Graduate school should be an enriching and rewarding experience that is hopefully also fun. It can be extremely difficult at times, however, and requires a lot of energy and patience. Some periods of graduate school are harder than others: the hours are long (most graduate students work at least some nights and weekends) and the pay is low for the amount of work involved. One of the more important reasons for the difficulty of graduate school is that you are learning for the first time about the nature of scientific research. Most things in research are learned by trial and error, and many attempts are often necessary to achieve success, which can be frustrating. Advisors are often anxious for results, and can pressure you to get results. In the end, you are the person who is responsible for getting results on your project, but there are rarely specific instructions on how to make that happen. At the same time, however, graduate school is valuable because you will acquire skills and an outlook that are difficult to attain anywhere else. Additionally, this is a time to focus almost entirely on doing research in your chosen field without the distractions of managing a research program or other responsibilities.

It is good to identify some coping strategies to help you finish your degree program. Assembled here is a list of ideas that can help you reduce unnecessary stress and make the most of your experience in graduate school.

1. Talk to your advisor on a regular basis.
Dr. Teresa Longin, an assistant professor at the University of Redlands, wishes that she had talked to her boss more while she was in graduate school. Depending on your advisor's personality and schedule, as well as your own personality, this can be difficult. While it is admirable to try to figure things out for yourself, graduate school is a time to learn and your advisor should be there to help you. Longin recommends forcing yourself to talk to your advisor about your research at least every two weeks. This communication will let your advisor know that you are working, and will alert him to any problems or successes that you have. In addition, he or she may have some useful ideas for your research. Longin observed that most of her friends who were successful during graduate school spoke with their advisors often. Dr. Lee Bryant, a Senior Analytical Research Chemist at Roche Colorado Corporation, adds that you need positive feedback during graduate school. Staying in touch with your advisor is one way to seek out this positive reinforcement.

2. Have outside interests and an active social support system.
It is healthy to have interests or hobbies that are totally unrelated to your studies. Hobbies can provide a welcome diversion when times are particularly stressful and they can help to keep you grounded. Additionally, social support is essential for surviving graduate school. Family and friends provide a lot of encouragement, support, and understanding. Bryant notes that it is also important to get along with your research group. Fighting within a group can cause a lot of stress and disrupt the normal course of research work. In addition, the social skills you learn within your research group will be necessary in your future career. Longin adds that friends may also provide problem solving help, and can teach you about what they are doing in their research.

3. Work hard, and be organized.
If you work hard, you will make faster progress, and make your advisor happy at the same time. Go to group meetings and seminars, and put in the necessary time to finish your work. Being organized is important, too, because you will be able to proceed in a more intelligent manner. Have a plan for the day or for the week. Organize the tasks that you need to perform, beginning with the most important or with the most basic steps. It can be helpful to have some amount of time each day when there are not many people around, so you can work with fewer interruptions.

4. Stay focused.
It is essential to remain focused on why you are going to graduate school in the first place. Do you want to be a professor at a major institution, or do research at a top industrial company? Bryant recalls that each day before she left for work, she would convince herself that she wanted to go that day. You need to want to go to graduate school for yourself. Longin advises, "Don't be afraid to re-evaluate what you are doing and why you are doing it. If your future goals don't require a Ph.D., and you aren't enjoying graduate school, why stay?" She says not to be afraid to leave if you realize that you fall into this category. At the same time, re-evaluating your goals can strengthen your resolve at being in graduate school. Longin was very committed to her end goal: teaching at an undergraduate institution, which she claims made any difficulties in graduate school worth it. She adds that she reminded herself that she really enjoyed chemistry, sometimes by reading interesting articles in the literature. If you are interested in teaching, then being a teaching assistant might be another way to remain focused on your goal.

5. Take care of yourself.
Graduate school should not prevent you from sleeping well, eating well, or maintaining your general health. After all, if you do not feel well, you will not perform at your maximum capability. Try to get enough sleep that you can function normally. Attempt to eat a balanced diet. See a doctor for any routine appointments, or when you are ill. Exercise regularly. Exercise will not only help you to stay healthier in general, but it also provides an excellent way to release frustration and tension. Personally, I found that playing soccer allowed me to vent my frustration on the soccer ball and have some fun, too. Bryant jokes that physical activity of some kind should be required during graduate school. She also notes "It's good to have a life. Be sure to take some time for yourself." Graduate student guilt can make you feel that you should always be in the lab, but there is nothing wrong with spending some time away from work and having fun. Longin comments that she always made sure to spend one day away from the lab every week.

