freaking out...future first year

[bigmood]

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So, the whole undergrad experience is officially over and denial is wearing thin. Now, I'm just freaking out about my upcoming grad school experience. My professors never miss an opportunity to tell me how hard the first and second years are, and I'm beginning to feel beyond apprehensive. Any advice from the veterans (or sympathy from other hopefuls)?

 

[SaraL124]

I wouldn't say its HARD as much as you have to learn how to manage your time a LOT more effectively. It also may be a shock to you that classes aren't seen as a priority even though you're expected to do well. In general, I have found that the research is much more highly emphasized and you will have to learn quickly how to manage your time so you can get your master's thesis started AND do the work your advisor asks of you. But really, it's not that bad.

 

[JatPenn]

My experience has been identical to that of Sara, classes are certainly an afterthought in my program, the emphasis is on individual research productivity. While this sounds daunting (and it is) keep in mind the First Year is really a time to truly hone your research interests, get caught up on the literature, and only begin to carve out what will end up being your line of research.

Unless, of course, you're going to a clinically-based program. Then forget everything I just said.

 

[bigmood]

thanks, guys.

so any advice for preparation beforehand? i can't party and work ALL summer, of course 🙂

 

[SaraL124]

I didn't do anything the summer before I started! Well, then again I quit my job, got married, moved to a new state, and decorated my apartment, but other than that...no real prep.

 

[lazure]

Go to Europe for eight weeks. The resulting memories will keep you through the long winter months 🙂 Seriously, enjoy life and continue to do so once you're in grad school...

 

[Logic Prevails]

It's not so bad, though one can occasionally feel guilty for doing laundry (it takes too much time away from productive activities).

Haha... it's funny but unfortunately true.

As I've said in other threads, first year was the toughest for me (and most others I know).

The key to surviving is this:

Realize you can not give everything %100 (there is is just not enough time). This is tough for the incoming student, because giving everything their best effort is what likely got them accepted into the program. However, now you will be expected to do much more... learn how to turn off the "perfectionist" in you... and you will be ahead of the game.

 

[bigmood]

Go to Europe for eight weeks. The resulting memories will keep you through the long winter months 🙂 Seriously, enjoy life and continue to do so once you're in grad school...

oh i wish! luckily, i've done some study abroad. i will, though, have a great time this summer and enjoy the time i have left with the friends i have here at home before going off to perpetual solitude....sigh. j/k

 

[bigmood]

The key to surviving is this:

Realize you can not give everything %100 (there is is just not enough time). This is tough for the incoming student, because giving everything their best effort is what likely got them accepted into the program. However, now you will be expected to do much more... learn how to turn off the "perfectionist" in you... and you will be ahead of the game.

thanks! fortunately, i was never much of a perfectionist to begin with (which sort of worries me in that being a good researcher involves some amount of perfectionism, right??)

 

[Lunabin]

The only thing I would suggest, is to keep the big picture in mind and take care of yourself once you get there.

Grad school was a 180 from my undergrad, and I don't think any advice I heard beforehand made any sense until I actually went through it! I say take care of yourself, but looking back, I didn't have time to eat some days, let alone get sleep, exercise, have normal relationships... It was not really all that bad in retrospect, but a hard experience to anticipate.

So my advice, just take care of yourself. Enjoy the freedom and break you have now, and listen to yourself when you get there. It's a lot of work, and it's not easy... but it's also not really hard per se. It's a whole new skill set you'll be learning, and while I found the coursework easy, it was more a personal growth/journey - and that's what was hardest.

Your experience will be your own, and it sounds like the school you got into thought you were ready. There will be plenty to worry about when you get there - so enjoy life now. Grad school changes life as you know it (but it's great)!

 

[Neuro-Dr]

I agree with Jon, treat it like a job. I got up every morning at the same time and worked until the same time each night. I was either in class, the lab, practicum or studying and it cut down on the cramming.

Grad school is a game of self awareness and attrition. The first year is much more didactic, but many students really struggle when they hit practicum/externship. Many are well versed at "book-learning" but can't handle not being successful with their patients, supervisors or the issues therapy brings up for them. I think that is the self-awareness part. You will never get another chance to screw up like you can when it is someone else's license, so enjoy it.

The attrition is another matter. the average number of credits goes down in years 3+, so as you are dying, the load lightens/changes until you hit internship and that is really a job-like atmosphere.

Thus, even if you spend 15 hours in class, 25 studying and 10 in the lab (I don't know your program), that is still 10 hours per day 5 days per week. Frankly, it will help you to develop these habits when you start adding 20 hours per week of clinical work through practicum/externship.

 

[Dr.JT]

I agree with Jon and Neuro-Dr. I always viewed graduate school as a marathon. You want to set a good pace and stay on it making adjustments as needed. If you start out running too hard you may burn out, not hard enough and you fall too far behind. I have seen people fall victim to both.