How to Successfully Survive First Year of your PhD
“A well begun is half done”
–Aristotle
but your freshmen year in Ph.D. is not complete without learning these life-changing lessons…
Getting a Ph.D. degree has never been easy. You will be very busy meeting with your supervisor, discussing issues, and writing your paper. There will be less time for partying and catching up with drinking buddies.
The good news is that time flies so fast. Sooner or later, you’ll hear Christmas carols and breathe the nostalgic scent of Christmas breeze. If you’ve reached this stage, it means that you’ve almost survived your first year as a Ph.D. student.
At this point, you should be laughing at yourself as you recall the things that happened during your freshmen year. How did you even survive?
Well, your freshmen year is one of the colorful years of your Ph.D. journey. In my experience, I’ve seen
candidates go through a lot of ups and downs. But it is also the time when they discover great things and learn life-changing lessons you can’t forget.So in this article, I am going to share 9 Lessons You Can Learn in your First Year as a Ph.D. Student, How to Survive 1st Year of your PhD.
Lesson 1: There’s never enough time to complete your reading assignments
There are 365 days in one year, 75 percent of these days will most probably go to your 
research. With this timeframe, students make it a habit of creating a schedule. For example, within one month you oblige yourself to write at least five pages a day and read three materials in a week.
The hard truth is that you would have never achieved your targets at the end of the month. So one most important lesson is that you can never read too much. Distractions are everywhere. Dull moments will leave you feeling droopy, and you’ll constantly crave for motivation.
To beat your deadlines, you must help yourself. When studying Ph.D., you are your hero. Visit different libraries around the city and get novel insights from different authors. Meet with your colleagues, explore several scientific works of literature, and understand the underlying principles of your study. By reading varying resources, you’ll eventually get inspiration and you’ll find yourself writing a whole bunch of ideas.
Lesson 2: Taking note is a vital part of taking Ph.D. in biological science or life science
When you study a Ph.D. in biological science or life science, you will go out often to gather data. In fact, you’ll probably spend your first few months out in the field to study different
specimens, collect different samples, and compare their behaviors.
The second lesson you will learn is that taking notes is an important part of doing research. When you’re reading, listening, or performing an experiment, taking notes helps you concentrate. It helps you remember sensible data, which you will have to include in your thesis three years from now.
So ask yourself this question, “Will this data matter one year or two years from now?” If the answer is yes, then get your notes and write down the relevant information, so you don’t end up scratching your head in the future.
Lesson 3: Knowing which environment strengthens your focus and which do not helps you fight bad days
There are a lot of sayings about good days and bad days. If you’ve ever attended a book launching, some authors will tell you the same story. It’s hard to believe that authors like J.K Rowling have experienced writer’s block. Other famous authors like Stephen King or Nicholas Sparks will also tell you the same dilemma throughout their writing process. So if you’re feeling blue right now because you can’t write anything – it is very normal.
So the third lesson you should learn when studying Ph.D. is that it is impossible to write non-stop. There are times when you feel like Superman as you write your thesis. But there are also times when you feel like a couch potato. Then you’ll start wondering, “Why on earth have I decided to take up Ph.D.”
Again, I am telling you it is normal. People taking up postgraduate courses such as Law, Master’s Degree, and a Doctorate Degree are bound to undergo similar situation. So if you get caught in this situation, try to find your comfort zone.
Do you feel comfortable working in the lab? Are you the kind of person who would rather work in the office than work with lab-mates? Knowing your productive spots will help you fight boredom and distractions which cause bad days.
Lesson 4: Writing your Ph.D. Dissertation is all about quality over quantity
Have you ever tried forcing yourself to work for 8 hours and ended up only one page? If your answer is yes, then you must take note of this very important lesson.
The fourth lesson I want to share is that you must focus on the quality of your write-up. It’s okay if you have not written anything today. Try to relax your mind. Shake off some pressures. Take advantage of your flexible hours. In fact, you can opt to use the laboratory equipment at odd hours instead of using it during working hours. You can often get work done in half the time when you’re not constraining yourself.
The bottom line is that it does not matter how many hours you’ve worked on your thesis. What truly counts is the quality of your content.
