Going to Grad School? Here are Some Tips for Easing Back Into it!

Heading back to school this fall? Whether you’re returning for another semester at undergrad or starting graduate school, hitting the books can be kind of intimidating after you’ve taken a long break. Here, we’ve come up with some must-read tips to help you study smarter and get into your back-to-school grove.

• Plan ahead- Going back into a school schedule might be a change of pace. Make sure you buy a planner, and actually write out your weekly schedule somewhere. This will help you start to see what your weeks will look like. Update it as the semester goes on so you never miss a paper or exam.

• Reaffirm your goals- Why are you going back to school? Maybe you’re really close to getting your degree or you’re trying to learn a new skill, odds are something is driving you to get back in the classroom. Before you start school, write down your specific goals and check in and update them as the year goes on.

• Talk to other students- Reach out to other students who have taken your classes or have been in your program. Odds are, they will have tips and tricks that can help you succeed in your classes. They might also tell you which teachers to avoid!

• Read smart- If you’re entering graduate school in particular, odds are you will have tons of dense reading to do. Rather then just going in blindly, first think to yourself why your professor wants you to read the assignment. Next, skim through section headings, bullet points and special sections to get a feel for what you’re reading. You’ll go in with a sense of what you’re learning and know what to pay attention to on prior sections.

• Make professors your friends- Believe it or not, professors do want to help you! By attending office hours often to go over material with your teacher, you not only will increase your understanding, you also show the teacher you care about learning. Not only that, professors will keep your work in mind when grading at the end of the semester and for internship or job recommendations.

• Create a study schedule- It can be easy to get behind when starting school. Don’t procrastinate! Rather, think of school like a normal, 8-to-5 job. Even if you don’t have class, set time aside to study the material. Scheduling time before, between and after class to read and study will help keep you on top of your studies and make your life easier come exam time.