DAILY FORTY-NINER Vol. XC, Issue 51 www.daily49er.com Monday, September 19, 2022 special digital print edition EST p 1949 SO...
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Here at the 49er we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place”. We are on the land of the Tongva/Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/ Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.
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The graduate school issue of the Dai ly Forty-Niner aims to inform students about the opportunities graduate school
y last year at Long Beach State feels as though it’s decades away, but I know this next school year will pass by quickly and I will be a fourth-year faced with the same questions as many under graduate students. Will I go to graduate school? Should I apply? Can I afford it? Is it worth it? What are my options? Who can help me?
can offer, how to succeed as a graduate student and much more in order to keep students on track and focused on their future.Itis my hope that students at LBSU use this issue as a learning tool to bet ter prepare themselves for the future, no matter what year they’re in. It’s never too late or too early to begin planning for the future, I encourage you all to consider your future plans and which paths align with your goals. The options are endless, and although it may be intimidating at first, I look forward to exploring them alongside you
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Letters Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily Forty-Niner reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
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We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs con tinue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relation ship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
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Many students wonder what their next chapters will be such as grad school, certificate programs or internships.
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Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Daily FortyNiner are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily Forty-Niner.
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MEDINA | Daily Forty-Niner Grad school is always an option after students complete their bachelor’s.
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As a current third-year with two jobs and 15 class units to worry about, the absolute last thing on my mind is the possibility of applying to graduate school in the
Forty-NinerDaily
We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachamen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.
With many graduate school appli cations opening up, I sympathize with fourth-years at LBSU during this stress ful time. I encourage each and every student to consider all their possible op tions before deciding to apply to gradu ate school, such as certificate programs, internships or jumping straight into the workforce. Everyone is different and not all of our paths look the same.
Christalfuture.Gaines
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Gary MetzkerDesign Adviser Barbara Kinglsey-WilsonContent Adviser
The plan forgives $10,000 in debt, or $20,000 for students who received Pell Grants.
This increase in applicants suggests a growing interest in Long Beach State as a graduate program destination.
In the Spring of 2022 there was a total of 1,652 applicants to master’s and doctoral programs. Out of the 626 that were admitted, 341 students en rolled in classes, a 59% increase in ap plications compared to last year.
Meagan Hurley is one of those re cipients. “I qualified for $20,000 off my student loan debt so now the pros pects of actually paying off my remain ing student loans and saving for grad school is an actual possibility.”
Economics senior Remy Villasenor is another student who looks forward to loan forgiveness. “After I graduate, I hope to work for a company that will pay for me to get a graduate degree. But the debt relief acts could be help ful if the company didn’t cover the full price of my tuition.”
Beach State graduateapplicationsschoolupby59%
Long Beach State is recognized as the No. 2 master’s-level university in the nation and is ranked No. 1 in social mobility. There are currently around 6,000 students enrolled in graduate programs at CSULB and 65 different fields to choose from.
a funded program such as a teaching or research assistantship or a fellowship that gives you a stipend to cover the cost of going to grad school.
P
Long
First generation college student Da vid Ramirez encourages students who want to further their education to find
Illustration by Jasmine Lee
By Natalie Salajczyk Staff Writer
“After getting my bachelor in aero space engineering I was able to get a fellowship from the Department of Defense and work for the U.S. Navy while publishing academic papers. The funding process is very competitive for S.T.E.M. research. You can receive around $3000 a month.”
Statistics of applied, admitted, and enrolled graduate students. 1,542 1,652 853974 764 803 1,089 327 562626 432397370407 303273241277343341 557
resident Biden’s promise to cancel certain federal stu dent debt may factor into students’ decision to pursue a graduate degree.
Student debt relief acts may be increasing student interest in higher studies.
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Business adviser Rod Smith and philosophy adviser Max Rosenkrantz talk about the investment and personal decision of applying to grad school.
Things may not have gone as planned during your undergraduate
A good resource for determining if grad school is a good idea for you is by using a Return On Investment (ROI)
5MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM NEWS
Thesaid.sooner you begin to examine these things, the sooner you can come to your decision and be better prepared when the time comes to apply.
What to do if your under graduate studies haven’t went as planned
studies in terms of grades, establish ing relationships with faculty, or extra curricular activities. Regardless, you shouldn’t be discouraged from pursu ing graduate school.
vouch for your work ethic.
