Miriam Grant, Ph.D., CHPC
July, 2025
Whether you’re about to be a grad student- or you’re already immersed in your grad studies journey- or you’re an undergrad student starting to think about grad school- this blog is for you!
If you’ve just been accepted into a grad program- congratulations!! You made it past the first major hurdle, and you should take the time to celebrate! This is an entire new chapter in your life- exciting, challenging, and often at least a bit intimidating. And for many of you graduate school entails another major change with a move to a different city, across the country or across the globe to a new culture.
So…how special is it to be a Grad Student?
Pursuing a graduate degree indicates that you’re passionate about specializing within your chosen field and gaining extensive knowledge through research-oriented programs. And specialization sets grad students apart. For example, the Global Management Admission Council (GMAC) estimates that there are approximately 110 million students pursuing a Master’s degree globally. And while it’s really difficult to pinpoint, it’s estimated that there are 18-20 million doctoral students globally. This may sound like a lot- until you realize this is out of a global population of approximately 8 billion!
“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf)
One key assurance to keep in mind is that you are not alone! In contrast to most undergraduate programs, you will become part of a vital community of fellow grad students, professors, support administrators, and the wider academic community. We’ll get into more detail below, but be assured that most universities that offer grad programs have extensive support systems- which often include but are not limited to- writing centres international student centres, counselling and career services, scholarship and awards (often administered through Graduate Faculties), Graduate Student Associations, etc.! These are all there to HELP YOU SUCCEED and to provide you with on-going support.
Almost all universities that offer graduate programs have lists of Tips for Success for Grad Students. As you’ll see from the sources at the end, I’ve researched several of these. I’ve tried to organize these by theme, and am using a Personal Growth and Development lens. With that in mind, please don’t approach this with the mindset that you have to excel at everything! Rather, these are meant to remind you of expectations and to nudge you to reflect about your strengths and areas for improvement.
STRIVING FOR SUCCESS:
- KNOW YOUR ‘WHY’!
This may sound intuitive, but I’ve talked to many grad students over the years who have confessed that they went to grad school because they didn’t know what else to do!
Knowing your ‘Why’ is critical! Imagine if you decided to set out on an incredibly long journey (e.g.cycling around the globe… walking from Durban to Tripoli…)- and that journey was going to take 2 -5 years. The journey is going to be a major investment, it will take a lot of hard work and grit, you’re going to encounter many challenges, it will take major sacrifices on your part and on the part of your family and friends, and success is not guaranteed. You’re not only willing to embark on this journey- but excited to begin /continue this long and challenging quest! WHY?
I would invite you to write out your WHY as your Grad Studies mission statement. What are your academic goals? Your professional goals? Your personal goals? This may take you some time, but it will be worth reviewing when you get discouraged or face major challenges!
- BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
Obviously this is tied to your WHY. And yes- you may be saying ‘easier said than done’. You need to have confidence that you can learn new material, concepts and methodologies. You need to believe that you have the ability to adapt and to face whatever challenges come your way. You need to believe that your Grad Studies journey will be successful and that you’re going to proudly walk across that convocation stage!
Stop and think about the votes of confidence you have accumulated: your supervisor chose to work with you, the admissions recommendation committee said ‘yes’ (you were admitted over X number of applicants who received a ‘no’!), you met the standards of the Faculty/School of Graduate Studies which admitted you, and several professors believed in you enough to write reference letters for you. You have attracted all of those votes of confidence before you even start! But- in my opinion- the most important vote of confidence is the one that you give yourself!
- NURTURE AND BOLSTER YOUR PERSONAL SUPPORT NETWORK
Gracious award winners always give credit to their teams and family/close friends for all of their background support as they struggled to achieve their goals. It really should be the same for grad students.
Whether your support network is close-by or a long plane ride away, they are behind you and want to help! Take the time to explain to them why you want to do a grad degree and the type of support you will need from them. You also need to explain how this is going to change how much time you may have for them, or how often you can see them.
I sometimes think of my Ph.D. student Sammy- who left his family behind in Ghana, with the latest member just a baby, while he came to Calgary for his graduate program. Sammy couldn’t afford to visit his family until he returned to conduct his research over two years later. This story is repeated by so many international students – and partners/families near and far make significant sacrifices! You can help to honour their sacrifices by sharing your journey with them through your wins, your challenges, and your gratitude.
- BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK
Build connections with your peers! You’re going to go through the same challenges together and this is a great opportunity to lean on and support each other- and to celebrate even the smaller milestones along the way. You may be closest to your peers for your entire program and hopefully they’ll be your closest allies.
Seek out senior graduate students in your department and don’t be shy about finding out what worked well for them and what they might change if they were to start again.
And as mentioned in the introduction, when you need support, use every resource, connection and form of assistance (including financial assistance) available within your program and on campus. People are there to help- not judge you.
Your supervisor and your professors will be a vital part of your professional network. While it will take some time to understand how to work with your supervisor and what their expectations are, aim for a positive, professional relationship with your supervisor and other professors.
