Getting the most out of your Ph.D.

[Sarahanne]

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Hello, I am starting this thread for those of us will be starting a ph.d. program in the fall. For those of you currently in Ph.D. programs, do you have any recommendations on how to get the most out of your program? Recommendations for staying organized? How to take advantage of all available opportunities or how to seek them out?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[erg923]

Do everything you just said, stay organized, be proactive and seek out opportunities.... Seriously though, everyone will have different methods and techniques for doing these, but they are certainly the 2 most important things for your first year.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Networking...both on campus, between departments (med school, psych, education, etc), and at conferences. Connections todays are jobs and opportunities tomorrow.

Proactive....almost anything worth getting/doing requires effort on your part, so be ready to put in extra time and effort to get the better positions and opportunities.

More to come later.

 

[Ollie123]

I would say proactive x 1000. That's really the key. We can talk about networking, publishing everything you can, etc. but I think proactive encompasses it all.

There is no hand-holding (at least here). If you want to do something, make it happen. Want experience with a certain disorder or a certain population? Students who sit around and whine about it aren't going anywhere. Students who find a practicum opportunity, start their own research projects, etc. are in great shape.

And on a similar note, don't feel like you have to follow a formula. Just because you're working on a master's does not mean you can't have side projects. Just because MOST students take course x then course y that doesn't mean you have to. I'm probably going to be following closer to the I/O stats curriculum here than I will to the clinical one because I feel like the I/O folks tend to get a stronger stats background.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

And on a similar note, don't feel like you have to follow a formula. Just because you're working on a master's does not mean you can't have side projects. Just because MOST students take course x then course y that doesn't mean you have to. I'm probably going to be following closer to the I/O stats curriculum here than I will to the clinical one because I feel like the I/O folks tend to get a stronger stats background.

I have a couple friends who went through I/O programs, and they had some really interesting and intense stats courses. I didn't have time to take anything outside of the req. in that area, but if that is your thing....it could definitely help later on.

 

[Ollie123]

I have a couple friends who went through I/O programs, and they had some really interesting and intense stats courses. I didn't have time to take anything outside of the req. in that area, but if that is your thing....it could definitely help later on.

Which brings up the other way to get the most out of grad school.
Learn to invent time😉

I'm actually not planning on focusing in on stats or anything, but some just seem very applicable to things I need to do (Need factor analysis for EEG data, need SEM for some treatment stuff, etc.).

We'll see how long it lasts. Classes really do seem like a massive time suck, so I need to be careful.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Learn to invent time😉

I remember dreaming about studying and going through Dx rule-outs and the like....when I woke up I felt pretty productive about my sleep. 😀