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My postdoc @JosephMatheson2 and I were sending off my former undergraduate student Minkyu Kim to graduate school at @USC and giving him some advice over a beer. I thought it might be useful to share.
1. Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on finishing rather than on running fast.
2. Get comfortable with not knowing things.
3. Grad school is by far the best time in your life to learn. In learning, go both deep (become an expert in something) and broad (learn beyond your immediate subject of study). To learn, read, go to seminars, talk to your fellow grad students and professors, go to conferences.
4. There are many skills to learn, e.g., communicating your work, writing, time management, etc. But the most difficult skill to learn is to identify problems that are interesting, i.e., worthwhile solving, and solvable (by you!). Be deliberate about honing this and other skills.
5. Establish professional relationships. Overcome your shyness and insecurities and talk to fellow grad students and to professors about your research. These relationships will likely help in your future career in ways you can’t anticipate.
6. The relationship with your PhD advisor is probably the most important professional relationship that you will have. Be deliberate about developing it. Give your advisor feedback on what works for you and what doesn’t.
7. If you feel you are in some sort of trouble, seek help. Don’t let problems linger.
What would you add?
What would you add?
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