Let’s face it: Starting classes in the winter semester can be a tough, whether you’re a returning student or just starting your graduate studies at Concordia. (If the latter is the case, welcome!) In the fall semester, many of us are still buoyed by energy built up over the summer months. By the time January rolls around, having to ease yourself back into reading, writing and coursework after what is often what feels like an all-too-short winter/holiday break can take some motivation. Thankfully, by taking a few simple steps in your first few weeks back to school you can ensure you’re set up to succeed throughout the semester.
Step 1: Ask yourself what went right last semester
If you’re just starting your graduate studies this semester, you’ll want to check out our post on the GradProBlog from the start of the Fall Semester, What You Need to Know Before Starting Grad School. Plus, our Graduate School Success workshop can help you learn what it takes to be a successful graduate student and gain strategies to effectively accomplish your goals. If you’re a returning student, ask yourself what you did well during that first semester. What lessons did you learn that you can apply again this year? Are there habits you cultivated you want to continue to implement in the new year? In her post “10 Things I Learned During My First Semester of Grad School,” University of Tennessee graduate student Mallory Ladd lists some essential lessons for new grad students, including the importance of coffee/tea, regular exercise, and socializing. Alternatively, if the last semester did not unfold as you would have expected or wanted, reflect on what you’d want to do differently, and how to apply those changes in the upcoming weeks and months.
Step 2: Get back into the swing of things by establishing a schedule
As you emerge from the “egg nog haze” that characterize the winter break, you’ll most probably have to readjust your internal clock after a couple of weeks away from a regular school and work schedule. In their month-by-month game plan for the semester, Textbooks.com recommends sitting down to “write out your new class schedule and work study hours, along with your goals for the semester” at the beginning of January. “Taking on an extra lab? Unless you’ve discovered that 25th hour in the day we all want, that time is going to come from somewhere. Are you getting back to the gym? Block out the time and schedule it in your calendar.”
Step 3: Exchange your bad habits for better ones
It’s the time of year where we all resolve to be better people in the new year, so it should be little surprise that much of this advice revolves around either changing habits that aren’t working out for you the way you’d want and replacing them with better ones. If you want to set yourself so you don’t burn out halfway through the semester, the beginning of the new semester is a perfect time to do this.
Thomas Frank, a.k.a. the College Info Geek, has a whole series of YouTube tutorials on successfully navigating the university system. Although mostly targeted towards undergrads, his video How to Start a New Semester or School Year the Right Way Frank has some good recommendations for any student, including developing regular study habits early on.
You can develop these habits by scoping out a good study location, going there on a regular basis, and forming a writing or studying group with classmates. There are a number of study spaces available at Concordia. You can even book group study spaces ahead of time through the library.
Writing for The Muse, Harvard MBA student Leslie Moser explains that she takes time every weekend to plan her week out, with beneficial results: “[W]hen I do take the time to plot out my week, everything goes much more smoothly—I’m not as stressed about getting my homework done, I consistently find time to exercise, and I’m also able to do more fun things with friends,” she writes.
Step 4: Re-working (or creating) your budget
In looking back at her fall semester spending habits, Moser notes a series of unplanned expenses, from club dues to event tickets. She evaluated and updated her expenses in consequence for the upcoming semester. If you’re unsure how to get started on a budget, check out our blog post Budgeting for Broke Grad Students. Plus, we have a series of workshops designed to equip students with Financial Skills for the Real World that you can sign up for. Check our page for upcoming workshop sessions.
Step 5: Sign up for a GradProSkills workshop
We've got a great line-up planned for you in the next weeks and months. You can see and register for our upcoming workshops through our website. If something catches your eye, be sure to sign up for it ASAP so your spot doesn't get filled. Have a great start to the semester, and we look forward to seeing you at a workshop soon!
Photo courtesy of Simply CVR on Flickr.