“You have to understand yourself, your interests, your capabilities, what you want to achieve, and so forth,” phi losophy graduate advisor Max Rosenk rantz
How to gauge if graduate school is a good investment for you personally
It is important to establish rela tionships with professors and advisors as they can help you to navigate your decision. They can provide you with wisdom and guidance based on your specific goals as they have a lot of re sources and expertise within the career field.They can also be a great source for letters of recommendation. Ideally, you should aim to take multiple class es with them so they can thoroughly
Things to consider before applying to graduate school
Graduate school is a huge financial investment and you should be carefully analyzed“You want to think about where you’re going to want to go. And is this going to pay me back,” business gradu ate advisor Rod Smith said. “And that’s a hard question to answer because it depends on the individual.”
Another affective way to under stand if graduate school is a good de cision for you is by exploring your passions inside and outside of school. Internships, for instance, are an excel lent place for you to explore your inter ests and get a better idea of job respon sibilities within any given career.
by Jasmine Lee
Applying to graduate school is a serious decision, it is important to take the time to assess your options.
he choice to pursue a high er education after com pleting an undergraduate degree can be challenging, and not everyone’s deci sion process will be the same.
“
T
Regardless of where you are in your journey, it is important to have a gen eral idea of when to start considering graduate school, how to gauge if it is a good investment for you personally, and what to do if your undergraduate studies haven’t went as planned. Advi sors from the colleges of business and philosophy shared their recommenda tions on what to keep in mind during your decision process.
It is recommended to begin con templating graduate school as early on in your undergraduate studies as possible. It is never too late to apply to graduate school, however the decision to continue your education requires a lot of introspection.
Max Rosenkrantz Philosophy adviser
When to start considering graduate school
calculatorGraduateonline.school is also a huge time investment. You should consider what you might be giving up in order to pur sue a graduate program. For example, you may be missing out on other career opportunities or personal investments, such as travel.
Grad school can be used as a way to further explore something that you’ve studied, explore something entirely different, perform better, or even build some connections and relationships with faculty and other professionals that you may not have established the first time “There’saround.nosingle decision that you’ll make as an undergraduate that somehow forever closes off the pos sibility of going to graduate school,” Rosenkrantz said.Illustration
“That recommendation should talk about your commitment and ability to complete a graduate program…be cause we find that the biggest issue for students is time management,” said Smith.
There’s no single decision that you’ll make as an undergraduate that somehow forever closes off the possibility of going to graduate school.
By Ashley Wilkes Staff Writer
CSULB students worry a theirwillrecessionimpactplansaftergraduation
Students at Long Beach State fear a possi ble inflation will interfere with their plans after graduation as economists predict a recession.
"We are in a situation in which the Feder al Reserve is increasing interest rates to try to control inflation,” Gonzalez said. “People still see that with their paycheck and they cannot make a living."
CSULB Liberal Arts director of advising Tanisha Peoples said earning a degree will help graduating students secure a job.
Long Beach State senior aerospace engineer Nickey Diorio plans to look for a job in his field, but with a possible recession, he fears there will be few job openings in his field of work.
Rising inflation is still a factor in student loan debt, as the graduating class of 2020 had an average student debt of $30,000. After ad justing for inflation in May 2021, their debt in creased to
“I'm worried that financials are really going to be an issue especially prior in my life they really were so there's almost a little bit of a fear for it,” Diorio said.
In 2020, approximately 50% of the U.S. graduating class found a full-time job within six months after graduation, while the other 50% freelanced or faced unemployment.
By Emmanuel Barrera Staff Writer
CSULB associate professor of finance Laura Gonzalez explained the cause of the recession.
“Machining parts doing anything with soft ware, hardware, advancements in technology, everything’s going to cost a lot more, that is a big worry for me,” said Patton.
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However,$31,500.some
As inflation increases, businesses also in crease the prices of their products.
CSULB senior aerospace engineer and gov ernment contractor Camden Patton is not wor ried about the recession, but is concerned that the cost of production will go up.
"[Students] have made a good choice pur suing an education, that's the best investment in the future,” Gonzalez said.
CSULB students are not worried about their plans after graduation or about the possible recession.
EMMANUEL BARRERA | Daily Forty-Niner E. James Brotman Hall holds the office of financial aid.
