Thread by @VnVrinda

A PhD student checklist to keep track of!

It helps me be efficient enough to keep moving ahead in my program. I expect this will help you too!

A 🧵

@PhDVoice @ThePhDPlace @PhD_Genie @PhDspeaks @CouragePhD @AcademicChatter @OpenAcademics #phdchat #scicomm @PhDForum

1. Weekly summary report: My supervisor has made a point to submit a weekly summary report before every meeting. This has been a game-changer for sure because it helps you keep a track of what you did and what goals to have to set forth.

Here's the weekly summary report format (if you need it).

> Previous Meeting Highlights
> Activities (What you did/accomplished)
> Difficulties (Problems that cropped up / things that stumped you)

> Potential Solutions: How you might go about solving these (including if you have someone in mind to ask for help)
> Tentative Goals for Coming Week (What you would like to accomplish before the next meeting)

> Tentative Points of Discussion for Weekly Meeting: Specific things you would like to discuss with the mentor

2. Monthly feedback or Yearly feedback: This is what your supervisor gives you at the end of the month or end of the year. So set a reminder to ask for feedback on your progress.

I always look forward to my supervisor's monthly feedback because they mention my biggest accomplishments, my (supervisor) view of short-term goals, areas of future work/improvement and further notes

3. Course work: I don't have to explain this!

It's always recommended to complete your coursework during the first year of your program or at least by the fourth term.

*But it's totally fine if the pandemic delayed it (if in case).

4. Comprehensive Examination: Now every university might have a different timeline but it's always better to plan out well in advance with your supervisor.

5. Milestone set-up: There is a document that your department hands out which have a PhD milestone and it tells you when to complete what credits. So that there is no last-minute glitch.

*Remember to keep that pdf on your desk.

6. Conferences: If you're applying for departmental or university travel funds. Please do remember to plan out according to the timelines because you know funds can take some time to get processed. If it's in the form of reimbursement then get it done as soon as possible.

7. Supervisory committee meetings: Well, planning out well in advance will always be of great help.

8. Internship: If you intend to do an internship during your PhD then you should start the search and start applying for it soon enough. I guess the best time to do an internship will be when you're in your second or third year. One of my suggestions: @MitacsCanada

9. Visiting scholar program: You may know that PhD students can visit different universities and can train for a few months under different research groups. Remember to check with your supervisor if they have collaborators whom you can train with.

10. Scholarships: Be it internal or external funding/ scholarships/fellowship. Apply if you're eligible for it. This helps you with your writing and understanding your research better.

*Please don't self reject. Give it a try, you never know the result might be in your favour.

Fun points: Keep a motivating poster (I have kept a poem of mine) on your desk, Stick many colourful post-its (have to do this), books (other than reference books) etc.

Well, I guess the folks who completed their PhDs will have more points. Do write them down!