Graduate studies: How to manage and keep your sanity
Congratulations you've been accepted to university studies, an undergrad, a masters or maybe a PhD. What next? Will my professors be kind, helpful, supportive? I'm not sure and I hope they are for your sake. So why am I writing this blog? I am writing this for you. To help you in case you need some guidance.
You're in attendance for your first class. The professor has handed out your syllabus either in person or virtually. You scan it, read a few sections.
Course description, expectations...yes got that...ok...
Evaluation, participation, reflections..yes...not bad..
research paper...you stop and look again..
"What! no...no," you think to yourself. "Where do I start? How many articles do I need?"
Are you wondering if you should drop this class? We never did research papers on own in high school!
Does this sound like you? If it does then read on.
If you're just starting university it is different from high school. In high school your assignments, usually essays more importantly thesis statements have been defined for you. Basically, limiting you to a defined set of topics based on what you've read or learned in class.
For university studies you are expected to think and learn independently. You are expected to define your own thesis statement, write clearly, and justify your claims with evidence.
1) Take a step back, take a deep breath, and above all don't panic.
2) Ask questions.
3) Focus on your topic
4) Organize your thoughts
If you want to learn more. Please email me.
Pursuing the ultimate: A PhD
Of course some of you may be thinking the above section doesn't apply to me because I'm in post-graduate studies, such as a master's degree or PhD. Well that's ok I have some tips for you also.
Researching is your lifeline. It will define you. You will eat, sleep, and dream research. You'll have to learn to mine the research landscape. It will not be easy.
Pursing a PhD is one of the most difficult and challenging educational degrees to conquer. Doctoral candidates are required to become experts in their chosen field of knowledge. They must gain expertise in research methodologies (quantitative, qualitative) in a lab, in the library and in the field. This is their passion, their life.
They must pass comprehensive exams that test the extent of their knowledge. There is only a pass or failure for this exam, the reason is to "weed" out the candidates. Not everyone moves ahead. Only candidates who pass are allowed to move forward to conduct their fieldwork and write their dissertation. The dissertation must be original research and generally for humanities and social science the dissertation is book length.
Once they write, they revise, revise, and revise, they finally have the opportunity to give a public lecture for their dissertation and undergo a formal PhD oral defense exam by a committee of experts and scholars. Again one chance only.
In short, those individuals who achieve a PhD must excel beyond being an excellent student. They must be people who can absorb an enormous amount of knowledge, pass exams, observe, analyze, research, conduct studies, write papers, research, publish, publish, and publish!
My Tips for post-grads:
1) Find a supervisor you can trust.
2) If you have a great supervisor - then you can leave this page.
3) Supervisors are not made equal. Some will ramble on about themselves, for hours, hours, and hours. At every meeting you have and at the end you may get five minutes to discuss your problem. If this sounds familiar then stay on this page
4) Ask questions.
5) Do some major soul searching to find your passion.
6) Your research must be original
In short, navigating the path of post-graduate studies is like being a farmer. First you have a broad landscape where you have to determine which crop is the best to grow. Then you have to find the seeds to plant. That's the first tough part. The seeds need to be cultivated by tending to them constantly - nurturing them, watering them, rotating them, ensuring there is enough sun and that no weeds infest the crop. It requires planning, organizing, re-planning, writing, re-writing, thinking, and re-thinking.
Want to learn about determining your research topic, mining the landscape, finding sources, any more? Follow me and Find my contact page and Email me.
