Hello everyone. Before I start my question let me just first preface it with a disclaimer that I know this is just pure paranoia and everyones experience was different but I am just curious. I am entering my first year as a phd student in clinical neuropsychology. I am in a mentor match program and have talked a little bit with my mentor this summer but nothing beyond a few emails checking in on how the summer has gone. From everything ive read on the site it seems like you pretty much just hit the ground running once school starts. Does anyone who has completed their first year or even anyone in the same boat as me have any insight into what to expect or what type of adjustments they had to make. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
What to expect as a first year?
- Thread starter Gully376
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2008
- Messages
- 8,266
- Reaction score
- 8,707
I'm a third year now, but I remember that the summer before my first year was extremely quiet and I had very little information or communication with my program. Then once it started it got all crazy. So, yeah, just remind yourself that this lack of communication is typical and brace yourself I suppose.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,977
- Reaction score
- 7
+1. Lack of communication tends to be a common theme (across all years)... unless they want something from you.
Of course, if something goes wrong or does not go as swimmingly well as they hoped, then they have a tendency to blame it on your lack of communication. Even if they had not communicated anything to you anyway. So, if you have any questions or any confusion regarding anything, take the initiative to start asking questions and know what is expected. Prepare yourself. At the very least ask your adviser if you can start setting up regular meetings with him/her in order to stay in contact. (They don't have to be weekly meetings, but at least you know that you have some scheduled time to touch base with your adviser when needed rather than relying upon emails that some folks never respond to... and some folks claim to never receive... 🙄 )
G'luck!
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 1,084
- Reaction score
- 5
+1. Lack of communication tends to be a common theme (across all years)... unless they want something from you.
Of course, if something goes wrong or does not go as swimmingly well as they hoped, then they have a tendency to blame it on your lack of communication. Even if they had not communicated anything to you anyway. So, if you have any questions or any confusion regarding anything, take the initiative to start asking questions and know what is expected. Prepare yourself. At the very least ask your adviser if you can start setting up regular meetings with him/her in order to stay in contact. (They don't have to be weekly meetings, but at least you know that you have some scheduled time to touch base with your adviser when needed rather than relying upon emails that some folks never respond to... and some folks claim to never receive... 🙄 )
G'luck!
+1
I know it may seem backwards, but many faculty do respond to the style of their students. Probably has to do with the mountains of work on their own plates, but also the expectation that graduate school is in large part what the student makes of it.
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2009
- Messages
- 87
- Reaction score
- 2
Hmmm... I don't think it's always all that negative...
Most likely, each program handles the first year differently. In my program (Clinical PhD), the transition to grad school is actually handled fairly well. We meet with faculty at biweekly meetings to discuss study habits and work-life balance. We gradually start working on our theses at the end of Fall or early Spring (I know this is probably later than other programs, but we get them done!). Faculty usually recognize that mistakes happen and that grad school is a learning process.
I'm not trying to say that your first year is easy and carefree. It's not. It's very busy, there is tons of reading, lots of RA (or TA) work to do, a million meetings you never planned for, lots of homework, work towards program-related projects, professional development, independent research, and stupid political BS (and did I mention lots of reading?).
Finally - try hard not to compare yourself to other people. More advanced students may seem like they are way smarter than you, but they were in your place at one point too. You will get there, but it takes time! Also - comparing yourself to your classmates can be detrimental. Remember that everyone works at different paces and has different kinds of study habits. Just because you are not the first to propose your thesis or haven't started a paper 3 weeks before it's due does NOT mean you will do worse than those that have.
Good luck!
Most likely, each program handles the first year differently. In my program (Clinical PhD), the transition to grad school is actually handled fairly well. We meet with faculty at biweekly meetings to discuss study habits and work-life balance. We gradually start working on our theses at the end of Fall or early Spring (I know this is probably later than other programs, but we get them done!). Faculty usually recognize that mistakes happen and that grad school is a learning process.
I'm not trying to say that your first year is easy and carefree. It's not. It's very busy, there is tons of reading, lots of RA (or TA) work to do, a million meetings you never planned for, lots of homework, work towards program-related projects, professional development, independent research, and stupid political BS (and did I mention lots of reading?).
