Five Summer Experiences Graduate Students Should Have
#1 – “Summer months can get hard. For my specific Master’s Degree Program, our summers were filled with classes every day. In NYC there’s plenty to do but even when the city became too much for me I made sure to take a break to surrounding cities. I visited D.C, Philly, and even Jersey. Sometimes with members of my cohort but most of the time alone. I made sure to take the bus so that I would have time to write and complete any assignments, and that was all the time I needed. Once I arrived to my destination, I made sure to take advantage of the happenings, food, and people of that city. So my advice is to travel during the summer, even if it’s just to a nearby city. In grad school, balance is a must. So during the summer, take a break and travel whenever you get a chance, even if it’s just a few hours away. “
Cierra Selby
Public Administration
MPA, National Urban Fellow Class of 2017
#2 – “During the summer between my two years I decided to do an internship that allowed me to get course credit as well as some professional development. I chose this because it let me live in a new city and be able to explore, I am in St. Louis for the summer and enjoying it.
I would say for the summer in between make sure you relax and just take time to kick back and have fun if you aren’t taking classes because this is the last time you will have something known as a “typical summer”. Live life, go and visit things take yourself out on dates if you are single or dating.
If you are still taking classes just like me, make sure that you get your work done but don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the outdoors, so that you aren’t always in school mode.
Extra Tips:
If you don’t have to get on a computer don’t for a day, go outside to the park or just take a nap. Enjoy a TV show, catch up with an old friend, go visit family.
Make sure you have fun especially if you don’t have that many responsibilities take advantage of your time now.”
Aliesha Nunnally
Masters of Education
Student Affairs in Higher Education
#3 – “As a first-generation Black grad student, I had no idea how to navigate the summer! Should I be taking classes, should I be working? What I did do early on, was join several professional organizations/associations in my industry. This was extremely beneficial in expanding my network of other professionals and getting me in contact with potential mentors. Not only was I able to stay abreast of current happenings in my industry, but I was able to have some fun by attending conferences and later apply those experiences to my studies. There are some academics that don’t take advantage of the value of staying closely connected to industry, set yourself apart!”
Sha’Mira Covington
Communications and Public Relations
#4 – ” Let’s face it, the year-round grad school grind can be both intense and isolating. While reading extensive research articles and producing a steady stream of writing assignments, it’s easy to lose sight of life’s bigger picture lying outside the ivy towers of academia. Studying or Volunteering Abroad can not only provide the perfect change of scenery, but also a great mental vacation, soul searching adventure, or opportunity to help those who are less fortunate than you. Most universities offer study abroad experiences that allow you to earn credit towards your degree while being immersed in a foreign culture. For example, this July I will be studying abroad /doing a service-learning project in Costa Rica with other students from UGA’s College of Education. As a person passionate about community service, I felt this experience was the perfect fit for me both socially and academically - especially because the 4 weeks of courses count towards an additional teaching certification. But the best part is– as a strong student coming from a diverse background, I was awarded a FULL scholarship covering the academic costs of the program; I only needed to buy my flight!! Once you enter the workforce, your free time, flexibility, and disposable income will most likely decline. Take advantage of the free time you have and the resources your university might offer while you’re able to! Who says studying abroad has to end after your undergraduate experience?”
Jessica Gibbs
Masters of Education Early Childhood
#5 – “During my first fall semester of grad school, I knew that I wanted to intern during the summer to gain more (industry) experience while helping me pay the bills! I looked heavily at different opportunities and decided to move across the country from Atlanta to San Diego to work in a group that tested unmanned systems. The initial weeks were pretty tough – I had moved out there by myself and there weren’t any other graduate interns that I knew of. I decided to be proactive and reach out to the young professionals who worked full-time at the company and get to know them. This was awesome because they gave me a better insight of what it was like to spend more than 2 months at the company and showed me around the San Diego area. I would recommend building relationships with the full-time employees even if it’s outside of your comfort zone – they will give you candid insights and help you get to explore the areas around you!”
Andrea Gutierrez
Masters of Science Aerospace Engineering
Few extra gems to take with you:
Enjoy the people around you
Laugh as much as you can
Traveling is expensive but road trips are not
Take advantage of the flexibility you get in graduate school