Coping with stress is quite tricky when you’re not used to having it around. Specially in graduate school, having too much to juggle can beat the life out of you unless you’re able to make things work. Although you were able to go through college despite the undergrad pressure, being in graduate school offers a lot more problems.
Manage your time wisely
If you do not know how to manage your time, the demands of both your schoolwork and personal life will definitely give you stress. To avoid stress altogether, know some points on time management. Here are some of them:
* If you find yourself with free time on your hands, then do something productive with it. Start outlining for that paper due next week. Or, do your groceries. This way, you have more time for tasks that are more demanding.
* Weigh which things need attending to immediately and avoid wasting time by committing more to hanging out than accommodating schoolwork. Set a timetable so that you will not neglect anything. Know your priorities.
* If you put in too many things to do in your calendar, you may end up not finishing anything at all. Learn how to politely decline to events that have no bearing on your success as a graduate student.
Keep yourself physically fit
One way to keep fit is by exercising for a few minutes each day. Even though you spend a small part of your day exercising and you feel that you could’ve used that time studying, don’t worry about it. Exercise actually allows your body to be better prepared for the demands of school. When you are fit, you are more productive in anything that you do. Another way to stay healthy is to not skip meals.
Many graduate students think that they have pull all-nighters just to be able to prepare themselves for an exam or to finish that paper. If you’ve managed your time wisely, you don’t need to pull all-nighters. If you do decide to pull an all-nighter, stay away from too much caffeine and sugar. Eat foods rich in proteins and complex carbohydrates; these foods will keep your body alert all night.
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In graduate school, you need all the help you can get when it comes to furthering your education. You need your professors’ insights and your colleagues’ ideas to help improve your academic aptitude. One effective way to enrich your knowledge is to join a well-organized study group.
Limit active members
In a study group session, it is important that each member is given the chance to voice out his or her thoughts. The only way to do that is to limit your study group only to a few people. It is, after all, a study group and not a lecture class.
Avoid unproductive members
The main purpose of holding study group sessions is to learn together. It is about discussing points and sharing ideas, not tutoring other members. Having unproductive members in the study group not only slows the process of enriching academic knowledge, but it also beats the purpose of holding study group sessions.
Choose good leaders
To ensure organization in the study group, you must choose a good leader. A good leader is the one responsible for overseeing sessions, organizing meetings, and designating topics.
Schedule regular meetings
Every study group session must be scheduled accordingly. Make sure that your meetings are set on dates when everyone is free. To do this, you must coordinate schedules with the other members of the study group.
Organize regular agenda
Organization is very important in study group sessions. Time is of essence in graduate school and you have to take advantage of your free time. It is best to have a set agenda every session so everybody can anticipate the topics to be discussed.
Form study groups
If you haven’t received any invitations yet, then form your own study group. It is not that hard to form a study group – you just need to find other students who are still waiting for study group invites.
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The main purpose of establishing honor societies is not to confirm social statuses, but to celebrate academic achievements. Honor societies, despite their Greek sounding names, are neither equivalent to nor associated with fraternities and sororities. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy by simply being a member of an honor society:
Formal recognition
Receiving an invitation to join an honor society is something to be proud about. It is, after all, a confirmation that you are, indeed, an achiever. An honor society membership is both a reminder of your past achievements and a promise of your future success.
Wide network
Another benefit of being a member of an honor society is the wide network. You are not only given a chance to interact with the students within your university, but also an opportunity to work with people from other institutions. This exposure to different kinds of people will help you widen your social circle and enrich your academic insights.
Improved writing
One of the goals of honor societies is to spark the interest of students in different degree programs. Because of this, honor society members are given the chance to encourage students to consider this degree program or that career possibility. Contributing articles to school papers or campus journals not only helps you achieve the honor society’s goal, but it also helps you improve your writing skills.
Impressive resume
Being a member of an honor society will not only help you improve your chances of employment, but it will also help you increase your starting salary. The mere fact that you are invited to join an honor society reveals that you are also worthy of being entrusted with a high paying job.
Bright future
Your experience as a member of an honor society is a good preparation for the corporate world. You are provided with proper training and good tips on ethics and professionalism. With the help of your colleagues and your personal experiences in the honor society, you will be more than prepared to face the challenges of the real world after graduation.
