Faculty & veteran PhD students - what advice would you give a new PhD student in your field? (Tell us your field if it's relevant!) I've spent the last month dispensing my advice. Let's hear what you've got to say!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
You are not alone! Thousands of people start PhD programs annually. Tons of advice and resources are available online from credible sources. Find a few and follow them! Share what you find with others!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
A few final #PhDYr1 thoughts:
Don't sell back your books until after you've taken your field/comprehensive exams. You don't know what you'll finally settle on or what you need to reread for them.
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Nearly 50% of people who start PhD programs don't finish. Not finishing SAYS NOTHING about your worth. It says that you discovered a mismatch between your goals & the program's goals - typically, that you don't WANT to be a researcher. DNF'ing is a TOTALLY VALID decision!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Nearly 50% of those who start PhD programs don't finish. This SAYS NOTHING about your worth, abilities, or value, just that you discovered a mismatch between your goals & your program's. DNF'ing is a TOTALLY valid option!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Stress arises when others' priorities override your own. CHOOSE CAREFULLY what you prioritize and when. Do you need to time block your schedule to allow for scholarly time? Adjust your childcare schedule or home duties? Etc.
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
NEVER grade without using a rubric. Even a quick one speeds the process a LOT & it makes scores more consistent. Rubrics come in many flavors and are infinitely customizable. Lots of examples at lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/in... !
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
You don't need to do anywhere near as much class prep as you think you do. The most effective classes often have a strong student-driven component. Use discussion questions & class activities to reduce your lecture prep time. You are not a substitute for the reading!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Students in dorms = petri dish for transmissible disease. If you are teaching undergrads, plan to get your flu & COVID shots this fall, before they bring illness to class. You will also want to plan for sick days in your course calendar. A backup plan for online learning never goes bad!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Don't reinvent the wheel! Faculty make & share all KINDS of lesson material online. NEVER prep a new class session without googling what's already out there! Many disciplines have depositories of such activities. Tons of resources and tools at crlt.umich.edu/resources/te... too!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
It's Teaching Week here on #PhDYr1 ! You did NOT start a PhD program to be a teaching assistant. That's a sidebar, a distraction from your goal of learning to be a researcher. Yes, you need to learn to teach, but you'll be MUCH better if you also know how to research. Divide your time appropriately!
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Rigid weekly schedules are a recipe for frustration, disappointment, depression & burnout. A rough weekly plan that evolves during the term & flexes is a much more durable strategy. Build in flex time & self care.
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Protect your personal time. Rest in all forms - not just sleep - is key to maintaining your sanity through this marathon. Creative, spiritual, and social rest are all necessary too!
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Research is WAY more than reading, crunching stats, coding, writing. THINKING is a legit & critical part of research. We do research to answer a question. Being curious and asking questions, even to yourself, is how you find your researcher niche.
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
Coauthor w/ other students. It's a great way to combine your skills & assets while getting similar visibility. Look for regional conferences or other lower-profile outlets for your first presentations. If you're pursuing an academic career path, early exposure & networking are valuable.
#PhDYr1
#PhDYr1 is a monthlong series of survival strategies for new PhD students. Follow along at 3 PM ET every day in September!
