing myself in new experiences and look forward to exploring Boston and meeting people from diverse backgrounds. I can’t wait to meet everyone and begin this new chapter!

Hi! My name is Pascale Nevins and I’m from Ottawa, Canada. I chose to stay in my hometown to do a BSc with a major in biochemistry and minor in statistics at the University of Ottawa. I discovered the field of biostatistics when I was looking for the intersection of what I enjoyed studying the most (math) and the applied subjects I was familiar with (the life sciences). In 2022, I began an MSc in biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario.

My introduction to applied biostatistical research was through an undergraduate research program, during which I completed a review of recruitment outcomes in pragmatic RCTs.

I was subsequently hired by my supervisor as a research assistant and have since contributed to several projects with diverse teams of researchers– primarily reviews of RCTs, but also working with survey data. In my  time in this role, I’ve developed a keen interest in the design, analysis, and reporting of randomized controlled trials, especially for complex designs such as the stepped-wedge.

Knowing the world of biostatistics is much larger than RCTs and that I wanted to gain experience in methods development, I decided to pursue an MSc with a different focus. My master’s thesis considers extensions to the structural topic model (a machine learning method with roots in Bayesian hierarchical models) for the analysis of focus group transcripts. The methods that I worked on and their application to a pan-Canadian study on homelessness have opened my eyes to the breadth of available data leverageable for health and social research. I see potential for integrating my newfound interests in text as data, machine learning, and Bayesian statistics with my evergreen interest in RCTs, but I also hope I can explore new topics during my PhD.

Outside of my academic pursuits, I’m an avid language learner: I speak French and German, and I am teaching myself Japanese. I love to travel, so I look forward to living in Boston with its much larger international airport! I also like to go on hikes, experiment with cooking and baking, and read novels.

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Why Music Educators Choose Berklee’s Graduate Programs

Explore Berklee's flexible master’s degrees and certificate in music education, and get advice from working teachers and online learners who’ve studied here.

Music education students play in and conduct an ensemble.

Image by Kelly Davidson

Anybody who's ever benefited from a great music teacher knows the transformative role that music education can play in a person's life. It's one reason why so many musicians wind up becoming music teachers themselves—to share that love for music that somebody else nurtured in them.

But the decision to pursue a career in the classroom—to get a master's in music education , or to earn a graduate certificate—isn’t always easy. Most working teachers can’t leave the classroom to advance in their careers . And for others, maybe the program they’re interested in is far from where they live.

If you're looking to get your master's degree in music education, or to earn a graduate certificate , Berklee's graduate music education programs offer a flexible, contemporary approach to the music classroom that helps you to connect your teaching to today's culture and technology. With class formats built to accommodate working teachers, online and hybrid learners, and on-campus study, there's never a bad time or place to start your career as a music teacher, or to take the next step in your professional development.

In this article , we'll explore some of the key features of the graduate music education experience at Berklee:

• Three world-class programs
• Online, hybrid, and flexible classes
• Contemporary and culturally responsive teaching
• Customizing your graduate music education experience
• Focused training for teaching students with disabilities

We'll also hear from current students and alumni of Berklee's graduate music education programs, and they'll share their advice on:

• How to earn your music education master's degree or certificate while teaching
• How to earn your music education master's degree remotely

Three World-Class Programs

Berklee offers three graduate programs in music education: 

• The Master of Music in Music Education
• The Master of Music in Music Education (Autism Concentration)
• The Graduate Certificate in Music Education and Autism

Each program has been designed to fit the schedules and meet the needs of today's educators. Our Music Education Department is led by Cecil Adderley , the president-elect of the National Association for Music Educators , so students can be assured they're receiving the most forward-looking and rigorous training available. And graduate students in these programs also have the chance to work with some of the world's leading practitioners and scholars of accessible music education through the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education. 

Read on to learn more about each program and the adaptive course structure that makes them work for teachers in every stage of their careers.

Online, Hybrid, and Flexible Classes

One of the core values of graduate music education at Berklee is that each program should be able to serve working teachers. That's why the programs are designed to ensure that teachers enrolled in these programs can keep their jobs while they advance their careers through graduate-level training. Courses are offered in the evenings during the fall and spring semesters, and students can enroll in two full-time sessions during the summer.