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The academe, like any other setting, still suffers from the harsh realities of office politics. Gossips and rumors are inevitable and it is up to you to handle them. Office politics, no matter how nasty it gets, must never affect your job or purpose. After all, you did not sign up for a teaching post or a research duty to participate in gossips and badmouthing activities. Here are some of the values you need to keep in mind to help you stay away from office politics:
Transparency
Office politics, most of the time, is just as bad as national politics. The people who give you the sweetest smiles and warmest greetings may be the same people who curse you under their breaths. Do not hop into the badmouthing bandwagon. Be the living example of “what you see is what you get.”
Flexibility
Different personalities and strong opinions are inevitable in an academe. To avoid conflicts, be as open minded as you can. Listen to what the others have to say before you refute them. Broadening your point of view will not only help you exercise flexibility, but it will also help you earn your colleagues’ respect.
Discipline
The usual cause of misunderstanding in an academe is gossip. Be disciplined enough to fight the urges to participate in such activities. Gossiping about other people is like admitting the fact that you cannot be trusted, and you surely don’t want to give that impression.
Humility
Another common source of problem in an academe is the collision of egos, especially if a promotion is at stake. Self-promotion can be done without putting the others down. You can always do it the traditional way: by putting extra effort to do your job well. If you lost the promotion to someone else, then show some sportsmanship by congratulating your lucky colleague.
Credibility
If you are the movie star-like center of office gossips, then refute all the negative things said about you by establishing your credibility. Protect your reputation not only by doing your job well, but also by showing your transparency in issues. Credibility will not only help you earn your colleagues’ trust, but also their respect.
Accountability
Your purpose for being in an academe is to educate, to research, or to study. Do what you are supposed to do. You already have a lot of items in your to-do list and you should not waste your precious time in office politics. Participating in office politics is not necessary to get a good evaluation or to gain a promotion, it will actually do otherwise.
Everything can be solved through proper communication. If you heard a gossip about you, then personally approach your detractor. Talk to your detractor as calmly as you can and explain your side of the story. Do not give in to the temptation of starting another rumor to just to add fuel to the circulating gossips.
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It is not surprising that the universities who made the top five in the list of universities offering the best humanities and literature are the popular ones. Popularity, after all, is almost always coupled with greatness. Here are the top five US-based universities (in no particular order) that offer the best humanities and literature graduate programs to their students:
Harvard University
Harvard University has once again proven that uniqueness is the key to greatness. This Ivy Leaguer manages to take a spot in this list by offering unique and culturally diverse humanities programs to its students. The humanities sector of Harvard offers degree programs that focus on European, Himalayan, Near Eastern, Tibetan, and East Asian cultures. The humanities curriculum of Harvard, however, is not limited to the classics. It also offers modern degrees like film studies and comparative literature.
Yale University
The graduate students of Yale are in luck: not only are they given an opportunity to learn from brilliant professors, but they are also given an opportunity to participate in non-degree programs. The humanities and literature degrees offered by Yale include in-depth studies of different cultures like East Asian studies and African studies. Yale also offers first-class language degree programs in Slavic and Italian.
University of California – Berkeley
While Harvard focuses on specifics, University of California – Berkeley sticks to the basics. UC Berkeley offers degree programs in art, literature, and humanities. This university, like Harvard, offers degree programs that encompass both classic programs like History of Art and modern studies like Urban Design. UC Berkeley is also renowned for its outstanding languages department that offers courses in Spanish, Japanese, Slavic, and Italian.
Stanford University
To maintain its international recognition as one of the best universities in the world, Stanford continues to offer first-class degree programs to its students. The outstanding humanities departments of Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences are Divisions of Literatures, Cultures and Languages, History, English, and Drama.
Princeton University
Wrapping up the top five is the third Ivy Leaguer in the list: Princeton University. This university ensures the proper delivery of education by offering their outstanding degree programs only to a limited number of students. This way, the conveyance of knowledge from professors to students is more effective.
