Veronica Rabelo, Women’s Studies and PSC, Cohort 2011

Congratulations – you’re about to embark on a PhD! The University of Michigan is an incredible place to complete your studies. You will have access to top-notch resources, brilliant (yet down-to-earth) faculty, and phenomenal staff and support. Here are some pieces of advice to help you get the most out of your time in Ann Arbor…

Optimize your goal-setting. Even though you will be spending five or six years to complete your degree, the time will pass more quickly than you may expect. To help make the most of your time, it’s important to routinely set goals – for the school year, semester, month, week, and day. When you first meet with your advisor, work together to establish clear expectations – what do they expect you to accomplish during your first year? This can vary from lab to lab. Some faculty have you jump right into data collection for your 619 (master’s thesis), whereas other advisors may want you to first focus on coursework and idea development. Have a frank and open conversation with your advisor about how you should be spending your first year of the program. It’s also a great idea to meet with older grad students in your lab or program – what are some major milestones they reached each semester/year? Ask them what they wish they had done differently.

To Be continued….