Whether you’re considering going to graduate school, in the process of applying, or already enrolled, there is a lot of preparation that goes into becoming a graduate student.
The good news is that earning a graduate degree is a wise investment. Master’s degree holders typically earn higher salaries than their peers without an advanced degree. Individuals with a master’s degree are estimated to earn about 20% more over their lifetimes than bachelor’s degree holders. In addition, many career paths—such as mental health counseling or teaching—are only available to those with a master’s.
Follow the steps below to better prepare yourself for success in graduate school.
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How to mentally prepare for graduate school
You overcame the first obstacle: getting into graduate school. Yet now it might feel like a dozen other challenges lie ahead. After all, this is a new experience, which is nerve-wracking in itself, but this choice also requires a large financial and time commitment.
So while this graduate school experience might seem daunting now, remember the benefits. Knowing what’s on the other side of your degree program will help you start mentally preparing for graduate school—as will these other tips.
1. Start planning now.
Scour through your syllabi, and map out all major assignments on a calendar so you have a holistic view of what’s due and when. Seeing project deadlines next to your work and family commitments will help you more effectively allocate your time. If there’s a particular week that looks overly hectic, start strategizing which to-dos you can check off early to avoid any last-minute scrambling.
Now is also a good time to reflect on your undergraduate days. Were you a procrastinator who regularly pulled all-nighters, constantly refreshing your social feeds to avoid work? It’s easy to revert to old habits, so develop better patterns early, whether that means prioritizing a full eight hours of sleep, establishing a morning routine, or activating website blockers when it’s time to study.
2. Read ahead.
If you’re still nervous about falling behind, or simply want to get a jump-start on the semester, begin reading the assigned articles, cases, and books listed in your syllabus. By familiarizing yourself with the subject matter early, you can ask more informed questions in class and start connecting the concepts being taught with the research you’ve already read.
3. Prioritize finding your balance.
Establishing work-life balance in graduate school is important—particularly when you’re already juggling a 40-hour or more workweek on top of other commitments. In order to avoid burnout, prioritize balance.
This could mean improving your time management skills, taking breaks when necessary, or knowing when to say “no” to certain work or social engagements. “Balance” means something different to everyone, and so you need to establish a schedule and routines that feel right for you. Graduate school should be an enjoyable experience, not a stressful one. Although the stress won’t always be avoidable, balance can help minimize it.
4. Leverage your new network.
Remember, you’re not in this alone. Any doubts or questions you have, your peers have likely had too. Get to know your fellow classmates. Learn more about their current jobs, why they enrolled in the program, and their professional goals. Through that process, you can start to build a support system, which makes the grad school experience more manageable and more fun. Plus, you never know where those connections might lead you.
“Once you graduate, you could be working alongside some of the greatest minds in your field,” writes Christopher Dousharm, a graduate of Northeastern’s Corporate and Organizational Communication program. “And before that time, any of those people could be in your classroom. Make friends, build connections, and be ready to learn from your peers.”
The same goes for your professors. Faculty bring decades of shared industry experience and thought leadership to the classroom. Leverage their expertise, absorb their lessons, and ask a lot of questions—whether about past lectures, your work, or how they’ve applied what they’re teaching in the field. Your professors want to help, so don’t be shy in reaching out.
5. Remember that this is temporary.
One of the key things to remember when you’re mentally preparing for grad school is that this experience is temporary. You won’t be juggling all these commitments forever; there’s an end in sight. And when you achieve that end goal, the payoff will make the sacrifices and hard work worth it. Immerse yourself fully, and enjoy this time while you can.
Choosing a graduate program
The most important step in preparing for success in grad school is, of course, choosing the right master’s degree program for your personal goals. If you are considering going to grad school but have not yet chosen a program to apply to, here are a few factors you should take into consideration when evaluating your options:
- Learning options and flexibility: Be sure to choose a program that works for your needs. If you know that you’ll be juggling school with professional or family obligations, find a program that allows you to maintain a balance.
- Hands-on learning: Earning a master’s degree should prepare you with the skills you need to enter the field, and doing so often involves learning through real-world experiences. Programs that are built around experiential learning offer students opportunities to gain practical experiences in their field of interest.
- Industry-sourced faculty: At the graduate level, having professors who are actively engaged in your field of interest can be highly valuable to your education. These scholar-practitioners bring their own experiences and perspectives to the classroom, providing students with unique insights into the workforce.
No matter the program you choose and ultimately enroll in, preparing for your graduate education can be a long journey. Throughout every stage in the process, there are resources available to help ease your transition and prepare you for success.
To learn more about how a graduate education from Northeastern University can help you advance your career, explore our 200-plus degree programs. You can also get in touch with an enrollment counselor for personalized guidance.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2020. It has since been updated for relevance and accuracy.
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