A game plan for grad school success

A graduate program´s (M.S. and Ph.D.) success in any university is measured by the success of their graduate students who are either competing with peers fro other universities or working in the industry. The well-rounded education of a successful graduate school student starts with the proper selection of a faculty advisor. Understanding and selecting the right research of interest are the next crucial steps to be considered. The selection of a thesis/dissertation follows. The factors to be considered in assisting topic selection include the background research, research topics supported in funded research, and deliverables of funded research. After the thesis/dissertation topic selection, a concrete strategy must be formulated in both master´s and doctoral programs. It is important to know how the credit system works regarding research. Understanding the number of hours of effort needed to complete the thesis/dissertation by utilizing the credit-based approach is another significant factor. Graduate student must learn how to manage time wisely during the course of the study. An increase of the knowledge base through innovative efforts must also be developed by students. Lastly, learning how to work hard as a graduate student in a stressful environment while doing research is an excellent experience.Professors and student should work as a team to present a well-rounded graduate to the job market.