5 Things to Do to Help Prepare for Graduate School

For some, obtaining a bachelor’s degree means their college days are officially behind them, but for others - the ride isn’t over just yet. Graduate school is the next level of education many continue on to pursue.

Unlike college, grad school typically occurs during the “start of real life” transition - which can make the thought of it even more nerve wracking. If you’re looking to embark on this new graduate school venture, we wanted to share some things to help prepare you beforehand:

1. Find A Residence - Finding a new place to live can be a stressful task and one that should be done at your earliest convenience. While most graduate schools do not offer housing, St. John’s University has housing options available for graduate students. Due to their high demand, all forms and payment must be submitted well in advance. If you’d rather find an apartment nearby, allot enough time to find a home suitable to your needs.

2. Develop Your Interpersonal Skills - The classes one takes during grad school are designed to show you material needed for your career path. Learning how to work, communicate, collaborate, and problem solve with others will need to take place outside of the classroom. Before you begin your first graduate school semester, try to hone your interpersonal skills by working at a variety of places where interacting with others is part of the job. This skill will come in handy during your studies as well as your career.

3. Read More - Reading is one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp while increasing your intelligence. Make it a morning habit to pick up a newspaper and see what’s happening in the world. This can provide you with great insight and world knowledge that you can carry into your graduate studies.

4. Start Networking - It’s all about connections! Start attending conferences and career fairs to meet with people in your industry. Here, you will be able to gain knowledge outside of the classroom and ask questions that can enhance your studies and development. The more connections you make, the more opportunities you could have presented to you.

5. Create New Goals - If there is always something to accomplish, you will always have something to work for. Set long term goals like landing an interview at your dream company and short term goals like receiving a top grade on your term paper. Figure out your goals leading into the start of grad school - no matter how big or small, these will help keep you motivated. 

To learn what else you can do to prepare for grad school, visit USA Today’s full article.

The graduate schools at St. John’s University in New York City offer more than 60 graduate degree and professional certificate programs in five acclaimed colleges, a School of Law, and institute dedicated solely to the growing field of biotechnology. Our highly competitive advanced degree programs will challenge you to become the very best you can possibly be!