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Grad life movie recommendations
MIRAMAX
8 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COMARTS & LIFE
With the standards being high, James starts to struggle trying to keep up with both his coursework and a woman, but little does he know, she has a connection that will affect their relationship. The movie focuses on the student and mentor dynamic. In this case, James is challenged by his instructor, professor Charles Kingsfield, played by John Houseman, who challenges the other students in his class with questions that make them seek creative and precise responses. This ends up pushing James to his limits, and he begins to question his priorities. This film can resonate with students who struggle with stress and balancing work20thflow.Century
“Legally Blonde,” (2001)
Matt Damon and Robin Williams play a student and therapist with an indescribable bond.
Additional Recommendations
“The Social Network,” (2010)
Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods.
One day while working as the school janitor at M.I.T., Will Hunting decides to solve a difficult math question written on a classroom board. When even the most intelligent students were not able to solve this equa tion, Professor Stellan Skarsgard noticed Will and is thoroughly im pressed, especially knowing that Will has had no formal schooling and a troubled past. He seeks Will a therapist to help guide him after practically guaranteeing him into the mathematics program. Robin Williams, who plays his therapist, helps Will discover his worth as they share an inde scribable bond.
“The Theory of Everything,” (2014)
Getty Images
“The Paper Chase,” (1973)
Fox Timothy Bottoms plays a struggling law student.
"Good Will Hunting,” (1977)
Elle Woods, played by Witherspoon, originally goes to Harvard as a law student to get her boyfriend back, but ends up finding attri butes about herself and grows into her passion for law along the way. She thrives past the criticism, judgement, and hate from others who thought she couldn’t become a lawyer because of her appearance and proves them wrong. As a woman, this movie shares a strong message about not letting other people stop you from achieving your dreams.
By Kadie Gurley Opinions Assistant
One of those resources is “studygram”—an Instagram community of students who help each other by sharing their experiences and showcasing the good and the bad. Some examples include Instagram pages like @kermitkritterstudies and @studywith ara.
Within studygram, students can find a community of other students providing their insights with information on just about anything. Most of the time, people in this community have lots of years of school under their belt which can be useful for gradPagesstudents.likethese can help students become organized and learn from the experi ences they discuss. They share helpful resources such as websites, Google Chrome extensions, applications that help with school, study tips, schedules and more!
trend of 'studygram'
The can be helpful when navigating grad school and trying to become a better student.
By Liz Rico Staff Writer
ARTS & LIFE 9MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM
You’ve graduated and decided to take the next step in your education: grad school. Sometimes it can be difficult to set the pace or organize yourself but the good thing is there are plenty of online resources to help you navigate this next adventure.
The main objective of their Instagram accounts is to provide tools to students so they can improve their studying habits, talk about topics ranging from improving grades, self-care, and combating stress, and even give insight into their activities out side of school and how to achieve a good work/life balance.
STUDYWITHARA | Instagram @studywithara’s instagram feed consists of posts focusing on sharing lifestyle and study tips. Google extensions provided by @kermitkritterstudies: Power Thesaurus - useful for when you overuse a word and need something different Grammarly - useful for correcting your papers through grammar and sentence structure Bitly - useful for shortening links to pag es when needed Websites recommended by @studywithara: Pitch.com - for presentations Scribehow.com - for making guides about anything such as how to create an Excel sheet, how to navigate Zoom and even how to make your LinkedIn page look Ratemyprofessor.combetter - to look at reviews of professors
Studygram: a resource for studying
Being able to de-stress from his priorities proved a hard task, as Lopez said even find ing time for himself was difficult in itself.
Lopez, who just received his Master of Arts in Education, was working at the Dream Success Center during his tenure as a Long Beach State grad student, while also working a multitude of other small jobs.
Plascencia, who got her child and adoles cent development degree at Cal State Fuller ton, returned to grad school to help her ca reer as a preschool teacher.
As a current grad student, Isabel Plascen cia finds herself in a similar situation.
Lopez graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018 with a degree in legal studies and soon found himself working as an academic af fairs coach at a non-profit after-school pro gram for a year before returning to school.
“It was difficult at times because I knew at the end of the day, I want to succeed at school, but you know there’s other things that come first in your life that are important as well,” said Lopez.
“Access to resources like CAPS and even the community building events have helped me,” said Plascencia. “And that was some thing I would like to offer to other students. A lot of these resources are meant to help set us up to thrive.”
“Something that has helped me kind of succeed is having a mentor in both set tings. I have a handful of people I can just go to at work and at school,” said Plascencia. “Talking to someone related to what I am be ing stressed out about helps.”
The Grad Study Center has resources for students to learn more about higher education.
