Q: How did you start preparing for post-graduation employment while still a student? A: Honestly, I didn't do a great job of this, so I think that asking this question is productive in itself. My last year (when I was doing 100 other things) I made an appointment with the career center and started looking… Continue reading Q: How to prepare for employment?
Q: As an older student, I feel uncomfortable with a gift registry. How else can I ask people to celebrate this milestone? A: This makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate the recognition that celebrations can look different for different people. My suggestion would be to build upon what you already do with your loved ones.… Continue reading Q: How to celebrate graduation?
A: First, it's nice to have options, so congratulations! This also means that you'll have to make a decision as opposed to allowing the universe to make it for you. Like dating, I think that you should have your standards and dealbreakers. Are you willing to move? Do you want to be in an urban environment?… Continue reading Q: How do you decide which program to attend?
Q: How do you make time for movement given your grad student schedule? A: Honestly, making/finding time is the main concern I hear from folks who want to add be more active but aren't sure how. My main suggestion is to pick an activity that you genuinely enjoy so that its harder for your skip… Continue reading Making time for movement in grad school?
Q: How do you meet deadlines while also enjoying holiday breaks? A: This is hard because as much as we can try to plan ahead, sometimes we still have work to do when it seems like everyone else is relaxing and enjoying some time off. For me, I like to set aside time for work… Continue reading How to manage deadlines over the holidays?
Q: How do you stay motivated to write your thesis/dissertation? (from my student advisee) A: I've been asking myself this same question for quite some time given that September made one month since I started working on my dissertation. I find it really helpful to have a daily writing goal. I say 250 words but… Continue reading Staying Motivated while Writing?
Q: How do you manage feelings of intimidation/imposter syndrome as a new PhD student who does not have a master's degree? A: Whew this is a BIG question and definitely something I've experienced firsthand. I think that the first thing is to acknowledge what you are feeling and then try to put things into perspective. … Continue reading Imposter syndrome as a PhD with no MA?
Q: What's the best way to spend your summer in between semesters? A: This is a difficult question to answer because summer expectations vary by discipline and how far along someone is in their program. I've spent a lot of my summers either studying for comprehensive exams, doing fieldwork and now writing. What I would offer… Continue reading How to spend summer break?
Q: How do you get out of a rut when writing up your thesis/dissertation? A: This is something that's extremely relevant to me since I'm currently writing my dissertation. If I still have the motivation to write, I like printing my chapter and doing reverse outlining or just editing by hand. Making it a more physical… Continue reading How to get out of a writing rut?
Things right now are pretty rough, and I can't imagine starting grad school in this atmosphere. Whether you are just beginning or are already in the throes of getting an advanced degree, we all really need community right now. My first suggestion is to be honest about your needs--it's okay if you don't want to… Continue reading How do you make friends while taking online classes?
Grad Girl Wellness 