I often ask myself “What does it mean to be a graduate student?” Belonging to a research group focused on identity and motivation, I reflected on what this means to me within the context of my first year in an engineering education doctoral program.
The goal of a doctoral graduate student is to attain a Ph.D. by successfully defending their thesis work within a specific area of study that adds to the body of knowledge within their field. This doctoral process is different for each individual student, within each distinct department, at every college, for all universities, and within every single discipline of study.
Translation: Everyone will have a different graduate school experience and that is okay.
Graduate student duties and responsibilities include:
- attend classes,
- teach undergraduates,
- run laboratories,
- meet with an advisor,
- collaborate with research groups,
- apply for grants and fellowships,
- host prospective students,
- assist visiting scholars,
- interact with peers,
- participate in department activities,
- join committees,
- affiliate with professional and/or academic associations,
- understand various research methods,
- carry out experiments,
- develop models,
- read [a considerable amount of] books and journals,
- write [a substantial amount of] papers,
- submit work to peer-reviewed journals,
- present at conferences,
- build an impressive curriculum vitae,
- craft a thesis,
- search for jobs,
- maintain physical and mental health,
- take care of non-academic obligations such as family or work commitments,
- while simultaneously conducting research.
Translation: There are many things going on at once and it is up to us to find the right balance.
Graduate school should not be viewed as undergraduate 2.0 or as an extension of a baccalaureate degree. Courses are more specialized. Class sizes are smaller, which facilitates discussion. Readings are more numerous and lengthier. Assignments are more nebulous. Some graduate experiences are more like apprenticeships. Faculty advisors are there to facilitate, but the student designs their own educational experience.
Translation: Graduate students are expected to have more ownership over their education. Cultivate your education wisely and with purpose.
Graduate scholars are neither students nor workers, but some rare hybrid of the two. To operate in this ill-defined state requires a new level of independence, one that can be foreign to graduate students. Learning to manage oneself to optimize effectiveness is the most valuable skill to master. As a graduate student, it is important to understand the difference between independence and isolation. If a student feels isolated, they will not perform at their best and blame themselves for their lack of progress. This imposter syndrome will slowly cripple the individual’s motivation and make it even more difficult to advance. Graduate students should be reminded that they are not excepted to have all the answers in isolation but instead are entrusted with the autonomy to discovery answers (right or wrong) along the independent journey that is graduate school.
Translation: Understand the difference between independence and isolation and embrace being the mythical creature known as “Graduate Student.”