September is here which means a new school year has begun. While I haven’t talked much about my last grad school experience on the blog, I learned so many things about myself and grad school that have helped with my post-degree transition. Being a Black woman in grad school comes with its own challenges but I found that these four tips helped me make it to the end while absorbing as much information as possible to make it to the end of the program.
PHOTOS BY: DORESE JENAE PORTRAITS
STRATEGIC TIME MANAGEMENT
This is the number one question I get from folks going into grad school and the first thing that is necessary for you to learn to succeed — how to juggle your time within your schedule. In grad school, you
The thing that helped me the most with this is my Google calendar. Everybody knows how important it was, and still is, to put anything that requires my time or attention on my calendar. I’m a big fan of block scheduling so I put down everything I need to do and the length of time required to do it. It’s a great way for me to operate. My motto is: if it’s not in my calendar, it isn’t happening.
LEARN HOW TO SKIM READINGS
Fortunately for me, I learned this skill in my first Master’s program and it was very useful in my second. Learning to extract the most important information from articles and readings that are over 50 pages is very important. Most professors know (and don’t expect) you to read every word of every reading that they assign. They want you to know the main point(s) of the article, understand how to apply the information practically, and be able to extrapolate it into the class discussions.
NO IS A FULL SENTENCE (LEARNING TO SAY NO)
This is something that I often struggle with not only in school but in life in general. It’s especially hard when you have so many opportunities coming to you to network, get internships, or go to events that may help you further your career. It was a lesson I learned real quick and was helpful for my tenure. Prioritizing and establishing boundaries is the best way for you to decide if this new opportunity is worth your stress.
REMEMBER YOUR WHY
Grad school is tough and even after you absorb and apply the previous three tips, you can still be exhausted and wonder why you decided to go back to school. One thing that kept me going was remembering why I decided to return to grad school. Remembering why you’re there will help you stay focused and persevere on some of the toughest days.
BONUS: ACCEPT THAT YOU WON’T GET TO DO EVERYTHING
There will always be a reading, event, or talk you will not make. No matter how hard you try, you will never get to do everything you want. Why? Because life happens. Accepting that not everything will go as planned because you don’t have time will help you sleep better and reduce your stress levels by at least a milliliter.
I hope I didn’t scare you too much about grad school. If you’re interested in hearing more about my grad school experience, don’t hesitate to ask!
IF YOU’VE MADE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF GRAD SCHOOL, WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU SHARE?
