A Survival Guide to Graduate Student Life

Tips and tricks for juggling it all

Congratulations, you’ve gotten into the grad school of your dreams! How are you going to make the most of this exciting opportunity and fit it into your already busy schedule? We’ve got you covered.

Find the graduate student office on campus.

Your first mission is to find your campus’ graduate student office and familiarize yourself with its resources. This is often the best place to go for basic information—where to park, how to get an ID, how to register for classes—and the larger take on what’s available to you as a graduate student. Sacred Heart University’s Office of Graduate Student Affairs posts handy information to get you acclimated and links to recreation opportunities, technical support and more.

Scope out dining options open to graduate students—and their hours.

Your student ID will likely get you into a few of the dining halls and snack bars on your campus, where you can pay a low fee for a meal or even set up a meal plan.

At Sacred Heart, graduate students can use all dining facilities, including Red’s, an on-campus pub with a full drink and snack menu, and JP’s, a nostalgia-laden 50s-style diner serving up burgers, fries and milkshakes into the wee hours.

Prepare your grad school go-to kit.

Famished while running late for class? Get a paper cut putting the finishing touches on a project? Lose a button right before that big presentation? In addition to your phone, laptop and chargers, it’s wise to tuck a few essentials in your backpack for the inevitable emergencies that come with trying to juggle work, family and grad school life. Make sure you always have a small sewing kit, some first aid essentials (bandages, pain reliever, antacid) and a couple of granola bars or pieces of fruit to power you through the evening. If you drive to campus, you might want to stow a change of clothing or at least a spare pair of socks and shoes in the trunk!

Get involved.

See what your campus offers for graduate student activities. At SHU, grad students enjoy social and cultural events, including trivia nights, a Diwali celebration and the Grad Gala. This is a great way to meet new friends who aren’t necessarily in your academic program, network and de-stress after a long day.

Check out the entertainment.

As a student, you may be entitled to reduced rates on campus theatre, dance and concert tickets, athletic events and even annual campus recreation center fees. At Sacred Heart, SHUCard benefits extend to stores and eateries in bustling downtown Fairfield, CT, and you can load cash on your ID card and use it to pay your bill.

All SHU graduate students are Pioneers and, as such, are encouraged to root for the home teams, attend on-campus performing arts events and visit the downtown SHU Community Theatre, which offers a full slate of world-class performances and speakers.

Take the lead in your graduate student organization.

Many campuses have separate graduate councils where graduate students can address their specific needs. At SHU, the Graduate Student Advisory Committee fosters support and interaction among graduate students, faculty, the University and the community at large through intellectual and social events. It provides a voice for graduate students by embracing the academic, social, cultural and general diversity of its members.

Make use of the resources at the campus career center.

Wondering how the job market will change once you have your graduate degree? Many centers will assist graduate students with navigating the new, improved job landscape.

The Center for Career & Professional Development at Sacred Heart is happy to help graduate students determine their career paths. SHU students can take advantage of the SHUConnect portal—a one-stop shop to learn about job fairs, visiting panelists and networking events. Such events provide a wealth of information on job prospects at specific companies and organizations and will put you in touch with the people you’ll want to know.

Think SHU Might Be Right for You?

Want to know more about SHU’s more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs? Visit Graduate Admissions to contact a member of the graduate admissions team and explore what we offer.