Chloe Brady
@cabradybio

During my PhD, the most common question I’ve been asked when chatting with new students is: “If you could start again, what would you have done differently?” Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and as a final year student pressed for time, it can be tempting to look back and wonder what could have been had you the experience and knowledge you do now. After speaking with fellow postgraduates, it appears this is a common theme, regardless of whether you are a Master’s, PhD, taught or research-based student. Although dwelling on the ‘what ifs’ may not be time spent wisely for those of us in the final stages of our degree, our do’s and don’ts are likely pieces of valuable advice for new starters. Here, current postgraduates from a variety of fields give an insight into useful habits and skills they have developed throughout their degree, as well as what they wish they’d have known as a brand-new student.

Organisation is key

The transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study can be a shock. Postgraduate courses often feel more like a job, with greater responsibility and time commitments. Organisation therefore becomes extremely important. Ways to get started include:

• Invest in a good diary/planner – buy one you are excited to start filling in!
• Break down tasks into manageable slots of time each day – give yourself small daily or weekly goals which make a larger target more achievable
• Write to-do lists – no matter how small, tasks are much more likely to be completed if they are written down. It’s also satisfying ticking them off!
• Write everything down – it’s hard to remember everything you’ve done, especially if you’re lab based. Keeping notes from meetings/experiments acts as a diary of your progress
• Experiment to find your own schedule – some enjoy a 9-5 day, however, don’t worry if you prefer to work earlier or later than others
• Stick to scheduled work times – having a set time to finish working helps with motivation and wellbeing, ensuring weekends and weeknights are kept free or involve only limited work
• Note down important deadlines ahead of time e.g., for conference registration – this provides you with time to plan which work you can submit
• Spend time to create a good literature review – if you are required to write one for your course, they prove invaluable for publications or even your thesis later on!
• Create computer folders specific to each aspect of your project – this ensures you know where everything is come end of year report and thesis writing 

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”

Throughout your time at university there are a variety of opportunities to take up alongside your course, including teaching roles and public engagement. Getting involved with these is a great way to enhance your employability and explore interests that you may like to pursue further after graduation. To actively seek opportunities and personal development you can consider:

• Becoming involved with teaching of undergraduate students as a paid Graduate Teaching Assistant
• Enquiring in your department about any public engagement events e.g. Pint of Science or school visits
• Creating dedicated social media accounts for your research e.g. LinkedIn or Twitter – most academics now use these to communicate their own research or vacancies
• Shadowing your colleagues – even if their work isn’t closely related to your own, it can help to see what others are doing and learn techniques from them
• Chatting to others at conferences/events – getting yourself known for opportunities in the future is never a bad thing!

Remember, you’re here to learn

Although many postgraduates treat their study as a full-time job, you are still a student and chances are you will have a steep learning curve when you begin. This is important to recognise as it is common to experience stress, especially when crucial deadlines and milestones loom. It can help to reassure yourself in tough times that:

• Everyone must start somewhere – it is very unlikely that anybody you look up to within your field started out knowing all of the answers
• There is no shame in asking questions – it’s often better to ask when in doubt and colleagues will expect you may need help when starting out
• Negative or inconclusive data is not bad – it happens to everyone throughout their career, and can even be informative and useful in itself
• Change should be embraced (and expected!) – most projects take a different path to the one initially planned. See it as an opportunity to learn and find out something new
• You know your project best – the likelihood is that you are one of a handful of people who know your subject matter inside out. Have confidence in this and use it to argue your case for choices you make during your degree

Finally, the most resonant response I received when asking other postgraduates for their advice was:

“My PhD means everything to me, but it isn’t my everything.”

Though postgraduate study can feel like a long, challenging stretch, it will pass, and it’s crucial you make time for yourself alongside it to maintain your mental health. From personal experience, forming friendships with fellow students is beneficial as it allows you a space for support, to vent and realise you aren’t alone. If you are struggling, make sure you reach out to others or your assigned personal advisor . The University also has some resources available for taking care of your wellbeing.  Often such a simple action can relieve worries and stress, even if they aren’t strictly course related. Remember that when we feel better in ourselves, we can carry out our study more efficiently and the university experience will be more enjoyable.

Good luck with your postgraduate journey!