By Yone Edegbele, MS Health Informatics
May is finally here, congratulations! You made it to the end of a school year. Wherever you are in your graduate career; from the first semester of a first year, to third year, or like me in my final semester (two-year program) about to graduate; we all probably share a common thought: What a rollercoaster experience. As I reflect on my graduate years, I cannot help but think how fast time flew. I know it’s easy to say when my program is short, however, I recently just came to that conclusion after always thinking that for a two-year program, this is long and draining. There is much advice I would love to share in dealing with potential hardships in graduate school.
Come prepared…. Besides researching the school and program you want to study, also research graduate student experiences to know what you will likely experience. I did the former and not the latter. Another mistake was believing graduate and undergraduate school to be similar. WRONG. They are two completely different arenas. You go from a large auditorium of hundreds of students to a small classroom of less than 20 students. I was shocked by the large number of assigned readings, assignments and same week quizzes (that heavily influence your grade) my professors delivered. I cried myself to sleep the night of my first day of being a graduate student.
Find the Balance…. It’s easier said than done and took me a while to get right. It was important for me to do because I had both an internship and school. Buy a planner; it will change your life because dates are important. Find that balance by performing effective time management strategies. I had a 9 to 5 virtual internship that made life a bit easier. When are you most productive? I’m most productive early mornings (5 am to 8 am) and late nights (8pm to midnight). Don’t cram information in preparation for an exam. Set goals. For example, I would study for one class for 2 hours and another class for 3 hours and 45 minutes, with a timer set and a single 15-minute break. Remember to take some time for yourself, it’s important to get a break. What relaxes you? Exercise is very therapeutic for me. If I get overwhelmed or frustrated, I jog.
Stop Comparing…. Imposter Syndrome is real. Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone is in the same boat. Most students in your program are seeking their first graduate degree. You are all at the same learning level. If you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be in the same class. My bachelor’s and soon to be master’s degrees are opposites of one another. I majored in theatre in undergrad and am now completing my MS in Health Informatics. I initially believed that I didn’t deserve my spot at IUPUI. I constantly questioned if I was a diversity token? I’ve heard the saying many times “you only got that opportunity because you’re black.” I also assumed I would be the only person struggling in my classes. I was wrong. Though I have classmates whose undergraduate degrees are similar to the graduate degrees we are seeking, they’ve also struggled in some areas of the program. We’re all learning together and happy to help each other cross the finish line.
Involve yourself…. Graduate school is very isolating. Isolation is real, and too much can negatively affect you. I know this because it happened to me. Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic was the negative icing on the cake. I’m blessed to have a loving family and friends. Unfortunately, not all graduate students have that kind of network of support. IUPUI has great on campus organizations for graduate students. Graduate Emissaries, UPnGO, and GPSG are great ways of connecting with other students. IUPUI’s CAPS is another great resource for mental health. Get out of your comfort zone. Exchange ideas with fellow classmates, teachers and other graduate students involved in organizations. How do they have or maintain a social life? These methods have personally helped me find community here at IUPUI.
Seek Academic Resources…. Writing is very important in graduate school and professors can easily tell whether your paper has been edited or not. The University Writing Center offers weekly and recurring drop-in or virtual meetings. It is a great place for writers of all disciplines to receive support and make progress. Lastly, don’t be afraid to seek tutoring services for any challenging course. I’ve had tutors for two past classes. Had I not sought their assistance, I would’ve had to retake those classes.
Always remember that the hard work will pay off. Regardless of where you’re at in the race, you’ll eventually get to the finish line. Congratulations and all the best for the future.