5 Tips For Balancing Life, School And Work As A Grad Student

It’s no secret that grad school is hard. Newhouse is no exception. During your year here, your calendar will be filled with class assignments, social engagements (make time for these; they’re important!) and in many cases, a job of some sort. Whether you’re working off-campus, as an Instructional Associate, as a writer for a campus publication or anything else, these five time management tips will help you make the most of your year as a Newhouse graduate student.

 

Get a planner

I know. Everyone’s been saying this since high school. I recognize that not everyone is a planner person (although I certainly am), but here’s my defense of why any kind of planner, electronic or paper, is so important. Many Newhouse journalism courses will require you to schedule interviews with people around Syracuse, both on-campus and off. Just about every day, I see one of my MNO classmates on their phone or laptop trying to lock down an interview with a potential source. Frequently, you’ll have to build your schedule around other people’s commitments. It helps to have all these dates and times recorded somewhere, because you’ll need room in your mind for everything else that’s going on. 

 

Don’t procrastinate

Again, I know this isn’t a newfangled idea, and it’s way easier said than done. My caveat: prioritize your assignments based on the number of schedules you’ll have to coordinate. If you have a story due Friday for a reporting class, reach out to potential sources on Monday (or even earlier, if you can). When other people’s schedules are involved, it pays to give them as much notice as possible. It makes things less stressful for them (and you), and is generally much more considerate on your part. Journalism students also need to allocate enough time to actually write their stories. Your work isn’t done until you file that story, and even then you might have to expect a revision or some follow-up reporting. Assignments that don’t require reporting allow more flexibility with time management, but those deadlines are just as important.

 

Make friends with your cohort and visit outside of Newhouse

Members of your cohort are more than just your classmates for a year. Many of them will likely be professional connections long after graduation. Surviving boot camp together certainly helped me bond with my classmates, and I’d made some great friends after only six weeks. Now that we’re into the fall semester and continuing to take a lot of the same classes, the camaraderie is only getting stronger. Since we’re working on the same projects at the same time, we frequently give each other feedback on our work and help each other de-stress. My friends and I try to go out for dinner or coffee at least once a week, which has certainly been good for my mental health. While it may seem like free time is not allowed (or nonexistent) in grad school, that’s simply not true. Just the opposite: make sure you take at least a little time to decompress and make the most of the connections you’re building with your Newhouse comrades.

 

Get involved, but be clear about time commitments

At Newhouse, your professors will consistently emphasize the importance of “getting clips.” In other words, make sure you get your work published somewhere while you’re a student here. SU is home to a myriad of student publications with different interest areas, so do some investigating and see if there’s one that calls out to you. Before committing to do any work for a campus publication, get a clear idea of how much time it will take. For example, a beat writer should expect a greater time commitment to their publication than a freelance writer, and any reporting position will require work outside of writing the actual article. You should certainly reach out to editors at any publication you’re interested in, but don’t make that commitment until you know what you’re getting into. I found my niche as a freelancer at The Daily Orange, where I can choose an article from a list of stories they need covered or pitch my own story when my schedule allows. Some publications will also accept work you’ve done for class (whether that’s writing, art, graphic design or something else), but make sure to clear it with your professor first. You should also be mindful of your time if you’re working elsewhere. Think carefully about the hours you’ll need outside of class to deliver on all your commitments.   

 

Keep open communication with family or friends outside of Newhouse

Sometimes you just need a break from school and everything related to it. When I start feeling this way, I take a few minutes to call my sister or my mom. When you’re a busy grad student, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the rigors of your own schedule. I’ve found that a nice way to combat that stress is to ask others about their day. Hearing about my sister’s lunch outing with her friends or my mom’s visit with her sisters reminds me to appreciate the small things that make me happy. Staying in touch with family members and close friends is also helpful when you need to vent, which happens sometimes. During stressful times, it helps to put things into perspective and remember that the assignment that’s concerning you isn’t the entire world. Do the best you can, and remember that all the hard work you’re putting forth at Newhouse is a stepping stone to a rewarding future.