Taking Charge and Finding Support: The Power of

Self, Mentors and Peers in Graduate School Success

Helenrose Fives

AERA 2003, Chicago

It all begins with YOU!

It All Begins with YOU!

• What do you want and what do you have to offer?

• What can you do to help yourself?

What do you want and what do you have to offer?

Goals

• Career Goals

• Training Desired

• Independence - Collaboration

• Research Interests

• Other Goals?

Self Appraisal

• Strengths

• Weaknesses

• Time

• Interests

• Current Skills & Strategies

What can you do to help yourself?

• Be visible

• Develop your own research interests

• Demonstrate a willingness to work hard

• Get and stay organized

• Ask questions

• Seek out opportunities

• Plan time for fun - it makes work easier

A Mentor Makes the Difference

• What’s a good mentor for you?

• What are the expectations?

• How do you establish independence?

• What do you do when the relationship doesn’t work?

What’s a good mentor for you?

• Shared Interests

• Role Model

• Work Style

• Collaboration Opportunities

• Interpersonal Dynamics

What are the expectations?Mentors should:

• Be Available• Introduce you to the

community of practice• Support your

developing scholarship• Offer opportunities for

collaboration• Model professionalism

and integrity• Be supportive

Students should:• Respect the mentor’s time• Join and become active in

the community• Keep mentor apprised of

progress• Send post meeting

summaries to mentor• Ask questions

• Be proactive

How do you establish independence?

• Be selective in continuing collaborations

• Seek other opportunities– Develop relationships with other faculty

members

– Invite peers and new colleagues to work with you

What do you do when the relationship doesn’t work?

• Why– Poor research fit– Different expectations, interpersonal discord

• When– The sooner the better– Best within the first year

• How– Try to work out problems first– Seek advice - is changing the best plan?– Remain professional at all times– Before leaving, find another mentor

The Purpose of Peers

• What roles can peers play?

• What do you need from peer colleagues or collaborators?

• How can you establish a peer network?

What roles can peers play?

• Social support

• Socialization

• Collaborators

• Colleagues

What do you need from peer colleagues and collaborators?Colleagues

• General interests in common

• Mutual respect• Freedom of expression• Challenging discourse• Opportunities for

learning and growth

Collaborators• Common research

interests• Similar working styles• Similar work ethic• Open communication• Freedom to disagree• Commitment to get the

job done

Where can you find them?• Locally

– Department– College– University

• Mentor network– Previous students of your mentor– The students of your mentor’s students

• Nationally– Conferences– Web sites and Email

Final thoughts...• You are your best resource

• A good mentor-student relationship is critical for professional success

• A shared graduate student experience makes a difference

• When you enter into a graduate program you become part of a community of practice

FYI...