In light of building and supporting your professional support network, beware of departmental drama. For example, there’s often at least one grad student who seems to thrive on rumors and gossip- usually about professors- and they can waste a lot of time trying to ‘inform’ you about all the drama. Gossip can be vicious and unprofessional, it can potentially strain your relationship with your supervisor, and it can certainly lead to toxic work environments. Keep your ‘WHY’ in mind.
- BE PROACTIVE- IT’S YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE!
One of the major differences between undergraduate and graduate studies is the level of responsibility expected of graduate students. You are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations and for charting your progress throughout your program.
For example, if you’re expected to complete a milestone such as a comprehensive exam within a certain time period, that’s your responsibility. However, you’re not the first to do a comprehensive exam! Consult more senior grad students about their experience and how they prepared, ask for advice from your supervisor, and consult the grad studies handbook/document on expectations, format and timing.
If you’re proactive, you focus on preparing. If you’re reactive, you end up focusing on repairing.” (John C. Maxwell)
For many, trying to be proactive is a major adjustment. If you’re used to being reminded constantly about deadlines, and then possibly doing everything at the last minute- switching over to taking responsibility and being in proactive mode is a critical mindset shift.
- BE PREPARED TO WORK HARD AND MANAGE YOUR TIME
There’s no getting around it- Grad School entails a lot of hard work! Depending on your program, you have courses, assignments, reading, research papers, comprehensive or candidacy exams, research and analysis, and the writing of a thesis or dissertation. This is a totally different world than your undergrad program! Every aspect of your program, and every term/semester will carry challenges. Your mindset determines how you will deal with every challenge.
How will you approach these challenges? And how can you better prepare for them?
For example, we have all been subjected to what I term Constant Complainers and it goes something like this: ‘You wouldn’t believe how much work I have to do!…this is due Monday, then I have to read 500 pages for Wednesday and then my paper is due on the 5th and I haven’t started the research and ….’. Not only do Constant Complainers run through a detailed litany of what is due when, but their mindset is that of victims caught in the cruel system of deadlines and major expectations.
“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness.” (Jean de la Bruyere)
Now, don’t get me wrong- we all need to vent and to feel supported. And many challenges will feel daunting. However, not only do Constant Complainers spend a great deal of unproductive time complaining to anyone and everyone who will listen, they bring with them negative energy and they waste YOUR time! (And after a while, you realize why they’re not getting much work done!). It’s human nature to complain, but Constant Complaining is definitely a form of procrastination.
While it’s overwhelmingly positive to have colleagues who are going through the same program and challenges, be aware of their mindsets, how they impact your energy and mindset, and whether they respect your time.
This brings us to Time Management. The absolute best systems and strategies for Time Management are the ones that work for you! As you are aware, there’s a wide range of on-line planners, schedulers and project management apps. And for those of us who are tactile and who love pens (guilty!) there are some great paper planners as well. It would be ideal if you worked out your Time Management system BEFORE you start Grad School.
Whether on-line or on-paper, take note of deadlines and other important dates, and then start to plan by breaking down projects into smaller steps and scheduling in when you’re going to work on each part. It will take practice and experience to better estimate the time you need for each component of your work. And if you’re like me, you might want to then add 1/3 more time! If you can develop effective project management skills, that will serve you very well in Grad School and beyond.
Is your Time Management System effective? What actions can you take to make it more effective?
I believe that your study environment is a key part of your Time Management system. If you’re used to working at the kitchen table and it’s a high-volume traffic area with lots of interruptions, consider moving to a quieter, designated study area if at all possible. Having a well-organized study space that is always set up and ready to go is ideal. Take the time to critique your workspace, including your desk, chair, your monitor (i.e. if it’s precariously perched on a thick book- that’s not ideal!), space for books and systems for organizing files/papers. And if you’re on a tight budget, consider going to a used office furniture store, borrow from family or friends, or check out yard sales. You have invested a great deal in your Grad Program and you deserve an inviting, well-organized, personalized study space where you can do your best work!
How would you rate your study space? How can you improve upon it?
Another key factor with respect to Time Management is to know when you are most productive. If you are most effective early morning and you find your energy flagging by mid-afternoon, consider scheduling other activities that support your Grad Journey such as exercise/ outdoor activities during that time. Keep in mind though that your flexibility will depend on the timing of classes, and also on any duties you have as a Teaching or Research Assistant.
And for many Grad Students, there is absolutely no choice about excelling at Time Management. Many grads juggle extensive responsibilities outside of school in the form of one or more part-time jobs, and/or extensive family obligations. Others play for athletic teams and deal with practices, training, games, school and sometimes work. Whatever the added responsibilities, being adept at prioritizing and managing time is a lifeline for many.
“The single most important skill to develop to successfully navigate graduate school is to learn to budget your time efficiently.” (Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
- BALANCE WORK/LIFE/SCHOOL
You may be rolling your eyes at the concept of balance, given the demands of Grad School. However, working at a balance between work, life and school will be one of the most important skills you can develop, and this will serve you well after Grad School.
If we return to the analogy of Grad School as a long journey, you wouldn’t just set out and walk until you dropped. Your success depends on hard work, but it also depends on self-care.
