~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Make the most of your grad school career!
1. Take good care of yourself. Eat healthy, sleep well, and exercise regularly. Don't sweat the small stuff. Easier said than done, but try your best!
Experience: I was often stressed... exhausted during classes. I hate to admit that I nodded off a bit during a few lectures although I tried to remain alert the entire time, but I discovered that coffee did help! Also, I gained 10 pounds, but I'm working on shedding the extra weight by working out regularly.
2. Manage your time wisely. Show up on time. It'll help manage the stress.
Experience: As a commuter, I was often late in the morning because I didn't give myself an extra 15 minutes. The countless train delays during rush hour didn't help. I fixed that problem by setting up two alarm clocks.
3. Schedule time for family, friends, significant others. It is so easy to get swept up with classes, fieldwork, assignments... you catch my drift...
Experience: I'm spending more time with my family now. Also, I do my best to make it to all family dinners which often include drinking wine and singing karaoke. :)
4. Figure out your learning style and utilize it! It'll help you study more efficiently.
Experience: I'm a visual learner, so I spend more time studying and drawing out diagrams and being able to explain them. I also love using colored pens highlighters. Whatever I don't understand, I spend more time on these topics and write things down... Plus, I turned to YouTube videos to view demonstrations of different types of tests, etc.
5. Find a study buddy or form a small study group. Two brains are usually better than one. Just keep in mind that understanding the material and thinking like a clinician are more important than getting straight A's on your exams.
Experience: I had a lot of trouble finding a consistent study buddy... but I was really fortunate to have classmates who posted their notes before exams during my final semester.
6. I may be doing some free advertising for Google... but Google Drive does make life a lot easier, especially when you're working on group assignments. You can create, share, and edit files.
7. Use at least two sources of backup, since a flash drive is so easily lost.
Experience: Once, I forgot to take out my flash drive when I left the library. I was extremely fortunate that a PT student found it and handed it to one of my classmates who returned it to me. Since I use Google Drive and Dropbox, I don't rely on my flash drive as much.
8. Remember, what worked for you in college may not necessarily work in grad school... such as memorizing or cramming! Courses at the grad school level cover greater breadth and depth of material in a shorter period of time.
Experience: I have a terrible habit of procrastinating until the last minute. During my final semester, I forced myself to complete the first draft of my term paper a week before it was due, and I met with my professor to see what I needed to focus on before submitting it. I was very pleased to receive an A-.
9. Take charge of your learning. Communicate with your professors and peers. Ask questions.
Experience: I pestered my professor with questions... Also, I scheduled appointments with him to review questions I had gotten wrong on the exam. He didn't seem to mind since I did not ask him many questions when I had him last year.
10. Personal growth is important. Make time for yourself. Explore new interests.
Experience: I took advantage of Groupon and Livingsocial to try dance (Afro-Caribbean, etc.), kick boxing, archery, painting. I also discovered the joy of playing pool, and I'm improving my skills.
Closing remarks:
It is very important to be focused and on top of your game by not letting your personal life interfere with your professional life. I would hate to see you experience what I went through last year.
*** I will post a new entry about Fieldwork soon! ***
Closing remarks:
It is very important to be focused and on top of your game by not letting your personal life interfere with your professional life. I would hate to see you experience what I went through last year.
*** I will post a new entry about Fieldwork soon! ***
