Surviving Graduate School: Finding Time for Yourself

So, here I am, staring a pile of books, articles, research papers, and presentations that are quickly accumulating on my “to do” list and thinking to myself that there is no possible way I will get all of this done on time. There goes another two hours of sleep every night or maybe I’ll just only shower once every three days. Yea, that could work. My hair is pretty dry anyway….ugh what have I gotten myself into!? This is what I wanted…. isn’t it?

Of course it is! This is my dream; this is my future career. I’ve wanted nothing more than to be a Genetic Counselor since I was in high school! Let me tell you, being a graduate student isn’t easy, but honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way! These past 6 months has been the happiest and most exciting time of my life. I thrive on productivity and I’m motivated by a tight schedule. I feel like I was born for this type of program. With this being said, I think it’s important to point out that I am not a robot or machine. I can’t work 24/7 and not burn out. Want to know my secret? The key to not drowning in the tsunami wave that is work is to find time for myself.

During grad school you will learn a lot about yourself, your personal limits, and your own successful coping mechanisms. I think it’s good to reflect upon these before entering school so that you have a baseline for your own burn out point. Here are some things that work well for me.

Take joy in the little things: Self- care

You may not have a few hours every week to go to the spa and indulge, but you can take some time here and there to achieve similar effects at home. I never knew the simple joys of a hot shower on tense muscles until this year. Likewise, a warm bubble bath and some soothing music does wonders for my worries. Even things like painting my nails or giving myself a facial are extremely satisfying. Self-care isn't just about looking good though. It consists of a health balance between the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of who I am. It seems obvious, but even going to the gym and working out is a type of self-care. Likewise, taking the time to practice my spiritual beliefs helps soothe my anxieties. Unfortunately self-care tends to be the first thing to go when my schedule gets crazy. I've learned that for my peace of mind I have to make it a priority. All of these things help me feel better about myself and ultimately perform better in classes and clinic!

Keep Doing the Things You Love

Whether it’s running, painting, going to concerts, taking dance lessons, or going to plays, don’t give up the things you love just because you are in grad school. Sure, you may not be able to do them as often as you used to, but looking forward to a craft day or a concert that is in a few months can be phenomenal motivational tools.

Explore the City

No matter where life takes you, it’s always a good idea to open your eyes to all the city as to offer. Here in Atlanta, I’ve found that one of the best parts of the week is brunch! Along with other classmates, I take the time to explore all the little neighborhoods for the best brunch spots. I have yet to meet a pancake, omelet, or cup of coffee that I didn't like. Each area of the city has its own vibe and energy that need to be felt and explored. Another passion of mine is music and there definitely isn’t a shortage of that in Atlanta. Whether it’s at Piedmont Park, the Fox Theater, or a random dive bar, you can always find amazing artists and a great atmosphere. Don’t like being cooped up inside? Go to one of the many parks in the city, go hiking at Stone Mountain, tubing on the river, or even go camping at one of the dozens of sites surrounding the city. There is a little of something for everyone!

It’s really all about finding what you love and taking a break from the hectic world to do it. This can be difficult to do as you try to find the delicate balance between schoolwork, sleep, and sanity. Just remember, this is a very exciting time in life! You’re embarking on a whole new pathway on the journey of life. If you haven’t ever thought about it before, take a moment to just think about all the things you do that help keep you happy, calm, and successful; you might just be surprised by what you learn!

Selling Yourself to Graduate Schools

Hello blog visitor!

This blog post includes some advice I have to offer about selling yourself on an application and in an interview, whether you have applied or are considering applying! See posts below this one for some helpful general tips about applying or preparing for interviewing.

I was lucky enough to discover genetic counseling at 12 years old. Knowing what I wanted to do when I entered college allowed me to begin looking into graduate school requirements and speaking with genetics professionals to get insight into the field and to begin strengthening my application early on. I majored in Biology, which took care of academic requirements, but I wanted to start getting involved in opportunities that would both strengthen my application as well as help me make the best of my short (!!!!!) college experience. However, if you found out about the field at a later age, don’t worry! Many of my classmates found out about it in college and obviously were also successful in finding great opportunities to prepare them for graduate school.

On any program’s website you will see requirements as well as suggestions of what faculty would like to see on your application. Do not get overwhelmed. Obviously you need to meet all the requirements, but do not feel that you need to do every single suggestion listed in order to be qualified. Applications are more about quality than quantity, i.e. it is much better to have a few relevant experiences (or even one) in which you can talk about passionately rather than a few days of volunteering at multiple organizations. (You should definitely still volunteer where you can – but I think you get the point.)

I would highly recommend meeting with a program director early on, especially if you are close to a program. If not, many are happy to email or talk with you over the phone. It will most definitely make you stand out when you do apply, especially if you keep in contact with them following your initial meeting or conversation. I am from Chicago so it was easy for me to meet with the program director at Northwestern during my sophomore year of college and get guidance from her as to what I was doing right and what else I could be doing. I was also able to sit in on a class and meet with the students. That experience was a push in the right direction for me, especially when she gave me advice on what to continue doing as well as what to get involved in before applying.

Like I said, find relevant experiences for your graduate school application. When I say relevant, I don’t mean word-for-word what programs suggest you do (although that doesn’t hurt). If you want to do something that you think makes you a strong candidate, learn how to explain that in an interview. For example, I remember Cecelia (our program director) specifically asking me during my interview why I chose to volunteer with homeless LGBT populations one summer during college. I explained that the reason I chose to work with many different populations was because I wanted to be prepared to work with different types of people upon entering graduate school and my career. I was able to explain something on my resume that was not necessarily a “standard” experience seen on an application. As it turns out, my approach has helped me tremendously since I started rotations last semester because one of my strongest skills according to my supervisors was building rapport and appearing comfortable around all of my patients.

Keep in mind that all of us find our own ways into genetic counseling. Many of us have different interests that help us decide that this is our dream career. Therefore, the route I took is by no means the best route for you, but simply something to keep in mind as you search for opportunities to make yourself a stronger candidate. My best advice is to always be on the lookout for opportunities and to take as many as you can. Feel free to email my classmates about some activities they participated in!

In conclusion, spend your time wisely. Do what you love and do things that will push you in the right direction. Sometimes you can combine them and have a truly valuable experience that can one day help you in becoming a genetic counselor. Good luck and feel free to email any of us if you need some inspiration! :-)