Transitioning into Your Graduate Program: The importance of time-management and self-care for graduate students
Graduate school can be an exciting, even exhilarating experience. Regardless of whether you are a continuing student, starting your Master’s right after your undergraduate, or you are an international student starting your Master’s after a break from academic life, a graduate degree feels quite different from an undergraduate degree and it challenges you both academically and personally.
Arguably, one of the most challenging times during the graduate program is when you begin your degree and are undergoing a transition period. The transition can seem quite steep if it is accompanied by a change in state or even country, as is the case for international students. The stress of adapting to a new academic and socio-cultural environment can detract one from achieving their full potential. It is therefore pertinent to be equipped with tools to manage stress and adapt to the new environment of graduate school.
Foremost among the tools is to have a growth mindset. Remember the reasons why you came into the graduate program and embrace challenge rather than being afraid of it. As an example, I was really stressed about my Advanced Robotics class when I started my program. I hadn’t even taken a beginner Robotics class in my undergraduate and here I was being thrown into Advanced Robotics! It was only after I started beginning to view the class as an opportunity to learn and make life-long friends that I not only began to enjoy the class, but also started to do excel in it.
Secondly, make use of the wealth of resources available at Tufts for helping students outside of classroom. Tufts takes helping students with their needs outside of direct classroom instruction very seriously and I was amazed by the sheer avenues where one can get help. Through the STAAR (Student Accessibility and Academic Resources) Center, Tufts offers countless programs which can provide directed and focused help in any area where one is struggling. As an example, I made use of the Time Management Counseling because I wanted to improve my time management, planning, and prioritization skills. There are also numerous workshops on academic writing like research paper writing and creative writing, which I intend to take advantage of.
Thirdly, exercise and take care of your mental health. This piece of advice may sound cliché but failing to take out time for exercise and mental well-being seriously affects one’s potential. Tufts has a well-equipped gym with multiple sports facilities. I personally believe in trying out new sports and activities to explore what interests one the most. I tried out Fencing and biking this semester and loved both! I am planning to continue taking biking more seriously in the coming semester. I also plan to try winter hiking. Trying out new activities also enables one to meet new people, make new friends, and socialize. This helps one remain physically active, motivated and connected with people, which is great for mental well-being. At any point, if one feels the stress originating from academics or any other personal situation is too much to handle, they can set up an appointment with Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Services, which has amazing mental health professionals to help cope with mental health challenges.
Getting a strong start to the graduate degree can be a great way to start the new phase of your life with confidence, and to be grounded on the path to achieving your career goals. Therefore, be prepared to use all the tools and resources available and seek help when you need it. Good luck to everyone starting their graduate degree at Tufts! You are going to love it!