How did you spend your first day/week/month at grad school??
Emma Kate Loveday
Thursday, 14 May 2009 17:43 UTC
Hi everyone, this is my first forum topic and as a new grad student (still my first week) at the U. of British Columbia I was wondering how all of you started off. So please share how your first day, or week, or month was like when you first joined a lab. Did you have projects to begin right away or classes to attend or did you spend the first few days walking aimlessly around trying to figure out where the lunch room, computer room, cafe, etc, was located?
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Replies
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Hi Emma! Congratulations on starting your first week. That’s very exciting.
The first week (or 6 months, really) were a complete blur for me. Coming into a new lab is always a little tough – you have to figure out where all the reagents are, how to order things, and where to keep your lunch! I think the first couple of weeks are reading time, catching up on the field, speaking to people in the lab about their work, and planning out your project with your PI. In all the labs I have ever worked, I was assigned to a more senior person – either grad student or post-doc – and they taught me what to do and how to do it. When you start getting annoyed by them, it means you have figured it all out and don’t need their help anymore. And that’s when you are a full-fledged grad student/researcher, I think!I hope that your transition is a smooth one. I am sure it will be. Best of luck!
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Anonymous
It is not long time I completed phd, and remember clearly how my first weeks passed. The phd topic was very new, I did not know anything but I learned quickly as I was very interested in the topic. I should say that my first 6 month progress review meeting did not go well. The group members thought I did not know sufficiently and either should learn quickly or change the topic or quit the phd. It was bad experience. But positive and motivated words from my supervisor helped me to sail through this bad experience. I also had similar kind of bad experiences in later years of phd, but I think positive attitude and mentality and bit of luck helps to get to the end of phd. I worked hard on the phd topic, the in-depth knowledge obtained helped me to obtain a good job after I finish the phd. I also acquired various skills and knowledge from other science areas along with phd. Looking back I think I had a exciting journey.
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Build relationship with your lab members..
Never go alone for coffee..
Make friends with students who joined together in the department..
Bring a cake if you can for the lab.. n invite every one.. including boss..
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If I remember correctly, I was reading papers, attending courses, preparing for SFN, getting used to the new lab, learning new techniques, exploring the country…
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