Graduate dean reveals secrets to success
October 30, 2009
by Rizza Barnes - UCI Graduate Division
Dean Frances Leslie shared information and insights with graduate students at a GRC Brown Bag Lunch event.
Dean Frances Leslie and a group of 30 graduate students of all levels and from various disciplines met at the Graduate Resource Center (GRC) Oct. 29 to discuss hot topics and the “Secrets to Success in Graduate School” as part of the GRC’s Brown Bag Lunch Series.
Leslie opened the conversation by inviting questions from the crowd, which led to a dialogue about the importance of pursuing extramural funding as part of intellectual entrepreneurship.
“As a graduate student, you are a professional in the making,” Leslie said. “Securing funding is part of your professional development — and it just looks good on your resume.”
The hour-long dialogue concluded with Leslie’s tips for thriving in graduate school, partly adapted from the bestselling book The Four Agreements. She said the maxims listed below, each followed by a comment from Leslie, helped her survive extremely challenging years both as a doctoral student and a postdoc:
Be impeccable with your word.
“Don’t put down other people or yourself.”
Don’t take anything personally.
“In the academic world, you’ll encounter a lot of criticism. You must recognize that your work is a part of you, but it isn’t all of you. Be open to constructive criticism — that’s how you’ll get better.”
Don’t make assumptions.
“Ask questions. Too many times, students do not ask questions and simply hope for the best.”
Always do your best.
“If we hold ourselves to standards of perfection, we’ll almost always fail. Be kind to yourself. Do your best at any given time, but recognize that your best will change from day to day.”
Think long term.
“What you do is just one step in a long journey. When you feel overwhelmed by the here and now, simply ask yourself, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ Often you’ll discover that it’s not really all that bad.”
Build a strong support network.
“Don’t allow yourself to become isolated, especially when you’re under stress. Turn to your family, your friends and your mentors when you need help.”
Use campus resources.
“UCI is light years ahead of many universities when it comes to providing support services for graduate students. Take advantage of the programs offered by the GRC.”