Finally - try hard not to compare yourself to other people. More advanced students may seem like they are way smarter than you, but they were in your place at one point too. You will get there, but it takes time! Also - comparing yourself to your classmates can be detrimental. Remember that everyone works at different paces and has different kinds of study habits. Just because you are not the first to propose your thesis or haven't started a paper 3 weeks before it's due does NOT mean you will do worse than those that have.
Good luck!
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2009
- Messages
- 469
- Reaction score
- 29
I have no data or literature to cite, but have been told that those who drop out (or fail) tend to do so sometime before the second year. Now for a not entirely snarky observation -- prepare for indoctrination into rank scientism, ableism, neoliberalism and egotism. Take the time to reflect on the notion that the ethical standards of the field, as rigorous and broadly inclusive as they are, are not designed to keep these ideologies in check. I may have less cynical ideas later, though fall term starts soon...
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2006
- Messages
- 22,728
- Reaction score
- 5,105
Yes, YES, and yes.
Two of my favorite professors during graduate school were incredibly outspoken about their political beliefs, though I was lucky that they were objective professors who welcomed opposing opinions. Be aware that not all professors are like that, and Academia can be as political (if not moreso) than the world outside of the Academic Bubble. Similar to Dinner Party rules...it is best to keep discussion of politics, religion, and your personal life details out of the classroom.
As for being busy, you will be, but each year going forward you will add more to your plate and somehow make it work. Be pro-active, engaged, and remember that the students ahead of you were once in your shoes...and they felt many of the same doubts and frustrations that you will experience. The vast majority of attrition occurs in the first year, so if you can get through your first year, you should be in good shape. 😀
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2010
- Messages
- 231
- Reaction score
- 0
As far as I know, "Ableism" means "discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities." So I'm not sure where you going with that. Egotism also does not make much sense. If anything, I learned more sympathy. The other two, I agree with: Neoliberalism (especially if you're a conservative) and scientism (especially if you're in a program that emphasizes radical behaviorism).
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2006
- Messages
- 22,728
- Reaction score
- 5,105
Given the significant leftist slant in most programs, even a more moderate political view can be seen as right-leaning, so people should tread lightly in/around anything that involves political views. As for scientism, I think in most cases it is a healthy presence, as it is in response to the "soft side" of psychology being more critically panned in the last decade.
--
One of the best things a new graduate student can do is get to know 2nd, 3rd, 4th+ years...as they can often help you navigate various landmines and other sensative areas within a program. A little bit of insight from an upperclassman can go a long way in starting off on the right foot.
Some people prefer to study alone, while others prefer to study in a group. I'd encourage people to try studying in a group first, as you can leverage each person's strengths for the betterment of the group. I actually prefer to study alone (or w. a partner), though for my first year I had a study group for every class. It helped me get to know people better, and it also helped with the transition back into "student mode". I know my stats grades greatly benefited from being accountable for different chapters, and I probably helped a person or two with pharma/physiology stuff.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2009
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 0
The first year is the worst, but it gets better.......you'll survive. I was just as freaked out, but I managed to (sort of) figure out what the hell was going on by my second year and how to juggle all the expectations. Also, don't compare yourself to other people. I still do that, and it is not healthy.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2008
- Messages
- 8,146
- Reaction score
- 7,478
IMO, there's *plenty* of ableism in psych, esp. in regards to psychologists and grad students with disabilities (but then again, I'm more sensitive to that issue than most).
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2010
- Messages
- 231
- Reaction score
- 0
This is really disturbing news to me. Perhaps you're more sensitive or maybe I'm just clueless, but regardless is simply no excuse for that stuff in our field. I don't know if it would be possible for you to say more about your experiences... maybe in a different thread? I don't know to what extent we can go off on tangents in this section. Regardless, this upsets me.
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,504
- Reaction score
- 993
This will probably "out" me to anyone who knows me in person, but I have a (hopefully) temporary disability and my department and advisor have been nothing but supportive and accommodating. Maybe that's because they know it's a temporary setback and that I'll become ProductivityMachine when I'm recovered. I do know of other students in the department with various disabilities and am blown away by their persistence. I probably shouldn't be so blown away and continue to assume it's a bazillion times harder for them, but it really is inspiring.