"This program was flexible for me, a working teacher, which was a must," says Sarah Fard, who took one course at a time and completed her Graduate Certificate in Music Education and Autism in 2018. "I had found myself working as a paraprofessional for students with autism early on in my career, before returning to the music classroom, and noticed that there was a lot that I had not learned in my pre-service education that directly impacted how well I was able to best teach various students. I wanted further training so that I could best support my students and also help other teachers do the same."

"It is very important to enroll in programs that have you working with the materials that you use in the classroom, so that the work you are doing is purposeful." —  Sarah Fard, Graduate Certificate in Music Education and Autism

During the academic year, students can also participate in classes remotely using web conferencing and student-directed study formats—a model Berklee's graduate music education programs have been refining for years before COVID-19 made online learning a necessity at other institutions.

"I'm teaching a class tonight where I have five students on the web and four students in the room, and we are all together having class," says Rhoda Bernard , managing director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education and the founder of all three graduate programs. "We've been doing hybrid and remote learning in graduate music education since long before it was sexy."

Contemporary and Culturally Responsive Teaching

"People today experience, consume, make, and interact with music in a wide range of ways," explains Bernard, "and we have now access to music from all over the world and from all throughout time in ways that we've never had before, and it has to change how we teach."

While many music education programs still follow outdated models, graduate music education at Berklee is designed to help today's teachers engage with the latest pedagogical, cultural, and technological shifts shaping contemporary learning environments.

"The real future of music is being made at Berklee because the institution is choosing to embrace today’s culture for music, people, and music learning that exists in the world outside of the school," says Adam Calus BM ’17, MM ’21.

"There were no courses on how to take pop music or hip-hop and inject it into your lessons. There were no courses about how to teach 'at-risk youth' or 'disadvantaged populations,' etc.," he says. Instead, "There were classes that at every turn were applying the concepts being taught to today’s music student. There were discussions about the current issues teachers face in the music classroom. There were assignments that had us look deeply into thinking about how what we do can be approached and delivered for all learners to access knowledge from a place of equal footing. It really was, in my opinion, a very honest approach to many of these areas of teaching and learning that typically only get a minimal/surface level investigation."

In addition to considering culturally responsive approaches to music education, students in Berklee's programs are also trained to understand and employ cutting-edge technologies to develop their lessons and aid their students with cloud-based technologies such as MusicFirst and SmartMusic. Berklee's music education faculty are internationally recognized as technological innovators in the field. For instance, Professor Stefani Langol , who teaches graduate courses such as Computer Applications for Music Education and Multimedia for the Educator, was honored in 2021 as Teacher of the Year by the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME).

Customizing Your Graduate Music Education Experience

While all three programs share some basic traits—a flexible schedule, a contemporary approach, and an audition requirement that ensures all students share a level of musicianship—each is designed to serve educators and administrators in particular ways.

The MM in Music Education provides exceptionally customizable curricular pathways, through electives and through culminating experiences or theses, that enable students to craft unique subspecialties within their master's program. Some students have focused on community music and nonprofit programs, while others have focused on teaching nontraditional students, including indigenous populations.

Calus, for example, used his culminating project to develop an approach to music education he calls Teaching Music Today, which aims "to create the most accessible, equitable, and relevant learning experience for students to take the music they learn from the classroom and into the world," he says. "This means equipping students properly to make music in a variety of contexts, perform on multiple instruments, learn about different genres, identify and deepen their own specific relationship with music, and investigate their community to identify their relationship with the music making people, places, and opportunities that exist outside of school."

Go deeper: In this podcast, learn more about how Rhoda Bernard and the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education (formerly the Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs) bring music education to students with disabilities, and how the institute trains others to do the same.

Focused Training for Teaching Students with Disabilities

Berklee's two autism-focused graduate music education programs are unique in the world. "Typically, when you train to be a music teacher, if you're lucky, you get one class about special education, and it's a class that's legal history and a lot of alphabet soup. . . . It is not about pedagogy," explains Bernard. "These classes are about how to teach students with disabilities . So it is very practical; it is about the actual work of that teaching."

The MM in Music Education (Autism Concentration) is for individuals with an undergraduate degree in music or music education who wish to earn a master's degree with an autism focus. The Graduate Certificate in Music Education and Autism is open to students with a broader undergraduate background who are interested in a focused study of this subject area but do not need or wish to pursue a master's degree.

