While the transition from undergraduate to graduate school can be incredibly intimidating, there are a ton of benefits to the changes that happen. I’m in the first semester of my Library and Information Sciences degree, so I’m learning every day what works best. Here are some surprises, as well as tips and tricks for thriving in grad school.
1st Semester Surprises
Making a Schedule. You have a variety of courses to pick through and that can sometimes be overwhelming. Depending on credits, you may only be able to fit two or three courses per semester. I recommend finding two core classes in areas you know you want to pursue and one experiential course in something you are curious about. As always, talk to peers, advisors, or alumni and spend time with yourself deciding what truly speaks to you.
Grades & GPA. It may sound counterintuitive considering how hard you work to get into graduate school, but giving yourself a break on keeping perfect grades will save you so much time and stress. Keep in mind that post-grad school, experiences and internships are what employers look for the most. At UIUC, there are a ton of opportunities for practicum credits or internships that supplement the courses you take.
Projects & Papers. Graduate school overall has less homework each week and more reading with long-term projects and papers to work on. While this is a positive thing that allows you to space out your deadlines, there is a pretty big chance of procrastinating until later in the semester. Make sure to balance out your work throughout the semester and watch out for holidays and midterms when the amount of workload gets more overwhelming.
Tips & Tricks
Always Plan Ahead. Even with the cutest planners, you won’t be updating them mid-semester. I recommend finding an online option that you can take everywhere and that works on multiple devices. A few sites to check out include Notion, Google Calendar, Notability, and Outlook Calendar.
Make Friends & Reach Out. The social dynamic shifts quite a bit in grad school and you might experience a disconnect with some of the campus activities. However, don’t let this keep you from joining clubs, making friends or hanging out in the local area. Use your free time to find the people who give you joy and rejuvenate your week.
Assistantships & Jobs. Each university is different, but UIUC has incredible graduate assistantships that you should check out. These assistantships are jobs where you work between 10-20 hrs and they usually come with an in-state tuition waiver. I recommend applying to any that seem interesting even if you don’t think you’re qualified.
Words of wisdom
At the end of the day, deciding if you want to attend graduate school takes a lot of internal reflection and seeing if it’s the right fit for you. In considering graduate school, weigh the degree program and financials, as well as the university size and location to determine the best fit. You can do it, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.