Any transition demands that you find out as much as possible about your new situation as possible. Unfortunately, it's seldom that anyone tells you what you need to know. Usually, you need to be persistent and seek information
yourself. It is important to do this as, through oversight, you
may transgress some administrative ruling, you could miss out
on regular postgraduate seminars and meetings, or you could be
unaware of the practical help available to you.
The more quickly you deal with these things, the more secure and
settled you will feel, and be able to get on with your work. When you are new, everyone expects you to ask questions and seek
explanations. As the time passes, you may feel embarrassed about asking what by then would seem trivial or something you "should have known".
- Your first contact will probably be your supervisor and it's
important to begin to establish a working relationship with him
or her and clarify your mutual expectations.
- As soon as possible, get to know your fellow students and
discover what postgraduate associations have to offer.
- You also need to find out what departmental resources are
available to you and how you gain access to them.
- It would be a good idea to establish a work routine as you
may need to train yourself into new habits.
And of course, remind yourself of why you're embarking on this
degree, what your strengths are and how much you have to offer.
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