"The autism concentration in the master's program has truly opened my eyes," says Stephen Raman BM ’16, a current student in Berklee's graduate music education program on track to graduate in 2025. Raman works as an elementary general music and choir teacher in Los Angeles County. "Often, students are dismissed because their neurological state is never considered. But through music education, therapy, and intervention, those students are strengthened cognitively, socially, and joyously."

How to Earn Your Music Education Master's Degree or Certificate While Teaching

We asked Calus and Fard to share advice for working teachers planning to earn their degrees while continuing to teach. Here's what they said . . .

Sarah Fard (Certificate in Music Education and Autism):

• "Be very open about what can and cannot work for you, schedule-wise."
• "Communication is key! There is a supportive team that will help you find ways to make it work."
• "I also think it is very important to enroll in programs that have you working with the materials that you use in the classroom, so that the work you are doing is purposeful."

Adam Calus (MM in Music Education):

• "Pace yourself. While you do need to get your master’s degree to attain your professional license within a specific amount of time, take your time to make the most out of the learning experience you are investing in."
• "Connect with faculty inside and outside of class."
• "Connect with other students."
• "Most importantly—have fun!"

How to Earn Your Music Education Master's Degree Remotely

We asked Raman to share any tips he had on how to succeed while studying in the program remotely. Here's what he said . . .

Stephen Raman (Current Student, MM in Music Education [Autism Concentration]):

• "Consider the time differences and realistically prepare for them. You are in the best music school in the entire world, so a little bit of sacrifice in your life pattern is in order."
• "You might be sleepy sometimes, and will possibly have interruptions. Practice self-care and you will make it through without actually burning out."
• "Your professors are the best and will work with you so long as you communicate."
• "Make friends. You will help each other for life, believe me."
• "Remember: You made it. This is Berklee. It's worth it."  

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A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the tone for a new era at the institution.

Former Boston Ballet principal dancer John Lam, actor De’Lon Grant, and mezzo-soprano Sandra Piques Eddy are among dozens of new Conservatory faculty members. 

Boston Conservatory Adds a Robust Roster of Artists to Its Faculty

Nearly 30 new faculty across the Dance, Music, and Theater divisions bring industry expertise from the Boston Ballet to Broadway and from the fields of ethnomusicology to circus arts.

Left to right: Berklee Professor Dennis Montgomery III, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Dr. Teresa Hairston-Jackson, the Rev. Dr. Milton Biggham, Lisa Harrigan ‘83, Ms. Evelyn D. Lee, and Berklee Dean Emmett G. Price III at the 2024 Signature Series Gospel Extravaganza Concert.

Image by Omari Spears

Berklee's Africana Studies Division Launches New Degree Program in Black Music and Culture

The first area of focus is gospel music, which will encompass artistry, industry, and culture.

The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.

IT Services and Security Tips for Students

Latest news.

Securing everyone's data and academic work is a top priority for our technology teams across Cornell. 

As we welcome new and returning students this fall semester, we invite you to help us in this mission by reviewing privacy safeguards and  tips to avoid phishing scams , learning how to protect your NetID and password, computer, and mobile devices, and staying safe online.  

Defend Your Digital Identity

Help fight phishing and identity fraud attempts. Incidents this year are on the rise.  

• Never share your NetID password.
• Use these tips to spot fraudulent emails and report them with PhishAlarm . 
• Don’t reveal any sensitive personal information to suspicious, untrusted sources. Not sure if a message really came from Cornell? Check the Verified Cornell Communications (CUWebLogin required).
• Be especially wary of anyone claiming student loan relief, debt relief, scholarship opportunities, or rental and job offers. The Phish Bowl has examples of fraudulent messages targeting Cornell.

Find more IT security tips and information at itsecurity.cornell.edu .  

Free IT Services for Students

Find answers to all your questions about Cornell’s IT services , including free tools to help you collaborate and stay organized.  

• Cornell Google Workspace: Cornell's email, calendar, and collaboration service for students. Learn more!
• Microsoft Office Online: Get Office 365 ProPlus for students and use Office for free while you’re a student.
• Two-Step Login: Two-factor authentication and data protection using Duo Security . Here are five reasons to take advantage of two-step login .
• CU Print: Each student has an annual $15 print allocation that can be used on CU Print printers. Install CU Print to get started .
• Zoom: Connect with other students, your professors, prospective employers, family, and others using Cornell’s free online video conferencing service. Learn how to activate your Cornell Zoom account .
• LinkedIn Learning and Skillsoft: Thousands of free online courses, videos, e-books, audiobooks, and software on the latest technical, creative, and business skills via LinkedIn Learning and Skillsoft .