Pursuing higher education while employed
“I thought, for me, it was the best move to pursue my master’s. I think it’s a way to in vest in my kids at the same time, in heighten ing the quality of their own education,” said the preschool teacher in a Zoom meeting.
Plascencia said that there would also be days in which she would forget to eat her lunch as she had a busy workload. And that she had to set herself notes to remind herself to eat, and get rid of some of the stress.
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I found that balance, I found that routine throughout the week. I under stand when I have free time and when I can use it accordingly,” said Lopez.
Both grad students were soon able to get traction in finding a balance. Lopez and Plas cencia were able to create their own format to help them get through the day without much“Eventually,stress.
JASON GARCIA | Daily Forty-Niner
Recent Long Beach State University graduate student Joseph Lopez and current grad student Isabel Plascencia describe the balance of being a grad student while also trying to manage their work.
For Plascencia, she needed a bit more like writing down small notes, using a planner, and a calendar, with the help of others.
JASON GARCIA | Daily Forty-Niner
While attending grad school and work ing, Joseph found it hard to maintain a steady balance.
By Jason Garcia Staff Writer
Current and former Long Beach State graduate students describe their balance of work and their pursuit of a masters degree.
The second floor of the University Library is the “Graduate Center.”
“I wanted to see the next step of my edu cational journey,” said Lopez in a phone in terview. “I knew my ultimate goal was to get a Ph.D. Not just because I wanted to improve my job outlook, but I also wanted to improve my research skills.”
6. Remember to be present in everything you do. While juggling everything, it can be hard to take a mo ment and enjoy life, but being present at family dinners, in class, or at bed time with your little one remind you of the important things in life and what you are doing it all for.
Learning to balance being in school and responsibilities out of the class room can be challenging, especially for those who are in school with children at home. Returning student Victoria Ferreyra, a French & Francophone Studies major on the teaching track, shared her tips on how she balances her studies and takes care of her son.
3. Learn what is truly a priori ty. It's often difficult to figure out what can be left for another time and what can't. Recognizing when your plate is full and understanding what doesn't really need to be on it is a key lesson
4. Lean into your support sys tem. There are people around you who love and support both your and your little one's needs and who want you to succeed. Leaning on them for
1. Time management is more important than ever. Learning to create time blocks for things that abso lutely need to get done can help in or ganizing and completing assignments while blocking time for self-care gives much-needed breaks in a hectic sched ule.
help with babysitting, housework, or even just listening to what's going on lets you know you aren't alone as you go through this.
7. Take time for yourself. Reg ularly do something just for you that brings joy and makes you feel yourself again. Whether that be going to a cof fee shop by yourself or reviving habits that you've neglected since becoming busy, giving yourself space to do things you love will bring a much-needed pick me up in times of stress.
KRISTINA AGRESTA | Daily Forty-Niner
2. Stop procrastinating and enjoy the feeling of being ahead. It is easy to procrastinate on assign ments, but always running behind is stressful and can cause grades to slip. Being ahead helps you keep track of assignments and gives more room for spontaneous time with family at home. Not only will you accomplish more, but you will do it with far less stress.
Tips and tricks for surviving graduate school while parenting
By Kristina Agresta Managing Editor
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5. Reach out to your profes sors and advisors. Don't feel bad about needing help sometimes. Your professors and advisors want to help you succeed and it is always better to address things before they actually be come a problem.
Balancing academics and life at home is a challenge for graduate stu dents with kids.
for balancing life at home and school.
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Parenting and school are both full-time jobs, but with a few tips and tricks, being dedicated to both isn't im possible.
The backup of showing a higher degree could give me a better chance in getting a step closer to a career.
Once I graduate, the road is un clear whether I will get a job related to my major. I am worried about what I am going to do after getting an un dergrad degree, so something that has been on my mind for a few months now is grad school.
Grad school, never in my life would I have expected those two words to come out of my mouth.
burden to attend grad school because I am a woman and a minority.
If I finally decide that I want to get a higher education, it will be because I know my potential and want to polish my passion and master it.
By Kadie Gurley Opinions Assistant
“ Grad school, never in my life would I have expected those two words to come out of my mouth.
