1) Apply for FAFSA! While you may only be approved for student loans, it is important to apply for FAFSA every year. 1) it’s free, 2) Some scholarships/grants like to see the FAFSA report especially if they are need based 3) you never know what may happen and at least you have a back up. FAFSA 2015/2016 applications opened January 1. Get yours done… I know I did. For quick information check out this awesome 1 Page Guide at StudentAid of myths and facts about FAFSA for graduate students. Apply forFAFSA here.
2) Apply for Scholarships/Grants! While some of us may be on awesome Phd Graduate assistantships/scholarships/grants… does more money really hurt?? As we continue to slave endlessly in our labs if you can acquire more income without getting another job or extra work WHY NOT? There are several opportunities you should begin with…
- Scholarships through your school. Usually there is a list of scholarships you can run through and apply. At my school there is a general application that will match me to scholarships, and then I apply using the general application while adding other requirements for the scholarship. This includes CV, essays or personal statement.
- Try Scholarship websites like Fastweb. While it is a tedious task to go through and search, some of the applications are rather simple. So get a search going, and maybe fill out 1 or 2 every month. It never hurts to have more opportunities in the bucket.
- Check your affiliations. While we are doing grown up things like paying rent, having life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, renters insurance and insurance for the things you didn’t even know was possible.. check their websites for scholarship opportunities. My life insurance company (before I moved it) had $1000 renewable scholarships every year. So I applied and I got it! #Boom I then had an extra $1000 coming in each year. So while you are doing your grown up type activities, check and see if any of them will give you a helping hand.
- Go after the BIG BUCKS! If you are down for a bit more effort and have something really tangible that can be explored. Check out bigger grant opportunities through NIH or Ford Foundation Fellowships (many others out there). It will be well worth it when you attain one of these grants/fellowships.
3) Meet with your Committee (or Form your Committee) This wonderful committee is crucial to your being. If you have not formed a committee yet, well you NEED to get that going if you are already into your second year and beyond. I just recently started forming my committee, and while my method is not the only way feel free to check it out here on your Quest for Committee Members. On the other hand once you have your great set of people… MEET WITH THEM!!! Talk to them regularly, even unofficially. Pick their brains, ask them questions. This year is the year to grow your relationship with your committee.
4) Update your Plan/Schedule and Stick to It! Revisit the plan you set out for yourself. Did you accomplish your goals in 2014?? Yes? No? If yes… GREAT…#high5 If not, evaluate why not, and what changes need to go into accomplishing those that you didn’t and make new goals. Setting your goals gives your direction and a timeline. So be realistic, and get this going. Leave a reminder on your desk everyday, so you know why you are in the lab early and leaving late. Set when you want to do your Qualifying Exam or your Dissertation and work towards that date.
5) Read and Write Something Every Week! When and where will you find the time.. heck I don’t know but regardless you have to keep up to date with what is happening in the world of your research. So instead of waiting until a grant/proposal/thesis is due to write… DO IT AS YOU READ. Keep a running paper going, or make separate topics and continue writing each and every time you read something new. That way you don’t have to try to go back and find that article you read that one time about that thing that would be so helpful 1 month+ later. Instead, you already have a summary of it’s importance and the reference in your word document. It will save you so much more time and it helps you retain the information that you are learning. I have a running paper of all the new articles/experiments I have done from the time I have started my PhD program. If something is relevant, I add it. I can easily reference back to the section if I need information and makes it easier to write new papers to be published.
6) Play Hard, Work Harder! Don’t be afraid to enjoy the journey. This PhD is not the end all be all. When it’s over it doesn’t get easier, so learn to play hard and work harder. By this I mean, take a quick weekend trip here and there, relax on the beach (if you have one.. Thank the Lord for being in Florida), exercise, and actually find time to do whatever that hobby is you enjoy. For me, that is traveling. So I have a bucket list of things I want to accomplish this year. Just like my plan, I have to incorporate my fun, into how hard I work day in and day out in the lab.
So enjoy the journey! And let 2015 be better than 2014…
What are your new year’s resolutions for 2015? Will you play hard and work harder? Did I leave anything out that should have been included on this list? Share below!!!
