12. This is advice I was given, but it’s worth sharing. Learn to “delay your anxiety” while waiting on applications. You can’t make them process your app faster, but you can control your reaction to the wait

11. Contact professors at the universities you’re applying to as soon as you’re interested in the program. Keep in touch with them as you work on your apps. They will appreciate your initiative and remember you when you apply

10. Your professors are right that programs look at your MA grades more than your BA grades. It IS possible to recover from under performance. I went from a 3.3 in undergrad to a 4.0 in my MA. Schools like that.

9. Apply broadly. The average PhD acceptance rate is 10%. You want to up your odds as much as possible.

8. Read your professors’ work. Learn how they write and what they write about. It will make it much easier to find your committee.

7. It’s okay if your topic is niche. You will find professors with surprising connections to your subject.

6. You will go insane if you try to take on your program alone. Reach out to your peers. Attend team building events. Meet a group of peers at the library to study together. Attend your professors lectures. It will make everything feel more manageable

5. Make rejection its own kind of success. My goal was to receive 10 academic rejections (programs, internships, grants, and conferences) by 25. I hit this goal at 23. I also presented at two conferences, won two awards, published an article, interviewed for a case study and got into a PhD program

4. If you’re offered an interesting opportunity and you have the time, say yes. It feels intimidating but it will open so many doors for you.

3. Develop a strategy to manage your sources BEFORE you start thesis work. Otherwise, the week before your defense will be 100% footnoting and 0% fun

SERIOUSLY. GO TO OFFICE HOURS.

2. Your professors aren’t lying when they say you should attend office hours. It doesn’t matter if your questions relate to the class. My proposed dissertation topic is based on a random conversation I had during office hours

1. I regret getting my associates degree in high school. It was an incredible opportunity but your first year of college is essential to getting your footing. I started upper level classes my first semester and was not prepared.