Getting Ready for Graduate School

Diane Berty, B.S., M.S., Ed.D.

Director of Student Development Center

&

Loretta Griffy, B.S., M.S., Ed.D.

Assistant Professor of Mathematics in Developmental Studies

Two tracks

TraditionalNontraditional

Traditional

Design

Full-time graduate school focus.Day and/or evening classes.May hold part-time job–some programs disallow/discourage work outside of the institution.Graduate assistantship–often research focused with assignment to a specific professor or department. May also be assigned to a learning lab.Graduate teaching assistantship–instruction at freshman level in your field of expertise.

Do’s of Success

Plan to live on or very close to campus.Graduate studies will involve your physical presence on campus 40-60 hours per week.Maintain a connection with your "past" educational experiences. Stay in contact with classmates and professors–these folks may assist you in your graduate educational experience as well as provide very needed external moral support.Time-management is essential! Manage your time, do not allow your time to manage you. Develop a plan. Establish goals and objectives. Be realistic. Utilize a calendar or planner. Plan your days according to tasks. Include educational and personal tasks. Schedule FUN!Develop a support system. Study groups; intramural teams, individual participation; students in graduate housing.Know your professors! Develop a close working relationship with your advisor and/or major professor–this individual will guide your plan of study as well as your graduate research. As a graduate student you should expect (demand) to gain from your professor’s mastery of your subject.

Realize you will not "like" every professor or every class. However, each class and professor is provided for your educational benefit.

Non-traditional

Design

Graduate studies either as a full-time or part-time student coupled with other outside responsibilities–employment, family, etc.Frequently attend evening classes.

Do’s of Success

Connect to the campus community.Time-management is essential! Manage your time, do not allow your time to manage you. Develop a plan. Establish goals and objectives. Be realistic. Utilize a calendar or planner. Plan your days according to tasks. Include educational and personal tasks.Develop a support system within the graduate school environment. Also, develop a support system outside of that environment. Let folks in your work environment know you are attending school–if this is an environment which is supportive, let them know when you have major papers/tests. Provide your family with a "realistic" picture of what your life will be like while attending graduate school–post a calendar of papers/tests, etc. Schedule FUN!Know your professors! Develop a close working relationship with your advisor and/or major professor–this individual will guide your plan of study as well as your graduate research. Since you may not be spending as much time on campus you may have to work even harder to establish relationships.Juggling family and/or work to take evening classes or day classes.

Both traditional and nontraditional

Do’s of Success

Expect to be overwhelmed.Have a plan–map out your graduate studies program in consultation with your advisor and/or major professor. Know the sequencing of classes, know prerequisites. Begin the search for a thesis or dissertation topic the minute you begin your graduate program.Be flexible.Maintain balance–sleep, exercise, eat healthy, and relax.Get to know your professors, especially your advisor and/or major professor.Manage your time–do not let time manage you.Do not procrastinate!Remember, a "B" is an okay grade.Surround yourself with positive people.Believe you can do this!Be good to yourself and those you care about.