I never thought that I was good enough or qualified to fulfill these positions. My mindset is changing for the better as this semester goes forth, but I often think about if I am skilled enough to even apply for post-grad studies.Foryears, I have struggled with self-doubt, but some of these doubts have been rooted from feeling the
do not receive a vast majority of these jobs right away. To me, we must work twice as hard as a white man for cer tain working
At the end of the day, I know I will make the right decision. Going to grad school means more than proving to others that I am qualified.
search survey, 68% of journalists ages 18 to 29 say there is not enough racial and ethnic diversity at their organiza tion, compared with 37% of journalists 65 and older. The survey was out of 12,000 people, so about 8,160 people think that there is not enough diverse delineation in the workplace.
B
Women, let alone people of color,
I have been in college for over sev en years. Even though it has taken a long time, I am very passionate about receiving an education, especially being a Growingminority.upin a low-income fami ly, it made sense going to community college after high school. It was during my time at Cerritos College that I knew that higher education was some thing on my “to-do list.”
Doubts of applying to gradI'mbecauseschoolBlack
It should not have to come down to taking another two years of college and paying more tuition money to the school just to prove to others that I meet the qualifications to obtain a job.
From then to now, I am a senior and have accomplished that ambition. So what’s next?
All of these thoughts are frequently running through my mind. It almost feels like an intense game of chess that you know you can win, but keep overthinking the next move.
Kadie Gurley Opinions Assistant
I want to work in various areas of journalism, but the industry is elusive and hard to get into.
Developing a mindset like a queen in a chess game is what I strive to do because the queen is the most power ful piece.Iamthe most important piece in my life, and I know even if I do not go to grad school, receiving a bachelor’s degree is a great honor and a mark of my perseverance throughout my college
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| Daily Forty-Niner Students often wonder if they will be able to handle the intensity of graduate school.
eing in college has been such an interesting journey. Not a bad experience, but it has taken a long time to finish my Fromundergrad.attending community college, to transferring to a CSU, to taking a two year break, and then coming to Long Beach State last year, I’ve done it all.
Accordingfields.toarecent Pew Re
To be in college right now is very bittersweet. After seven years of pursuing an undergraduate degree, I am finally in my senior year. So what’s next?
KADIEexperience.GURLEY
est - graduate school is very draining. College costs are insane, commuting is expensive, and housing is scarce.
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Plus, the amount of hours you work limits the time you have for home work and rest. We must constantly be dividing our hours to make it through another day. And despite all these efforts - isn’t the master’s degree the new bachelor’s? How do we know the job market will like us any better?
That’s the percent age of Latinos in the U.S. who hold a master’s degree. Every 1 out of 20 Latinos in the U.S. managed to make it through the “don’t bothers” and came together to make just that...5%. I happen to be one of those 20 people in-progress. And though I’d like to think so, there’s really no guarantee I’ll be part of that group. Other num bers - the loans in my name, miles commuting, my GPA, the unemploy ment rate, my income, the recession - dictate the probability of my success. My face is merely a side on a 20-sided dice.
But, yes, 5%. Though I’ve made it through the door, I have to be hon
Image courtesy of Alfredo Ortiz Jazmin Arellano poses in front of the CLA building at Cal Poly Pomona for her graduation pictures.
But, yes, 5%. I can’t speak for any one - I can hardly speak for myself. I’m still figuring it out in the midst of my program. I know that I love learn ing German and Russian and reading the corresponding literature. I know that I’ve made connections, gotten involved on campus like I wished since I got accepted, and became the first in my family to attend graduate school. Most importantly, I know that I’m learning a lot about myself, as a student and person, and preparing for my future career in publishing. Still, will I graduate? Will others like me graduate with me? I wish I could calculate the answer to this question.
While I often fail numbers, I don’t want to fail this one. But, should other Latinos be up for it, they are the number that I’ll always be rooting for. They’ll be my 5%, and I hope to someday be theirs.
Five percent? I hate numbers. I failed math in high school and then again in college. I had to fight to pass statistics with a C, and even then, I was told not to bother. Five percent? I’m not even sure I have $5. I’m not even sure what 5% of any thing
hen I applied to grad school, 5% wasn’t even a thought on my mind.
But,means.yes,5%.
By Jazmin Arellano Gallardo Copy Editor Assistant
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Five percent means one of us
W
G
By Isabel Silagy Podcast Editor
The prospect of studying exactly what I want, in a city where I want to be, to pursue a career I am passionate about, propels me to overcome my fears of rejection and failure.