6. Keep your financial affairs in order.
Most graduate students in the physical sciences are paid a stipend that should be sufficient to cover basic living expenses. Most graduate students live simply, and can usually afford some extras, but some students do have trouble with their finances. As a nontraditional student who was raising her children during graduate school, Bryant needed financial aid and took out student loans. It is important to note that undergraduate student loans may be deferred until you complete graduate school. Some universities even provide financial counseling services. Beyond paying your bills and other costs, you may want to try putting a little money aside for emergencies.

7. Remember that some periods during graduate school are harder than others.
Oral examinations, qualifying exams, and thesis writing are obvious points of stress that occur during graduate school. Other times can be difficult, as well. For Bryant, the first part of graduate school was very difficult, because she felt many doubts about her ability to handle classes, teaching, and research, along with meeting the needs of her children. Choosing a research advisor who understood her need for more flexible time was helpful to her peace of mind. In general, a lack of confidence can make starting graduate school somewhat daunting for some people. For others, the time in the middle of graduate school can be trying, as you have finished the initial hurdles, but do not have a lot of research experience yet. It can be hard to be motivated in the lab if you do not feel confident that you know what you are doing. By working hard, reading, and asking questions, eventually you will gain the knowledge that you need to feel more confident.

8. Realize that graduate school won't last forever, and don't take it too seriously.
While five to seven years is a long time, it is not forever, and you will eventually finish your degree. Try to keep realistic goals about the length of your program, and remember to add additional time if you switch projects or advisors during graduate school. It is also important to remember that you should not take seriously every comment from your advisor or other professors, or try every idea that is suggested. Most professors do not expect you to do absolutely everything that they suggest, and sometimes they do not remember every detail. It may be helpful to clarify the most important items, however.

9. Take advantage of additional educational opportunities.
Numerous opportunities exist to learn more outside of your research project and your required classes. During graduate school, Longin worked on a project that did not succeed regardless of many concentrated attempts. To stay motivated, she recalls that she would go to seminars and sit in on or even enroll in additional classes. She knew that she could succeed in the classes, and seminars provided interesting things to focus on when research was going poorly. One thing that Bryant wished that she could have done was present more in informal settings. She says that presenting at group meetings or presenting literature reviews in an informal setting would have been helpful. She claims that doing something like this about once a month, where it is not a special event like a seminar, but is regular enough that you are not as worried about it, is a useful thing to do. Being able to express yourself comfortably in this manner will be a valuable skill to have in your future career.

10. Get to know other professors in your department.
More than likely, you will become acquainted with professors in your division through classes, seminars, and social events. Longin advises cultivating these professional relationships, as they can be invaluable during graduate school. Professors other than your advisor can provide additional ideas and guidance with your research. They offer an outside voice if you have problems with your advisor, and may even put peer pressure on your advisor he is being unfair without cause. It can also be helpful to have a friendly voice on committees for your oral exam or your thesis defense. You may even gain useful contacts when looking for a job.

11. Do two things well, even if they bear no relation to your research.
If your research is not going well, it may not take long before your confidence level decreases and your stress level increases. Some projects will never work no matter how hard you work or how many approaches you take, and other projects may take a very long time to succeed. Longin recommends doing two things that you do well in order to bolster your confidence. For her, these things included being a teaching assistant and taking extra classes. Anything you do well can help, such as playing a sport or playing a musical instrument. Also remember that, as Longin says, "Success in work is not the same as being a good person."

12. Seek professional help if necessary.
It's a good idea to have some method of stress management. For some people, exercise, talking to friends, or engaging in a hobby may be sufficient to minimize stress levels. On a more serious note, most universities have mental health professionals who specialize in helping students to deal with stress, and some even have support groups for graduate students. Longin notes that it is hard to make good decisions if you are depressed, and that it is OK to take some time off if it becomes necessary for your mental health. You should never feel ashamed to seek out help when you need it, or to use the resources that are available.

There may be times when you hate graduate school, and dream about going into some other profession that is very different from chemistry. Remember your ultimate goals and the reasons why you want to be in graduate school. Do it for yourself, not someone else. A network of friends and family who understand you and support your goals is essential, and should also include your research advisor. Take care of yourself, and have some fun. If you work hard and have realistic goals and expectations, the rest will fall into place, and you will eventually find yourself finishing your degree.

Sarah L. Roberts received a B.S. from the University of Notre Dame in 1994, and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2000. She now lives in the Washington, D.C. area.