Graduate School Superstars Are Deeply Invested In Their Graduate School Experience

The key to being a graduate school superstar is involvement. Many people who pursue graduate degrees do not have the luxury of making school their sole focus, so the temptation can be great to stick to the essentials of getting your graduate degree rather than taking advantage of all that your graduate program offers. While it's true that the demands of post-baccalaureate life are indeed a challenge, not engaging in your graduate program to the fullest extent you can would be a mistake. Regardless of what graduate program you are participating in, much of the graduate school experience takes place beyond the world of classrooms and assignments. Do well in these areas, of course, but also expand your definition of education while in grad school to include as many extracurricular options as you reasonably can. You will probably only go to graduate school this one time -- make the most of it.

The Basics: Attendance, Homework, and Class Participation

Some things about school never change, regardless of what level of degree you're pursuing. The basic requirements of a graduate school superstar include excellent attendance at all of your class meetings. Just like undergrad, your professors probably won't call you out if you skip class, but just like undergrad, if you don't go to class, you're only cheating yourself. To get the most out of your classes, become an expert in time management and make sure you're well prepared for every meeting. Let your professor know you're a graduate school superstar by actively participating in every class meeting, too.