Isabel Silagy Podcast Editor
Resisting my fears of graduate school
Considering everything I’ve just ex plained, this process should make me a panicked mess and completely de void of hope. Some days, I am exactly that. As a first-generation student who knows only one person in my desired field, it’s impossible to not be wracked with anxiety about this process.
The post-graduate education process is a difficult one. Not giving into anxiety is half the battle.
who really know me (which is difficult, considering we’ve been attending col lege during a global pandemic).
Students like myself, who decide to pursue a post-graduate degree, subject ourselves to reliving the application process that we experienced as high schoolers. Except this time, more is at stake.This time around, I know exactly what I want to study and what kind of career I want, but I also want to study and work in a field that is pretty niche in the United States, which com pounds the stress.
Now, here’s to hoping I don’t lose my mind during the admission pro cess.
Not to mention, the application fees are higher than undergraduate fees. My personal statements need to be compelling without sounding ob noxiously arrogant, and my reference letters need to be written by professors
“
I am eternally grateful to every person who has given me a word of advice and lent a listening ear as I navigate this next phase of life. Thanks to the people in my corner, I haven’t given into the nerves I fight everyday in the application process.
raduate school is terrifying. Scratch that, the graduate school application process is Applyingterrifying.forcollege as a high schooler — a time when most of us have little idea of what we want to do with our lives, and where we want to do it — is scary enough. At some point in college, some of us realize we have to continue with our education even after we earn our bachelor’s degrees.
ANDREY METELEV | Unsplash Grad school requires time and effort in applications, money, and the stress of wondering if you’ll even be admitted.
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I am incredibly fortunate to have family members, friends, and profes sors who are supporting me through this process. My parents listen pa tiently when I ramble ad nauseam about the different universities I’m considering, and my professors do their best to answer the infinite ques tions I have about academia.
After that, I have to measure my odds of actually being admitted into certain programs and if I can even afford them. Because — that’s right — graduate programs are more expen sive and offer less financial support.
Yet, I remain hopeful and actually really excited about what the future holds, whatever that may be. The prospect of studying exactly what I want, in a city where I want to be, to pursue a career I am passionate about, propels me to overcome my fears of rejection and failure.
I have spent an absurd amount of time cross-examining graduate pro grams and their faculty pages, making sure the programs have competitive internship opportunities, and deter mining if the location of the program is close enough to the cities I need to be in for my future career (hello unaf fordable metropolises!).
Le, a first-year graduate student at Long Beach State, is pursuing her master’s degree in statistics. She previously attended a graduate program at another university but left after not receiving helpful guidance. Through lots of self-navigating, Le has compiled a few tips to help others get through graduate school.
It’s a good idea for undergraduate students to have a routine, but it’s even more important to stay organized as a graduate student. There are many different ways of doing this such as using calendars, planners and remind ers. Be flexible and remember that things can change.
Surrounding yourself with people that keep you accountable and focused on your goals is even more important in graduate school. This can be a close friend, a family member, or a counsel or that you can check-in with who sup ports your goals and progress. Faculty and peers are also a good resource to help you navigate your career plans.
A big part of being successful in graduate school is avoiding burn out. Burn out, which you’re more prone to as a grad student, is when you overex ert yourself to the point of exhaustion. In order to avoid this, it’s important to make time for things that aren’t school or work related. This can be anything from working out to spending time with family; anything that helps you de-stress.
T
If you decide to work during your graduate studies, Le recommends trying to find a job within your de partment. This allows you to further explore what you’re studying and develop a better understanding of potential careers within your chosen field.“I realized that I wanted to get to know the people that I had not just on an academic level, but professional level,” Le said.
Have a schedule but be adaptable. Get ahead assignments.on If possible, try to get a job within your department. Have someone that keeps you motivated and accountable. Make time yourselffor
Illustration by Jasmine Lee with all of the added work from classes.
Being successful in grad school can be challenging
By Ashley Wilkes Staff Writer
OPINIONS 15MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM
Graduate student shares tips for success
Grades can be much more de manding in graduate school. A good way to avoid overwhelming yourself is by being proactive and staying on top of assignments.“Itendtodo a lot of my work way beforehand, like I start right when they give me the homework. So when things change, it doesn’t affect me as much,” Le said.
“For me, it’s just small things, like walking my dog or spending the week ends with my grandma at her house,” Le said. “I [also] really enjoy journal ing, it gets your thoughts out of your head so you don’t spiral.”
eresa Le is giving graduate school another chance. After putting her studies on hold, she now continues her edu cation with new-found wisdom.
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