For most students, graduate school is different than anything else you have ever done. While most students understand the basic requirements necessary for their degree (i.e. XX number of course credits, XX number of research credits, a qualifying exam, a thesis proposal, a thesis defense etc.) There does not seem to be any structured path that gets you from your first day on campus to the day your thesis committee signs the signature page of your thesis.

In truth, discovering the path is part of the process. While you may feel like the process is made intentionally vague to filter out the faint of heart, I believe that the opposite is true. I have found the process to be just vague enough to strengthen the faint of heart. For me there was no greater sense of accomplishment than looking back along the path I had followed and realizing that I had found my own way through the all the obstacles.

With that said, there is no reason you can’t get a little help along the way. Thus, I have assembled some helpful suggestions on the following topics:

• Characteristics to look for in a good advisor, mentor, boss, or committee member
• Finding a thesis topic or formulating a research plan
• Getting the most out of the relationship with your research advisor or boss
• Getting the most out of what you read
• Making continual progress on your research
• Avoiding the research blues
• Organizing your thesis
• How to Write an Abstract

Much of this advice I have received from others. I wish I had found this stuff when I was a new graduate student. Since it’s a little late to help myself, I would like to pass this information on with my wholehearted support.

In addition to the information provided above, I strongly recommend the following resources:

Books

• Getting What You Came For by Robert L. Peters

  This book is a great collection of advise/strategies for getting through a graduate program (either a Masters or a Ph.D.). I wish I had read this one while I was still a student.

• The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil Fiore

  Procrastination is one of the biggest problems faced by students at all levels. (In fact it can be a problem after you get through as well). Even if you don’t have a problem with procrastination, the suggestions made in this book can have a significant impact on your productivity.

• A Beginner’s Guide to Scientific Method by Stephen S. Carey

  Even though most students have heard the term “scientific method” few are able to define it let alone apply the procedures toward the organization and execution of their research efforts. In short getting back to the basics of scientific investigation can save you a lot of headaches as you move through the research portion of your education.

Web Pages

• Graduate School Survival Guide – a great recourse that I borrowed from heavily
• In Praise of the Research University – an commencement speech that puts research in perspective
• How to Succeed in Graduate School – a very good paper on the topic
• How To Do Research In the MIT AI Lab – a good source of advice
• Graduate Student Resources on the Web – pointers to lots of other good web pages related to graduate life in general
• Proofreader’s and Editor’s Symbols – a guide to standard proofreading and editing marks; this may be especially useful during format checks
• Writing and Presenting Your Thesis or Dissertation - a guide written by Dr. S. Joseph Levine at Michigan State University

Fun Stuff

• Physical Science and Engineering Jokes