Success in Grad School

Success as a Graduate Student

As a graduate student at Cornell University, you’re definitely among some of the most brilliant minds in the country. The diverse programs and many resources available at the University guarantee that your time at Cornell will be a rich and intellectually stimulating academic journey. 

Graduate life however can be very different from your undergraduate experience. Often academic expectations in graduate school are not well delineated; students sometimes realize that they need to write another chapter to graduate; or that the project chosen is not necessarily yielding successful results.  Completion of a PhD program, which can take at least 5 years, sometimes feels like a test of endurance.

Many have found that to have a positive and successful graduate experience, it is important to stay healthy, find balance, and manage stress. Taking time out to visit with friends and family, getting involved with the community or even taking a break to explore the campus can refresh your mind and body leaving you more productive and better balanced.

Campus places to take a break:

1. Cornell Plantations [1]: Enjoy Cornell’s spectacular natural surroundings.
2. Cornell Chimes [2]: Take a study break and listen to the chimes.
3. Spacecraft Planetary Imaging Facility (SPIF) [3]: Wander through the Facility and look at large interplanetary images.
4. Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art [4]: Enjoy the top collections of art and spectacular views from the 5^th floor. 
5. The Cornell Wilder Brain Collection [5]: Marvel at the 19^th century collection of brains.
6. Minns Garden [6]: Beautiful in any season, Minns Garden – just off the Ag Quad – has many quiet nooks and benches to enjoy a contemplative moment.
7. Fuertes Observatory [7]: Open when the skies are clear on Friday nights at 9:00 p.m.. 
8. Laboratory of Ornithology [8]: A wonderful collection indoors and relaxing a beautiful walks outdoors.