To share feedback about this page or request support, log in with your NetID

At Cornell we value your privacy. To view our university's privacy practices, including information use and third parties, visit University Privacy .

Our websites may use cookies to personalize and enhance your experience. By continuing without changing your cookie settings, you agree to this collection. For more information, please see our University Websites Privacy Notice .

The Graduate School

Welcome graduate students.

Dear UConn Graduate Students,

Welcome to UConn at the start of another academic year. During this semester, you may be pursuing advanced credentials in one of our graduate professional schools or engaging in research as you work towards a master’s or Ph.D. degree. Simultaneously, you may be working on or off campus, including by teaching, training, or mentoring other UConn students. Through your various roles, you are advancing UConn’s institutional goals . Thank you for the many contributions you will continue to make on behalf of UConn.

By virtue of your many roles, both professional and personal, you may feel pulled in different directions this year. You are a valued member of our academic community with important obligations to others. But do not forget that you came to UConn primarily to learn, to train, and to be mentored yourself. First and foremost, you are a student. I encourage you to keep your own academic, professional, and personal goals clear in your mind as you face the challenges ahead.

And speaking of challenges, please also keep in mind that The Graduate School is here to help you, together with our partners in the schools and colleges and various student support offices at UConn. The Graduate School has dedicated staff to assist graduate students who are facing academic, interpersonal, or other challenges. So please reach out. Below, I list some reminders and helpful links.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and successful academic year.

Leslie M. Shor

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School

KEY RESOURCES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AT UCONN

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs, The Graduate School

All new graduate students are encouraged to complete an online orientation experience. The orientation provides important information about academic and everyday life at UConn and is the first step to ensuring your success and getting you connected to our community. Our online orientation materials include videos and modules designed to help you navigate the various opportunities at UConn and to help you gain valuable skills and experiences that will enhance your graduate education. To access orientation: 1) Log in to your  Application Status Portal ;  2) Open your matriculated application; and 3) Select the Orientation tab.

Current students should bookmark our Resources for Current Students page where you can find information on Guidance and Support, Career Support, Financing, and Getting Involved.

The Graduate School’s  Network for Enriched Mentorship (NEM)  is a UConn-wide interdisciplinary mentoring network, open to all graduate students, but with a special focus on minoritized graduate students and those who come from backgrounds that may disadvantage them. Through NEM, graduate students can find mentors to help them navigate issues that arise  outside  of their coursework and dissertations. We hope that by connecting students with mentors who have experience navigating obstacles (e.g., systemic bias, personal hardship, alternative career trajectories), or who can be effective and accountable allies, more students will feel supported and empowered in their graduate careers and beyond. Graduate students interested in NEM should   sign up to be a mentee !

The Graduate School’s Fall Timely Topics Series now includes sessions specifically designed for graduate students. These sessions focus on financial literacy, time management, how to have effective conversations about difficult things, and information about accommodations through the Center for Students with Disabilities that will be relevant to both graduate students and graduate students who hold a TA role.

The Graduate School staff is available to answer questions about both academic and non-academic resources that are available to graduate students and advise on strategies for navigating challenges.  If you need additional support, email  [email protected]  and a staff member will help you.

The Student Code

Responsibilities of Community Life: The Student Code has been updated recently, as were policies for  Posting Signs , holding  Outdoor Activities , and utilizing  Amplified Sound . The updates were done primarily to lend clarity to policy, rather than to establish new rules. If you are planning any gatherings, or posting signs, we strongly encourage you to consult Student Activities , or your Campus Dean, and review these policies. Students should also be aware of InForm which collects UConn reporting and support resources.

Graduate Student Senate (GSS)

The Graduate Student Senate is a representative body comprised of and serving graduate students at UConn. Contact GSS directly for more information.