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Universities are not famous for nothing. These academic institutions are internationally recognized not only because they have impressive alumni rosters, but also because they offer first-class education. Here are the top five universities offering the best social sciences graduate programs in the US:
University of California – Berkeley
The university that offers the best social sciences degree programs in the US is University of California – Berkeley. UC-Berkeley, one of the two non-Ivy League schools in the list, offers world-class education to its culturally diverse students. Each of the university’s social sciences degree programs managed to enter the top five in each degree program ranking. In addition to this, the university’s non-social science degree programs all managed to make it to the top ten.
Yale University
Number two on the list is Yale University’s social sciences degree programs. This Ivy League university is not only known for its outstanding social sciences degree programs, but also for its brilliant faculty and excellent academic programs. Students who are genuinely interested in pursuing higher education will be more than happy with Yale’s educational system.
Stanford University
The six social sciences departments in Stanford University are sociology, psychology, political science, economics, communication, and anthropology. These departments, which are under the School of Humanities and Sciences, offer some of the best graduate studies in the US. The brilliant faculty members of Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences are not only good at providing education but also at conducting research.
Harvard University
Also included in the top 5 is Harvard University’s very own social sciences department from the School of Arts and Sciences. Harvard’s School of Arts and Sciences offer natural science, humanities, and social science degree programs. Graduate students who have already finished their course work in other universities are still welcome to study in Harvard as Visiting Fellows.
Princeton University
The secret to the success of Princeton University’s social sciences graduate studies is the school’s promotion of a healthy professor-student relationship for learning. Because of the university’s interdepartmental and joint degree offerings, the students are given more opportunities to pursue all their academic interests. Another great thing about Princeton is that it offers financial support for financially challenged students who can’t afford the tuition.
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In 2008, five universities once again proved their worth in the academic world by offering some the best engineering graduate programs in the US. The course offering of these universities, aside from being acclaimed in the US, are also recognized as some of the best in the world. Here are the universities that offer the best engineering graduate programs in the US:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT, the university that has become almost synonymous to engineering, unsurprisingly holds the top spot in the list. Once again, Massachusetts’s very own institute of technology is recognized as having the best specialized engineering graduate programs in the entire country. Because MIT’s impressive faculty is composed of some of the best scientists and engineers in the world today, it comes as no surprise that its students receive world-class education and training.
Stanford University
The best Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering graduate programs in the country are offered in Stanford University. An evidence of the popularity Stanford’s engineering graduate programs? Its 2006-2007 graduate school enrollees exceeded that of undergraduate enrollees! The impressive academic reputation of Stanford University is not only recognized in the US, but also in the rest of the world.
University of California – Berkeley
The key to UC Berkeley’s success is its internationally renowned faculty. Besides, how can you have great students if you don’t have excellent teachers? Thanks to the university’s brilliant faculty, seven of its engineering graduate programs ranked number one on the list. UC Berkeley is also dedicated to innovation in the engineering field, as evidenced by the microelectronics contribution of its early alumni to Silicon Valley. Its early alumni also played vital roles in the structuring and development of the Golden Gate Bridge and Hoover Dam.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Coming in at number four is Georgia Institute of Technology. With an impressive 3,559 enrollees to its engineering gradate school in 2007, Georgia Tech is undoubtedly popular among aspiring engineering experts. What Georgia Institute of Technology offers to its graduate students goes beyond academic learning. Its graduate students, aside from being highly competent in their field, are also active in sports conferences and Greek organizations.
University of Illinois (Urbana – Champaign)
The engineering graduate program of University of Illinois ranked fifth overall in 2007. Aside from its overall distinction as a reputable engineering graduate school, University of Illinois also enjoyed the recognition of offering the best Physics with a focus on Condensed Matter engineering graduate program in the country. The university’s Industrial/Manufacturing degree program ranked lowest at number 16.
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The journey to your doctorate class graduation day takes not only several years to finish, but it also takes much willpower to endure. You have to be perseverant and determined enough to finally get hold of that much coveted PhD diploma. After the countless hours you spent doing research and paperwork, you will be sweetly rewarded with a bright future. Here are the benefits of having a PhD:
PhD = promising career
The PhD title is a sure job attractant. In fact, you can just sit back and relax and just let the job offers come hunt you. If you already have a job, you can even expect a promotion. A PhD will not only get you a good job, but also a high paying one.
PhD = high salary
Do not regret spending thousands of dollars just to complete your doctorate studies. That money, after all, is a good investment. After graduation, you will find out that having the letters “PhD” after your surname will give you a healthy wallet.
