What All New Graduate Students Must Know

"Graduate school is the best time of your life. Enjoy it while it lasts!" While these words of signal processing guru Prof. Martin Vetterli are in many ways true, several students fail to bring them to fruition mainly because they are ignorant of what graduate school is about and the problems grad students face. This page lists important issues grad students must be aware of and provides relevant Web references.

1. Differences between undergraduate college and graduate school

Coursework

Graduate classes are usually much more demanding than undergraduate ones. Typically 9 to 12 credit hours will keep you very busy.

Tips for Managing Coursework

  • Discussion Groups: Form homework discussion groups (if permitted by the professor). This way students can help each other understand course material.
  • Time Management: Finish assignments well in advance of the deadline. This will save you a lot of stress.

Research

Research differs from the normal undergraduate coursework in many ways.
  • Innovation: Research is inventing/discovering something new.
  • Lack of structure : Research problems are not well-defined unlike course assignments. Textbooks covering the latest research work are rarely available. Problem solutions are not guaranteed. Strict research deadlines do not always exist.
  • Communication: Effectively communicating research ideas is crucial. The CAIN project helps Rice students develop good communication skills.

Research Tips

  • Research Area: Choose a research area that really interests you. The more fun research is the easier it is to do.
  • Adviser: Find a suitable adviser. Some students prefer a "hands on" adviser who will work closely with them and explain the "nuts-and-bolts" of research. Others prefer more independence and can do with "high-level" research advice.
  • Research Buddy: Professors can have hectic schedules and may not be able to spend considerable time with you. Find another student(s) to discuss research ideas.
  • Work: Develop a sense of urgency. Don't wait for your adviser to push you every step of the way. Take the initiative in setting up meetings with your adviser.
  • Write: Write weekly research reports, jot down ideas, and make summaries of papers. Writing stimulates thinking.
For more information on doing successful research see:
  1. Research Resources - Prof. Richard Baraniuk
  2. How to be a good graduate student - Marie desJardins

2. Several relevant practical issues

Time management

Since grad school research is often unstructured, time management is a key issue. A few basic time management tips follow.
  • Set goals
  • Form a personal schedule: Include only those events that match your goals. Set in your schedule a time to plan for the following week.
  • Allow leisure time: Schedule time for flexibility and leisure.
  • Evaluate schedule: Keep a journal of how time was actually spent.
  • Use a "To Do" list: Manage a "To Do" list with different items prioritized. Use the most productive hours for high priority items.

Financial pressure

The typically low graduate student stipends coupled with high expenses necessitate financial management. Some obvious ways to deal with the problem are:
  • Accounting: Keep track of daily expenses
  • Budgeting: Prepare a budget. Common expenses include university fees, health insurance, and car expenses (insurance, repairs, state registration).

Fatigue

The intellectual challenges and enormous workload can take their toll in the form of emotional fatigue and depression that are accentuated by insecurity, anxiety and boredom. The importance of dealing with fatigue and stress cannot be understated.
  • Monitor stress: Journal your progress in dealing with stress. This will help you find how this syndrome operates personally in your experience and will help you find solutions.
  • Analyze thought process: Begin to analyze your destructive "self-talk".
  • Seek help: Do not be ashamed to talk to a close friend or seek professional help if stress becomes unbearable. The Rice Counseling Center offers such help.
The above topics are discussed in greater depth in articles provided by Graduate Resources.