It may seem like the only way to prepare for grad school is through a rigorous academic route; study hard in classes, get good grades, network, meet with your professors, and learn your subject. To be fair, I was that student who meticulously did the readings, studied for hours for a test, and took challenging undergrad courses. However, there are so many more life experiences that can contribute to your preparedness for grad school, even if their impact may not seem obvious.
Outside of Heller, my sport of choice is horseback riding. I started riding over eighteen years ago, and even competed on a team in college! Like many young people involved in the horse industry, I often worked at barns to pay for riding lessons throughout middle and high school. Horses taught me the value of hard work and taking responsibility for my actions – if I made a mistake, or forgot to do something, such as give the horses water, it was no one’s fault but my own. I quickly learned about consequences, time management, and how to advocate for myself. These are all essential skills in any career, but especially so in grad school, where you are often juggling multiple responsibilities and have to divide time between them, or if you have to advocate for yourself for whatever reason. While I used horseback riding here, any sport can be substituted as they all teach the value of hard work, collaboration, and responsibility.
During undergrad, I attended weekly yoga and meditation classes at my university’s wellness center, and gained a real appreciation for how the practice forced me to slow down and reflect. After I graduated, I continued this habit. While yoga and meditation may not seem like they would be beneficial for grad school at first glance, engaging in a relaxing, reflective practice can be beneficial for those stressful periods in the semester. Having that ability to “unplug,” even if for only a few moments, can help tremendously in high-stress or high-anxiety situations, whether that be before a big presentation or when you feel overwhelmed with assignments. Additionally, having that ability to meditate or reflect on class material without being distracted is an essential skill while in grad school.
Another one of my hobbies is reading; I read over 90 books last year (no, I probably couldn’t tell you the whole cast of characters or pass a test on each book, but I remember each general premise!), and consider it to be one of my favorite pastimes. The impact of reading on succeeding in grad school is two-fold; on the one hand, being able to read and digest information quickly is an essential skill for any grad student. Second, reading helps us to empathize with people in a situation different from our own, even if those people are in another world with dragons and magic powers. Having empathy for another person’s situation can help us to be better policymakers and drive equitable change, both of which are necessary to continue social progress, which is what my program at Heller is all about!
This last one may seem obvious, but work experience can equip you with valuable skills for grad school, even if the job does not directly align with your program. For example, my customer service experience has taught me vital skills, such as collaboration, communication, attention to detail, problem solving, conflict resolution, and task prioritization, among others. While I used customer service here, you can insert almost any job and find skills, knowledge, or experience that transfer to grad school! Maybe you had a difficult boss who taught you how to advocate for yourself, or you learned how to manage your time effectively.
If you have been out of school for a number of years or if you feel that you were not afforded the traditional academically rigorous education of a “typical” graduate student, know that you have a plethora of transferable skills that will serve you well in graduate school. Everything from sports to hobbies to seemingly unrelated work experience can come in handy to thrive.