PhD = farther knowledge
Your main purpose for getting a PhD, assumably, is to farther your learning. If you applied for doctorate studies to explore more on your chosen field, then you will be overwhelmed by your daily academic pursuits. Another benefit of having a PhD is that it will be a lot easier for you to get funding and sponsorship for your research studies. Having a PhD, after all, makes you a master of knowledge.
Not everybody can endure the years of studying in graduate school. You must be genuinely interested in learning, discovery, and intellectual activities. To achieve your goal of getting a PhD, you really have to stay focused and determined all the time. Giving up parties and vacations is only the easy part. The real challenge is to stay disciplined and perseverant despite the tough tests that will come your way.
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If there is one thing you can anticipate from graduate school, then that would be the high cost of tuition. To get the much-needed funds to support their education, many students resort to applying for student loans. Applying for a student loan, however, is a lot easier than paying for it. Here are some tips on how to pay off your student loans after graduation:
Apply for deferred payment
Paying off your student loans is never easy, especially if you recently received your diploma. Things get worse though, if you remain unemployed and broke for a couple of months. One way of dealing with this financial problem is to ask for deferred payment. Applying for deferred payment doesn’t mean that you are completely turning away from your financial obligations to your lender. It just means that you need more time to save up.
Stretch your payment term
Aside from a deferred payment option, you may also ask for a loan term extension. The downside to this option is that the lender will probably charge you with higher interest rates, but then, it certainly is better than not having enough time.
Go for lower loan rates
When choosing a student loan, make sure that you select one with low loan rates. There is a higher risk for mountainous debt if you choose a student loan with high interest rates. If the damage has already been done, however, you can still talk your way into getting a lower interest rate. Arrange a meeting with your lender and explain your financial situation.
Consolidate your loans
If you have multiple student loans to repay, then you should consider consolidating them. Debt consolidation means combining all your existing loans into a single debt. You may even choose to hire the services of debt repayment or debt consolidation companies to do all the work for you.
Serve your community
Do you want to pay off your student loans without shelling out too much money? If you do, then you should volunteer for community service. Extending your services for the betterment of your community is not only good for your soul, it is also good for your wallet. Participating in community projects and joining in community organizations will help lessen your paying burden because your organization will help you pay off your debt.
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Surviving college is not an easy task so if you are planning to farther your studies in graduate school, you have to be prepared for everything. The challenges in graduate school are several notches more difficult than college – tougher professors and harder subjects. The key to surviving graduate school, like in college, is excellent time management skills. Here are some tips on how to properly manage your time in graduate school:
Learn how to stay organized
Your schedule in graduate school gives you all the free time that you only dream about in college. Having a loose schedule, however, is not enough reason to make up for the time you could have partied instead. In graduate school, you have to stay organized at all times. Organize your stuff and your schedule. Make sure all your textbooks are placed properly and that all your lessons are studied well. Before rewarding yourself with a grand vacation, make sure that all necessary school work is finished.
Learn how to set priorities
Remember how your parents asked you to “set your priorities straight?” Well, you can use that advice in graduate school. Setting your priorities is very important in graduate school, especially if you have a part-time job to worry about. One way of getting all your work done is to come up with a to-do list. Make sure that each item included in the list is arranged in decreasing priority. When setting your priorities, you have to remember two things: your GPA and your job. Make sure to spend enough time on things that really matter, so, cut down on partying.
Learn how to find balance
Finding the balance between mediocrity and perfection is important in graduate school. Being meticulous may be an advantage, but it can also be disadvantageous if it is too idealistic. You have to remember that you just don’t need to get things done right, you need to get them done now. Allowing yourself to be overpowered by perfectionism is bad for your schedule. Because you want to get every detail right, you have a tendency to spend too much time on one task. If you think this particular tasks requires a lot of planning and attention, then you better start doing it now. Perfectionism, after all, is never achieved when you cram.
Learn how to remain flexible
Your schedule in graduate school, regardless of your field of specialization, is loose and open. One disadvantage to this is the frequent last minute squeezing of activities into your schedule. You need to be flexible enough to adapt to such changes. To lessen the hassle of surprise meetings and activities, do your school work as soon as it is assigned by your professors.
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