Upcoming GSS meetings:

• Orientation Meeting-Mandatory In-Person Meeting for all New and Returning GSS Members- September 18, 2024, 6-8PM in Student Union 221
• Regular GSS Meetings-  September 25, 2024, 6-8PM in Student Union 221

Center for Students with Disabilities

Graduate students may want to explore the possibility of accessing accommodations with the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD). To begin the process of requesting accommodations, visit  csd.uconn.edu  and click on the MyAccess button to get registered. You will then be assigned to work with a Disability Services Provider who will engage with you to discuss your concerns and appropriate accommodations. Students requesting accommodations will need to provide supporting documentation. Please share the  guidelines  with your external medical, psychological, or educational professional to obtain appropriate documentation. Contact Timothy Smagacz, Program Assistant, at (860) 486-2020 or  [email protected]  with questions regarding documentation.

Student Health and Wellness – Mental Health

For Storrs students (undergrad or graduate) who pay the SHaW fee, students may access SHaW-MH by calling 860-486-4705 or by scheduling a screening appointment here . SHaW provides mental health services to promote the emotional, relational, and academic potential of undergraduate and graduate students. SHAW-Mental Health offers:

• Rapid access screening appointments
• Emergency/Crisis assessment
• Individual and group therapy
• Medication management
• Mindfulness/Meditation/Yoga workshops
• Referral and off-campus support services

Regional campus students (undergrad or graduate) seeking mental health resources will find campus-specific contact information here .

Medical, dental and graduate students at UConn Health will find mental health evaluation and treatment resources here .

Ombuds Office

The UConn Ombuds Office serves as a neutral resource providing confidential and informal assistance to members of the UConn and UConn Health community. Professional and graduate students may meet with an ombuds officer to express concerns, identify options to address workplace conflicts, facilitate productive communication, and surface responsible concerns regarding university policies and practices.

Contact Information

860-486-3617

[email protected]

The Whetten Graduate Center, Second Floor University of Connecticut 438 Whitney Road Extension, Unit-1152 Storrs, CT 06269-1152

8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday

UConn Today

• The School of Nursing’s Largest First-Year Class
• Podcast: What Aerosmith Can Teach Us About Vocal Injury
• UConn Law Welcomes New Faculty
• The School of Dental Medicine Announces Faculty Promotions
• 2024 New Appointments of UConn School of Medicine Faculty

Upcoming Defenses

• Sep 5 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense of Yuyang Hu 10:30 AM
• Sep 9 Doctoral Dissertation Oral Defense of Jierui Zhou 9:30 AM
• Sep 12 Doctoral Dissertation Defense of Antonia Caba 12:30 PM
• Sep 13 Abdullah Alhatem’s Doctoral Dissertation Defense 9:00 AM

View all Upcoming Defenses

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4 tips for transfer students

As a Transfer Buff, you're a part of the Transfer Student Community at CU Boulder. This program provides events, resources and support to help make your transition to a new school a positive experience. Here are tips to make the most of your first semester at CU.   

1. Attend events for transfer students  

Each semester, there are events specifically for transfer students to meet fellow Buffs, get involved and have fun. You can also check out other student events to help you find your place and explore your interests.  

Attending campus events is an excellent opportunity to try new things, participate in fun activities and even get to know others. Sign up for the Transfer Buffs newsletter to learn about upcoming events.   

2. Meet with a transfer peer mentor  

Transfer peer mentors can offer you advice, connect you to campus resources and help you navigate the transfer student experience this semester. Because they are current CU Boulder students, they understand what it’s like to manage academics and activities while trying to meet people and learn about campus. Email [email protected] to ask questions and schedule a meeting with a mentor. 

3. Get involved on campus  

Participating in student organizations and campus programs can help you meet friends, discover new interests and even explore different career paths. Here are a few ways to get involved this semester.  

• Find a student organization to join through BuffConnect . If you can’t find one, start an organization of your own !  
• Check out CUServes for volunteer opportunities. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience, connect with your community and meet new people.  
• Find an on-campus job to gain experience and earn while you learn.  
• Participate in community-building programs, educational workshops and inclusive events with the Center for Inclusion and Social Change .  
• Join the Sustainable Buffs Community for opportunities to engage in community building, education and leadership in sustainability.  
• Try out one of the Rec Center’s FitWell classes and meet fellow Buffs interested in staying active. 

Learn more about getting involved by following @CUBoulderLife on Instagram , Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and downloading the CU Boulder Life app . 

4. Find support 

There are many resources available to you on campus to help you find your way academically and socially, and with your overall well-being.  

If you’re not sure where to go for help, reach out to those in the Transfer Student Community! They can help answer question and share other resources on finances, housing, involvement and more.