Ready, Set, Finish!
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Posted By: Ladel Lewis on September 08, 2012 Are you tired of being a graduate student? Are you fed up with family members asking, “You’re not finished yet?” If so, this article is for you! Life is filled with so many distractions that take us away from our final project that leads our final goal-GRADUATION. Graduate student life is the furthest from what the typical undergraduate may experience. Often times, graduate students have families, jobs and other taxing obligations that serve as distractions when it is time to work on their graduate studies. So the question is, how we can balance all of that, but yet, become a member of the graduating class. Taking your time appears to be a feasible option to many. But with graduate student committees evaluating the graduate student’s progress and monitoring how long it takes graduate students to graduate, we are constantly reminded that we must complete this program in a timely manner. Being able to play strategic defense against internal and external diversions is the only way to become an alumni. With hard work and the utilization of these helpful tips, students will have better insight on how to get it done. • First, students must set a date to graduate. Being able to identify where the finish line lies is critical in knowing how to pace yourself. If you plan to graduate six months from now, but have a year’s worth of research to do, you have one of two options. One, set a new graduation date, or two, get on the ball and pick up the pace with your writing. • Second, make appointments to write. You have a dentist appointment next week, and a physical next month right? You have plans to show up right? Well let’s schedule some daily or weekly writing time depending on your graduation date. Let’s see…are you free around 'noonish' until 1p.m.? If so, great! Write it in your planner or program it into your hand held device and see you then! NO kids unless they are being serviced as well. Don’t schedule your writing time for more than an hour at a time. Blocks of hours will intimidate you as a beginning writer making it unlikely for you to keep your appointment. That simple. • Reward yourself. If you make 5 consecutive writing appointments, you may have your next appointment at a favorite restaurant, thus, enjoying their lunch prices. There is nothing like great writing and excellent food. • Next, let the writing flow. This is time for brainstorming and free writing, not editing and critiquing. Save that for another appointment. • Submit finished chapters to the appropriate parties while you move forward and work on the next chapter. Remember, the show must go on. • Hire a university endorsed editor. At this stage you may be totally burned out from looking at your paper. Furthermore, there may be errors that you or your adviser has not corrected. An editor will fix grammatical errors, format and bring clarity to your work and allow you time to prepare for the big defense. If all of these steps are followed, one will most definitely be well on the road to completion, also known as graduation. Pomp and Circumstance anyone? If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Ladel Lewis
Research Associate, Western Michigan University Western Michigan Univ class of 2012 Member Since October 2006 |
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