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Shira Lurie is in the first year of her PhD in Early American History at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on popular political dissent in the early American republic. You can find her on Twitter @shirby9 and her blog Shirby’s Dream World.
Katy Meyers Emery has ingeniously compared graduate school to a zombie apocalypse. She is certainly correct that “the rise of the undead serves as a great metaphor for grad school.” As my doctoral career gets underway, I have personally likened success in grad school to a high-security bank vault. You need a good plan, a special set of skills, and a lot of hard work to break in, but the treasure inside will pay off big. If you have ever seen a heist movie, you know that the first thing every good heist leader must do is assemble a crack team.
You have likely already filled some of your ranks with the obvious choices: your adviser, your fellow graduate students, your cat. But I encourage you to move beyond your basic support system and seek assistance from people all over your campus. Like a bank, graduate school is full of hidden features and insider terms. You will need a broad range of experts to help you negotiate its labyrinthine interior.
Below are just five of the many people on your campus who can help you on your mission.
1. The Brains (Subject Librarian)
Your subject librarian is the one with the blueprints to the bank, knowledge of the security system, and the pass codes to deactivate it. That is to say, they are intimately familiar with the library's resources, how to gain access to various databases and archives, and how to request hard-to-obtain items. Their job is to help you do your research more efficiently and effectively. Make sure they know who you are and what your research is about. They are a worthy addition to your team.
2. The Connections Guy (Graduate Program Assistant)
There is always one person in a heist movie with all of the connections; they can tell you who to call to get whatever you need. In your department, that person is your graduate program assistant. You’ve likely received an avalanche of emails from this person, but if you haven’t met them yet, go introduce yourself. In addition to knowing everyone in your department, they can also tell you about upcoming deadlines for fellowship applications, how to make requests for TA assignments, and a whole host of other things. In short, if you have a question about anything regarding the workings of your department, go talk to your graduate program assistant and they can point you in the right direction.
3. The Specialist (Writing Support Center)
In any heist, you’re going to need a specialized skill. For banks, it’s usually safe-cracking or computer hacking. For grad school, it’s writing. Most schools have a writing support center where you can go over your work with knowledgeable counselors (your Specialists). They can help you with editing and grammar rules, as well as organization and argument. You can come to them at any stage in the writing process and with any kind of project. This means, of course, reports and dissertation chapters, but also fellowship applications and CVs. A successful break-in is usually dependent on The Specialist’s skills, so be sure to utilize them as a valuable resource.
4. The Inside Man (Caretaker)
A bank job is always easier if you have a man on the inside. They will know the building and its facilities better than anyone. If you need a room unlocked, a piece of equipment located, or something fixed, The Inside Man is your guy. Introduce yourself to your building’s caretaker(s) and greet them when you see them in the halls. They can solve almost any problem and also tend to be very nice people. Your path to success will be much easier if they are on your side.
5. The Transporter (Career Counseling Services)
Once you've pulled off the heist, you need an escape plan. Nothing could be more true of grad school, as well. Although often not as smouldering as Jason Statham, the people in your school's Career Counseling Office are your Transporters. Once you are nearing successful completion of your degree, they can help you make the transition to the job market. They often offer workshops, as well as individual consultations, aptitude tests, and mock interviews. A good Transporter is the difference between a successful bank job and a lengthy stint in prison; the stakes are similar for your career.
Now go rob that bank.
Let us know in the comments who you would add to your team! And feel free to also chime in on the utility of extended metaphors!
[Image by Flickr user Matthew and used under the Creative Commons license]