What brings you joy and fulfillment? What helps you to relax?
One of the best ways to manage stress, anxiety and depression is to exercise- whether it’s hot yoga or pilates or jogging or a walk outside- those endorphins will help you! Most universities offer student rates on their gym memberships and sometimes free classes. Take advantage of deals and ‘pay yourself’ with self-care. And book fun activities with friends or family- even if it’s bi-weekly or monthly, it will be something to look forward to.
You may also want to take up a hobby that’s not related to school. The choices are endless, and whether you take up pottery, painting or rock climbing it gives you a different type of challenge- and it should be fun!
- BE FLEXIBLE
As mentioned earlier, Grad School involves a lot of changes and your Grad Program will definitely take you outside of your comfort zone. For example, your classes may be more seminar-style where you are expected to come prepared and play an active role in the discussion. There will likely be more reading involved and heavier workloads than you’re used to. You can’t just show up and watch the discussion.
How will you adapt to these new and unexpected challenges?
While no one expects you to be totally flexible and adaptable right away, it will take effort, especially if you are adverse to – or uncomfortable with- change (think Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory). Grad School is a new adventure and if you can embrace it and meet those challenges, you’re well on your way to success!
- BE PROFESSIONAL
Even though it’s early days for many of you, now is a perfect time to start to think about your post-graduation reference letter from your supervisor. Examples of phrases you don’t want to see on there would include: “…very disorganized; sometimes forgets about our meetings; late with assignments; has difficulty following instructions; doesn’t listen well to advice; seems overly sensitive to criticism….”.
Your professors will remember how you show up. They won’t (usually) remember your grades so much as your attitude towards learning, whether you were open to new ideas, how you dealt with challenge and adversity, whether you were a positive colleague, and your overall professionalism.
Now start to think about the adjectives you aspire to see on your reference letter:
“ flexible, patient, organized, hard-working, disciplined, confident, critical thinker, high level of professionalism…would be proud to have this student as a colleague….!” If you have a vision board in your study area at home, you may want to post the characteristics you want to be known for in Grad School.
- EMBRACE THE WIDER ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
As a Grad Student, you have the ‘admission ticket’ to a huge variety of events on campus such as lectures, seminars, national and international speakers, conferences, and free classes.
You may never have access to such a vibrant academic community again! It’s up to you to expand your horizons and to learn outside of your chosen discipline! This is an incredible opportunity, and even if you try to attend one or two events a term, that’s still a concerted effort to embrace the rich depth and diversity found in the academic community.
FINAL WORDS:
THE 10 THEMES FOR SUCCESS IN GRAD SCHOOL ARE:
- KNOW YOUR ‘WHY’!
- BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
- NURTURE AND BOLSTER YOUR PERSONAL SUPPORT NETWORK
- BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK
- BE PROACTIVE- IT’S YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE!
- BE PREPARED TO WORK HARD AND MANAGE YOUR TIME
- BALANCE WORK/LIFE/SCHOOL
- BE FLEXIBLE
- BE PROFESSIONAL
- EMBRACE THE WIDER ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
IT’S YOUR GRAD JOURNEY!
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” (Teddy Roosevelt)
Always keep in mind that this is YOUR Grad Studies journey! Many grads believe that they’re competing with their colleagues as to who will finish their courses/ comprehensives/ thesis/program first. Everyone’s circumstances are different- whether they are adjusting to returning to school, having to juggle part-time work, dealing with substantial family responsibilities, or coping with health issues. Your Grad Journey is unique to you – embrace it! I wish you incredible success!!
Sources:
“7 Keys to Success in Graduate School”. https://orientation.grad.ubc.ca
Coldron, Alice “How rare (or common) is it to have a Ph.D.?” https://www.findaphd.com/blog/5403/how-rare-or-common-is-it-to-have-a-phd
“Defining Success for Grad Students Online and On Campus.” https://www.gograd.org/success-in-graduate-school/
“Guide to Grad School”. https://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/guide-to-grad-school/
“How to Prepare for Grad School”. https://graduate.northeastern.edu/knowledge-hub/grad-school-tips/
“How to Succeed in Graduate School: 5 Actionable Tips”. https://www.creighton.edu/blog/succeed-graduate-school
“Ideal Graduate Characteristics.” https://www.ala.org/acrl/issues/infolit/standards/using/idealgradcharacteristics
“Preparing for Grad School”. https://extension.harvard.edu/blog/preparing-for-graduate-school-advice-for-incoming-student-success/
“Strategies for Successful Graduate Students”. https://online.uga.edu/news/strategies-successful-graduate-students/
Tartakovsky, Margarita, “12 Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Grad School.” https://psychcentral.com/lib/12-tips-for-surviving-and-thriving-in-grad-school#1
“What are Graduate Students? “https://academiainsider.com/what-are-grad-students-undergraduate-vs-graduate-students/
“What is a Graduate Program?” https://www.nu.edu/blog/difference-between-graduate-and-undergraduate-programs/
“What is Involved in Being a Grad Student?” https://grad.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/3/16-FGS-001_Graduate_Student_Guide_Thrive_ebook_FINA