Lesson 5: Failure and trials part of the process so don’t be surprised
I will tell in an exceedingly brief and direct manner – it is okay to fail. Yes, yes, yes, you’re telling me now that I am a pessimist. But taking Ph.D. is not always positive.
When you’re in your freshmen year, your supervisor will tell you to rewrite your work no matter how good it sounds to you. Sometimes, he’ll tell you to change your reference or overhaul your thesis. Wow, how bad is that?
Then the next day, you’ll find out that your dog is sick. Or your fellowship did not come. Or 
your family is relocating because their area was hit by a storm. Why on earth are these things happening the same time when you thought you’re just about to become successful?
Then you’ll question yourself, “Is this course right for me?” Everything seems to be going against you right now. I’m telling you, be strong. Failures and trials are just part of the Ph.D. process. They can happen to anyone, and in case they fall upon you, the first thing that you should do is affirm your faith.
Believe in yourself that you can do it amidst all the trials. Don’t ever doubt yourself. Talk to your supervisor about the things that are bothering you during the writing process. They can guide you how to get through them. Talking to your friends and colleagues also helps. Most of all, take one step at a time. Getting a Ph.D. is not a 50-meter sprint, it is a marathon.
Lesson 6 : Mistakes are part of the learning curve so take advantage of it
When you start working on your research and experiments, you will inevitably make mistakes. Even if you have prior experience, you can’t expect yourself to be instantly perfect.
Just recently I’ve met a bio-science student who shared with me his experience of how he discovered a new chemical formula for his research after mistakenly cracking through residues in the microscope. It was a mistake in disguise which leads to discoveries and topic discussions in his thesis.
As you see, everything leads to something. Don’t worry if you make mistakes. You might take wrong samples in the microscope, misunderstand research concepts, and gather wrong data. But on the bright side, you will be learning new techniques, discover new science processes, and explore new topics that could make your research more interesting.
Lesson 7: Making friends will help you overcome the feeling of isolation
Some students work until past 12 a.m., five days in a week in the hope of completing their research earlier. It’s amazing how these students can sustain stern self-discipline. Yet back in your head, you can’t help but think about how your friends have enjoyed that one-of-a-kind welcome party last week.
The seventh lesson I’m going to share is that studying Ph.D. can be very isolating, but you have a choice. You can still make friends and party – don’t overdo it. The secret is to leverage a punishment and reward system for yourself.
Try to finish your research today. Work on that simulation from last week for a straight three days or get that lab experiment done right now. If you succeed, then reward yourself with a non-PhD fun. Go out for a night. Party with your friends and get the new motivation to work harder the next day.
Lesson 8: Building your support community is a great way to gain new friends and expand your resources
Nowadays, there are a lot of support groups you can join both in your university and even online. As you join different support groups, you will discover that many students are doing the same research like yours.
So my eighth most important lesson is that don’t hesitate to join support communities. Who knows your colleagues might be doing a technique you don’t know. If you’re in the same community, you can ask them if you can watch and follow along with their steps.
This could be a very effective step of exploring new ideas and learning new techniques that are usually done by groups. Remember that no man is an island. You need people to help you in your Ph.D. journey.
Lesson 9: The direction of your research can change anytime, so be prepared
When you’re in your first year in Ph.D., you will be full of ideologies and discoveries. But after going through a lot of research, you will most likely find other interesting principles that could change the direction of your thesis. It is also possible that you’ll find yourself misfit in the kind of research you’re doing.
This leads to the last significant lesson – try to understand that your research will be subject to a lot of changes. While these changes can be big, they are simply part of the transition process.
If you feel that you’re current research project is not for you, then talk to your supervisor. Make a detour and start again. Embrace potential discoveries and exciting opportunities that could lead to a new and well-improved Ph.D. dissertation.
So these are the eight lessons that you should remember during and after your first year in Ph.D. It’s normal to feel like an underachiever during your freshmen year. We all go through that.
The secret in coping with all this hassle is to keep pushing forward with smaller victories and simple pleasures along the way. You will surely be alright. Good luck!
Read Also :
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- How to Apply for a PhD in India / Abroad Successfully ?
- 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Getting a PhD
- What You Should Do After Receiving a PhD Offer Letter ?
