Service Alert
As you start your graduate program, it is important to consider what it means to be a graduate student working on a master’s degree. The next 2-3 years of your life are sure to be some of the most exciting, yet difficult and challenging times. In order to be successful here, it is essential that you prioritize school. Not only are you paying a lot of money to be here, but you are investing in your future by attaining additional training and scholarship, and ultimately, gaining a master’s degree that will grant you leverage in the professional world.
To maximize this opportunity, you must put your schoolwork first—which means spending time each day on your coursework. This schoolwork may be different than what you are used to. You will be reading many articles and course materials, using these readings to inform your writing and engage in discussions, and you will be reflecting on your understanding and practice within the field. You will grow tired, you may become frustrated, you may lose sleep while you’re a graduate student. Remember, it is temporary. And it is only going to be this way for a while.
On the Academic Success Center website, you will find resources designed to help you refine your study habits while you’re a student at Erikson. Though you may not be studying for exams, you will need to create study strategies and processes to help you become a successful graduate student so that you can be a leading exemplar in the field. We hope the resources provided here will guide you in your academic journey and support you as you work towards your master’s degree at Erikson.
The course syllabus is your roadmap to understanding each course you take at Erikson. It is important that you take time to thoroughly read your syllabus before the first class, and that you keep your syllabus accessible so that you can reference it throughout the semester. In addition to including information about how to contact your instructor, the syllabus includes a course description and details the objectives of the course. As you read through your syllabus, make note of how the course progresses; each week builds on the previous week, and concepts are scaffolded to create a logical understanding of course content. Additionally, your syllabus includes the guidelines and expectations for each class assignment.
See the handout on the left for tips to help guide you in reading your syllabus.
Every student has a different way of reading an article or writing a paper. How you organize and prepare yourself to do these things depends on your personality and what you practice. You may be a procrastinator and leave everything until the weekend before it’s due, or you may be a planner where you break big things into smaller steps before the deadline. Whatever your style is, it will affect how you prioritize things, for better or worse.
A study style is different than a learning style (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, tactile). However, your study style is deeply influenced by your learning style. To better understand your study style, you first need to understand how you learn. Here’s a quiz to help you determine what your learning style is.
Depending on your learning style, there may be different things you may want to take advantage of that the ASC offers. For example, if you are an auditory learner, then maybe you should join a study group. Check out the page on how the ASC can help you be successful to see the services that the ASC offers.
The Academic Center is here to help you manage your time, create schedules and study routines, and provide tools to help overcome procrastination. If you feel that you are struggling with managing your time, set up an appointment with the ASC to discuss your concerns and see the additional ways we can help you.
#1: Hourly Schedule
#2: Weekly To Dos for Erikson Categorized by Importance
#3: Weekly Checklist with Short & Long Term To Dos