What I Wish I Knew

September 23, 2015

In many ways, graduate school is like running a marathon. You spend a lot of time training and preparing, and now the race has begun. The September edition of the Graduate Training Series included such suggestions and advice from graduate school administration, fellow graduate students and professors, to help you on your graduate school journey.

Your Aid Station

Graduate students should think of themselves as professionals in training. Like the apprentices of medieval times, graduate students work with major professors to not only learn more about their field, but to begin mastering three professional skills: writing, analytics and networking.

Writing:

Writing is one of the most important skills you’ll learn in graduate school. You’ll learn to write well and in accordance to the norms of your field. Your major professor understands that you didn’t come to graduate school with professional writing skills. Don’t fear your major professor’s red pen; embrace it. Don’t fear criticism from your colleagues, either. Ask your colleagues to read your work because a fresh pair of eyes and perspective can be very beneficial.

Analytics:

Again, recognize that your major professor doesn’t expect you to come to graduate school with analytic skills. Take the pressure off yourself; if you already had them, grad school would be a waste of your time. However, your major professor does expect you to be 100% invested in learning these skills.

Networking:

Don’t be shy. Networking is crucial to developing yourself as an academic and professional. Not sure where to start? Begin interacting with teachers and mentors in your department other than your major professor. Then, find mentors across campus in other departments and disciplines; they may be more interested in your work, and vice versa, than you think. Once you’re ready, start networking with professionals at other institutions; send your manuscripts to professionals you’ve cited and ask for their feedback. More often than not, they’ll be willing to talk to you about your work and, eventually, form a connection. Also, present your work early and often. After giving presentations, seek feedback from your audiences; they have different perspectives from those in your department. Here’s a challenge: the next time you present, introduce yourself to the person who asks the toughest, most critical question. Lean into this very difficult, challenging process. Give it everything you have. This is a full-time career building, professional experience.

Your Teammates

Perhaps this marathon called graduate school turns into a tri-athalon and you find yourself biking uphill. If you have a flat tire, don’t ride on it. Fix it. To fix it, you have to find the right person to talk to. Your department head is your best friend; his or her job is to help you fix flat tires and be a support for you outside of your committee. Your advisor is your primary contact, but sometimes an advisor caused or contributed to the flat tire. Also, don’t hesitate to turn to your committee when you have questions or concerns. They’re a mini support team that you hand picked.

Sometimes when running a marathon, you need support from other runners along the way. Luckily, you have like-minded people to help you out: your cohort. Think of them as collaborators; rely on each other for feedback and ideas. Your cohort can be a source of emotional support. When things get tough, it’s likely that one of your cohort members has experienced something similar. If anything, invest in those relationships; you don’t know where your cohort will end up and how you can help each other in the future.

Your Sideline Supporters

Graduate students have a voice and liaison in USU student government, known as USUSA. The graduate student senator is an available resource. They create a graduate student community and culture through events and activities. Your senator is available to help you find funding opportunities through USUSA. You can reach your senator at gradsenator.ususa@usu.edu.

Your Gear

As a graduate student, many cheap/free resources are available to you. Here are some of the basics:

  • Software: Get a student discount on Windows 10, Office 365, IBM SPSS and other software packages through the Hub.
  • USU ID Card and Spouse Card: A USU ID is a free ticket to USU sporting events (club sports, like hockey and baseball, excluded), a library card, your gym key, a discount coupon to many of Logan’s food joints and a debit card for on-campus purchases. For $40, your spouse can join you at the games, use the library and access the campus gym as well.
  • Printing: Print from your own laptop using campus printers.
  • Aggie Express: Your USU ID Card turns into an on-campus debit card with an Aggie Express account. Aggie Express users receive a 10 percent discount on all campus food purchases (including coffee).