#ma program

As per my usual disappearing acts, I am returned! I have officially graduated my bachelor’s program, and I am super super fortunate to be starting a Master’s program in the fall, with an emphasis on conflict studies and development.

I am officially part of GRADBLR (finally)!!

Stick around for:

- Complaining

- Random pol-sci knowledge

- Photos of the same buildings

- Whatever else I’m interested in at the moment

At the time I am writing this, you have probably just begun yourMaster’s program. My sincere apologies that I wasn’t able to reply sooner, butI hope the advice below will still be useful to you. 

PartOne: The MA Program

When starting your MA program, make a list of all importantdepartment due dates or deadlines for things like financial aid, enrollment deadlines, and degreerequirements (e.g., language exam date, comprehensive exam date, thesis duedate). Ensure you understand the degree requirements: thenumber of courses you have to take (and in what areas), whether or not yourprogram requires a comprehensive examination, how many languages you will berequired to test in to receive your degree, how many readers your thesis shouldhave, and if there are any special requirements for your thesis. Also take noteof financial opportunities available to new or repeat graduate studentsincluding tuition or stipends, travel grants, or photography grants. Some fundingwill only be open to second-year students, some will only be open to doctoralstudents, some to ABD, and so on. If you have a teaching or TA assignment, makesure you’re aware of any training sessions you are required to go to andintroduce yourself to your faculty supervisor, if you have one.

Once you’ve figured out the red tape, get a layout of your campus, if you aren’t familiar with it already. Get to know the staples of yourdepartment (who processes the paperwork? is there an image library? where is the Chair’s office and your advisor’s office? etc.) and find out whether or not your program has a dedicated graduate student lounge. Figureout where the library is, what resources the library offers, and what databasesyour school subscribes to. Also see if your library offers individual studycorrals for graduate use, lockers, or conference rooms. (This probably seemslike common sense, but I’m including it here just in case.) If you like coffee,tea, or beer, try local coffeeshops and bars for environments you like andcould potentially study/work in. (Because working in an Irish bar is definitelysomething I have never done …) Figure out what local eateries are fast, cheap,and do not have a throng of undergrads, since sometimes you will only have afew minutes between classes and will need to grab something quick. (More commonsense, but every campus town is different – there were some marked differencesbetween certain places on campus at my alma mater that took way too long to figureout.) Next, see if your school has discounted transportation tickets, museum/theater/movie tickets, gym discounts (or a gym on campus!), restaurant discounts, and so on. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, familiarize yourself with physical and mental health services availableto graduate students.

So, by now you’re comfortable with your new institution anddepartment – onto academics.

In my experience, there are three key factors to success in graduateschool:

1.     Time management. Startpapers early and finish them early; leave time for revision.

2.     Selfcare & maintainingextra-curricular relationships. Make sure you have people you can confide in, whether they are friends, family, or professionals. Don’t get lost in yourwork; nurture your relationships. Part of selfcare involves keeping youracademics in check: striving for excellence in your work, rather thanperfection, is mentally more manageable. Take some time each day to completelyrelax and take your mind off academe.

3.     Continual improvement of your skillsetand knowledge. You were already awesome when you entered graduate school, butyou need to work on improving your weaknesses and honing your strengths. Youalso need to learn as much as possible about your area of specialty, so read,read, read. Lastly, keep your career in mind: watch for CFPs, fellowship, internship,and teaching opportunities.

As far as what to expect with regard to coursework, you will likelybe expected to take courses across a variety of time periods and cultures. Thus,you might encounter art from a culture or period you aren’t familiar. A little intimidating,right? Maybe, maybe not. If this happens, read as much as you can about thesubject before the first day of class to try to get up to speed, and try todraw connections between the unfamiliar subject and what you do know. Onanother note, remember that you will be expected to know how to read at least 1language other than English. You will be tested on this in your officiallanguage exam(s), but you will also be unofficially tested during coursework when dothe weekly readings, participate in discussion, or write papers (i.e. doing research in X language related to your area of specialty). Be prepared toreceive constructive criticism on your papers from your peers if your programrequires students read their term work aloud; in the same vein, be prepared toprovide constructive criticism to your peers.

I’m sure there are other aspects of coursework I’m notmentioning here, but this is what I can think of at this late hour.

Keep in mind that graduate school is what you make it. You getwhat you put in. These statements are cliché, but they’re true.

Part Two: Imposter Syndrome

With regard to how to overcome imposter syndrome, I was going totype my advice, but I honestly couldn’t say it better than the author of this article, which I hope you find valuable. Before youclick through to the link, though, please know that if you are experiencingimposter syndrome, or if you experience it in the future, you aren’t alone. Ihave experienced it, as have mostgraduate students. The hallmark of imposter syndrome is that a person feelslike a fraud and will be found out and exposed as such. He or she thinks they don’tactually know anything about their field, don’t deserve to be where they are, thatthey didn’t earn it, and they’re just going through the motions. 

If this sounds like something you are feeling, take a breath.Allow reality to set in: You got where you are because you earned it. You areaccomplished and will continue to accomplish things. Your department believesin you and recognizes your potential, or else you wouldn’t be there. If yourcohort has more accomplishments than you (publications, fellowships,scholarships, etc), that’s fine – we all work at our own pace, to the timingthat is meant to be. Be aware of your role in your success, but stay humble atthe same time. There is only so much you can achieve in a day, month, or year,and you need to balance your ambition with your physical and mental ability andstamina. 

Imposter syndrome manifested alongside severe panic attacks forme, and at the time, I was too stubborn to take the hour or so to visit aprofessional for help. If you find that you suffer from anxiety or panicattacks, I strongly recommend visiting a therapist or doctor for copingstrategies and/or medication, depending on your personal situation. (For more advice, again, see this article.)

I just applied to graduate school to the University of Northern Colorado, for their M.A. Theatre Education program!