How to Succeed at Graduate School

Graduate school involves a huge commitment of time and money, so if you've decided to go, you want to be successful. While you can build on some of the strengths you may have developed as an undergraduate, getting your master's degree or your doctorate is far more demanding. The tips below can help you thrive in your program.

Applying and paying for it

Of course, the first step is getting into school in the first place. This is a competitive process, so how do you prepare the best application you can? First, research the universities you're applying to. Get a good sense of what they emphasize. For example, some will place a higher value on standardized test scores than others will. If you need to include a personal statement or essay, be specific about why you are interested in this university and this program. Try to name the faculty that you want to work with. Explain your goals and how the program fits into it. Avoid coming across as too grandiose, but don't hesitate to demonstrate your ambition.

There may also be an interview process. Be ready to show during the interview that you know about the school and the faculty. You should be prepared to discuss your own research interests. You should also be ready to ask some questions of your own. You might ask about what kind of professional development resources exist or what the research requirements are for your program. Of course, these should be questions that are not easily answered by looking at the university's webpage and other material.

Finally, you should make sure you have the funding that you need. Taking advantage of private graduate student loans can be an excellent source of funding, even if you also have a scholarship or a stipend from an assistantship since these might not provide enough money to cover all of your expenses. You can look for a private lender that offers an interest rate and a repayment plan that will work for you.

Academic concerns

This will be your first though not your only focus as a student. It's important to know yourself and understand how you work best. For example, there may be certain times of day when you are more productive than others or certain study methods that work best for you.

If you don't already know what study habits work for you, then experiment until you find out! It's important to maximize your study time.

One feature of most graduate programs is a voluminous amount of reading. It can help if you are able to teach yourself to read better and more efficiently. When you sit down with a text, go over it quickly, looking at headings to...

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