The Top 3 Tips I've Learned From My First Semester in a Master's Program

Not all fields require pursuing higher education to become an accomplished, adept professional. This is generally the case for people who come from my bachelor's degree in Graphic Design! However, I decided for monetary, personal, and worldly reasons (the job market doesn't do that well in a pandemic), that I would go through with my Master's Degree at San Jose State University in San Jose, California.

While the reasons may differ for you, here are some lessons that I am taking into my second semester here that have been so crucial in more effective learning, class management, and easy-breezy graduate student success! (If you can't tell, easy-breezy is sarcasm; Grad School is a struggle!)

1. Go to Office Hours!

This is going to be tip number 01 for me. Especially in the year of Online Learning, it is so easy to pop into zoom university, and hang out during office hours!

If your professor has open office hours, when everyone who has questions can ask questions at the same time, then I highly recommend popping in to hear the questions that your peers in your cohort have! I have gotten so much help on homework and projects by absorbing the answer's from other's people's questions, and it may spark some questions related to your own struggles.

Of course, if you actually have a pressing question, then going into office hours should seem pretty obvious! However, I totally understand the fears associated with putting yourself out there in such a personal way when Graduate School is all about self-management, self-discovery, and self -growth!

If you're feeling timid, it always helps to remind myself that long-time professors and professionals have taught this material and struggled alongside students longer than many of those in my cohort have been on this earth! (Me included)

2. Get to know your Cohort

The HF&E 2022 graduating class uses discord to collaborate and study together. There are so many moments where the people in my classes have supported me emotionally and academically through our engineering and statistic classes!

I'm not terrible at math, but some of these concepts can be a real head-scratcher, and it definitely helps to have the perspectives of your peers who do this sort of crazy stuff on a daily basis! Having a couple of people on your list who can help you out, and who you can return the favor to, will be a great asset.

Another important thing that our professors and mentors emphasize is that more likely than not, your job opportunities will come from your fellow peers in your cohort. While they are also competing for the same jobs, your friends and peers will also be your greatest asset in the perilous job hunt!

3. Survival is Key

While a master's degree should be about what you want to pursue in the future as a career or lifestyle, there are always, without fail, things about your job that you will not like. The same goes for your Master's Degree!

While I adore prototyping apps and studying psychology and the reasoning behind human behavior, calculating test statistics and regressions using Microsoft Excel and Minitab are not exactly my bread and butter. While I don't plan on going into research in the future, instead pivoting towards a career in User Experience Design or a similar field, there is no escaping the mundane and difficult tasks in your daily work.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to survive during courses that are difficult for you! Setting yourself up for success through careful planning, following the tips above, and taking care of your mental and physical health are the most important things that will serve your long and fruitful academic and professional careers.

You are not going to be fantastic at everything you try to accomplish in life. There will be other people that excel (haha, get it?) in fields where you struggle, and the same will go for your skills.

Final Tips

Not every day is going to be a good day. Pay attention to what your body and mind are telling you so that you can find things that make the daily struggle a little bit easier. For me, a good strong cup of medium roast coffee with a splash of creamer helps to get my creative juices flowing. I hope that his guide helps you on your journey! Feel free to send me a message if you have any comments or questions!