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Grad School Survival Guides

Up to Succeeding in Graduate School

Guides to surviving and flourishing in graduate school



Graduate School Survival Guide
"Concise suggestions for: getting the most out of the relationship with your reseach advisor or boss, getting the most out of what you read, making continual progress on your research, finding a thesis topic or formulating a research plan characteristics to look for in a good advisor, mentor, boss, or committee member, avoiding the research blues."
Graduate Study in the Computer and Mathematical Sciences: A Survival Manual
by Diane P. O'Leary
You and Your Research
Richard Hamming's observations and research on the question ``Why do so few scientists make significant contributions and so many are forgotten in the long run?'' From his more than forty years of experience, thirty of which were at Bell Laboratories, he has made a number of direct observations, asked very pointed questions of scientists about what, how, and why they did things, studied the lives of great scientists and great contributions, and has done introspection and studied theories of creativity. The talk is about what he has learned in terms of the properties of the individual scientists, their abilities, traits, working habits, attitudes, and philosophy.
How to Be a Good Graduate Student
by Marie desJardins
Survival in the Academy
Words of advice from the members of the IU Computer Science department. Lots of useful information here, and it isn't CS-specific.
How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students and Advisors
by Marie desJardins. "This paper attempts to raise some issues that are important for graduate students to be successful and to get as much out of the process as possible, and for advisors who wish to help their students be successful. The intent is not to provide prescriptive advice -- no formulas for finishing a thesis or twelve-step programs for becoming a better advisor are given -- but to raise awareness on both sides of the advisor-student relationship as to what the expectations are and should be for this relationship, what a graduate student should expect to accomplish, common problems, and where to go if the advisor is not forthcoming."
Getting What You Came for : The Smart Student's Guide to Earning a Master's or a Ph.D, Revised Edition
Robert L. Peters, Noonday Press, 1997. This book has received rave reviews at Amazon.com. "Most students find graduate school radically different from their undergraduate experience or from the working world--they are unprepared for the emotional and social isolation, or for the absence of guidance. This guide helps students forge through graduate school and then find a job, including applying to school and for financial aid, writing a thesis, managing academic politics, and more." $11.20 from Amazon
Graduate students in biomedical engineering
Tips compiled from three graduate students on time management, the application process, where to go for money, writing papers and more, all from a biomedical engineering perspective. Aimed at those who alread have a degree of some sort, and are thinking about biomedical engineering. Outlines courses and basic program choices.
So long, and thanks for the Ph.D.!
a.k.a. "Everything I wanted to know about C.S. graduate school at the beginning but didn't learn until later," by Ray Azuma. "This guide describes what I wish I had known at the start of graduate school but had to learn the hard way instead. It focuses on mental toughness and the skills a graduate student needs. The guide also discusses finding a job after completing the Ph.D. and points to many other related web pages."
Advice to Graduate Students
From Scott Keogh
Technology and Courage
by Ivan Sutherland, a CS pioneer. Some personal perspectives on success in technology research. Well written, thoughtful, and thought-provoking.
The pursuit of a Ph.D. entails much more than classes and research
by Carolyn Kleiner, US News, April, 2000. The author writes about caveats to consider before pursuing a Ph.D. degree and the considerations that should go into choosing a school, program or advisor.
How to Be a Leader in Your Field
by Philip Agre. "In a knowledge-intensive world of ceaseless innovation and change, I assert, every professional must be a leader.... But how? It is well-known that simply declaring yourself a leader will not cause anyone to follow you. The process of becoming a leader doesn't happen overnight, but it is perfectly methodical. Here is a six-step recipe."
Grad Resources
"Grad Resources offers grad students free assistance and support via grad student orientation programs, seminars, support groups, on-line resources and several helpful articles. Grad Resources is a faith-based service of Campus Crusade for Christ International. Grad Resources adheres to a strict policy of offering practical support services to all students and spiritual resources only to those students who express interest."
PLoS Computational Biology: Ten Simple Rules for Graduate Students
"Choosing to go to graduate school is a major life decision. Whether you have already made that decision or are about to, now it is time to consider how best to be a successful graduate student. Here are some thoughts from someone who holds these memories fresh in her mind (JG) and from someone who has had a whole career to reflect back on the decisions made in graduate school, both good and bad (PEB). These thoughts taken together, from former student and mentor, represent experiences spanning some 25 or more years."
GradShare Graduate Student Community
"Where graduate students help each other succeed"
Getting Through Graduate School
by Amy Fluet, HMS Beagle, January 21, 2000. A collection of useful resources on surviving and thriving in grad school. "If you have only one bookmark to spare on a grad-student-related site, place it at PhDs.Org." (Requires a free HMS Beagle membership)
Hosting a Speaker: a Guide for Graduate Students
by Phil Agre.
Five Steps to Stimulate Creativity
Courtesy of Paul Selwyn, a California speaker who specializes in creativity for businesses.
Bully Online
Avoid a toxic lab and its toxic people. One of the best sites available dealing with bullying.
Frequently Asked Questions from sci.research.careers
The collected wisdom of sci.research.careers on going to graduate school, doing a postdoc, and alternative careers.
Seven Steps to Success in Graduate School
Adapted from N. J. Halas. "The following is a list of essential skills that all successful researchers have developed. Without these skills, you cannot expect to succeed in research. If you fully develop your abilities in each of these areas, you will lay a strong foundation for the rest of your research career that will lead directly to success in research. The responsibility for the development of these skills is entirely your own. Your research advisor can provide guidance and assistance, but your graduate education is your personal responsibility."