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Structuring Your Early Career as a Graduate Student
Things I Wish Somebody Would Have Told Me At The Start Presented By Jack Anger, B.A. and Miranda Clements, B.A.
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Agenda Why Graduate School is Great Graduate School vs. Undergrad
Independence Involvement Self-care Resources Research Tips
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Ice Breaker: What is your biggest fear about grad school?
What are you looking forward to?
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Top 5 Reasons to Love Graduate School
Opportunities to teach Learning new and interesting things in your field More/better options for career and continuing education Meeting new people Contributing to society TA positions, GA positions, presenting to colleagues Expanding your knowledge and working towards becoming an expert in a given area Setting yourself up for success, reaping the rewards Especially people with similar interest and who can be valuable contacts in the future In health and human services, we’re all committed to public service in some way or another
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Major Differences from the Undergraduate Experience
Expect a change in: Difficulty level Self-directed method of learning Limitations in frequency/type of course offerings Program of study Scheduling Planning Saying “no” Collaboration Responsibility Your interactions with professors and professionals in the field
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Independence You got yourself here, you will get yourself through
Advocating for yourself Autonomy Responsibility *You DO get a say in your educational decisions Be proud of yourself for getting here! The admitting committee believed you could do it, you need to believe you can do it too You are seen more as a colleague; you are expected to be professional and make meaningful contributions to your department Be prepared to advocate for what you need; your learning style, communication style, and extenuating circumstances Also be prepared to figure things out for yourself; no one gets fed off a silver spoon in grad school. Your professors are not going to simply give you what you need, you are expected to research and problem-solve--they are just there to help you along the way They WILL steer you in the right path if you need it, but they want to see that you are putting in the effort independently You are responsible for your own success. Use the resources available to you and figure out what you can do to motivate and drive yourself. It isn’t about performing on a test to get a grade anymore; it’s about learning because you need to know the information
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The Importance of Involvement
This is a MUST! Don’t wait to live until grad school is over ◦Grad school is still a part of your life: LIVE IT! Get Involved: ◦On campus, and off campus within the community ◦Graduate Student Government ◦Networking ◦Departmental Gatherings ◦Honors Societies Flagstaff is beautiful and has an active culture and community; don’t forget to experience it NAU has many extracurricular opportunities available to you Rec center and wall acquatic center are free to use, you can take fitness classes, etc. for free Various clubs and activities Make friends outside of your cohort
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Bad Feelings Happen! -Know what is normal and what isn’t -Make the best of it or make a change -Actively integrate de-stressors into your life
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Stressed or Depressed? Signs of Depression (get help)
-Withdrawing from other people -Feeling sad and hopeless -Lack of energy, enthusiasm and motivation -Trouble making decisions -Being restless, agitated and irritable -Eating more or less than usual -Sleeping more or less than usual -Trouble concentrating -Trouble with memory -Feeling bad about yourself or guilty -Anger and rage -Feeling that you can't overcome difficulties -Trouble functioning in your class or in your personal life -Thoughts of suicide Common Signs of Stress (normal) -Trouble sleeping -Feeling overwhelmed -Problems concentrating -Change in eating habits -Feeling nervous or anxious -Feeling angry, irritable or easily frustrated -Feeling burned out from studying or schoolwork -Worrying about difficulties in your life -Trouble functioning in class or in your personal life
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Take Care of Yourself, and You Will Be OK!
Schedule time for it Know when to “clock out” Health on campus Counseling center (928) Health services (928) Practicum lab (928) *Tell someone if you need help One of my professors told me “Only you know how much is too much for YOU” - you have to be the one to recognize that. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, it’s okay to say no to SOME things We have a joke about being “voluntold” for things; this is true somewhat, but you always have a choice.
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What do you do when you need a break?
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NAU Student Resources Graduate College Graduate Assistantships
Cline library Articles available online Health and Learning Center Student Technology help Counseling Center Practicum lab Faculty Mentors Graduate College Graduate Assistantships Writing Center Computer Labs Departmental Administrative Assistants
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Conducting Research Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never done research
Start planning research ideas/topics early (like now, for instance) Learn the research focus of the faculty if you haven’t already Be realistic Ask for guidance if you are interested in something in particular Find people you work well with to conduct research with Once you have an idea and a mentor, make a timeline/map for your project and include deadlines--your mentor can help you with this, too
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Keep in Mind The Impostor Syndrome (Clance & Imes, 1978)
Obviously you aren’t perfect, but you do have a lot of knowledge and a specific skill set that you are honing; don’t be afraid to own it! Change is okay, and expected Talk with faculty, objective mentors, counselors, etc if you need to make a change If you are going to make a change, try to do it early and seek guidance first Sometimes change happens Changing emphasis areas Changing programs Adjusting research focus Changing schools Taking a break The Impostor Syndrome is normal- occurs when people are unable to internalize their accomplishments despite external evidence of their competence, feel as if they are frauds. (Clance & Imes, 1978) At some point, we all feel like a “fraud” but are you a “good fraud” or a “bad fraud.”
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Assorted Tips and Tricks
Ask for help when you need it SAVE EVERYTHING!!! -Utilize cloud storage -Save syllabi, notes, and anything your professors give you Plan when you will be done. Stick to it. -prioritize your to do list and make a timeline -schedule breaks to avoid burnout -don’t feel guilty about taking a break if you need one! Use your cohort as a resource and for collaboration when possible
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YOU CAN DO THIS!
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Questions?
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