S1E6: Advice for First-Year Students at Duke

intro music

Leo Biggs, Ph.D.

Hello, and welcome back to Duke GradCast. I'm Leo Biggs, Senior Program Coordinator for Graduate Student Affairs at Duke Graduate School. In my role, I work closely with graduate students and with programs that support student success, belonging, and community across The Graduate School. In this episode, we're talking about something every graduate student experiences, but few ever in exactly the same way—their first year, and what it's like starting their program. Starting graduate school can be exciting, disorienting, energizing, and overwhelming, sometimes all in the same week, sometimes all in the same day. You're learning a new program, a new campus, new expectations, and often a new city or even a new country. You may be figuring out how to work with an advisor, how to manage your time, how to find community, or how to ask for help before things become urgent. To help us unpack that transition, I'm joined by three Duke graduate students who bring different perspectives on what it means to begin graduate study here. We have Shen, a dual Master's student in public policy and environmental management; Lucas Lopez, a Ph.D. candidate in romance studies; and Camille Green, a second-year Ph.D. student in chemistry. Together, they'll share what they wish they had known, what helped them find their footing, and what advice they would offer to students just beginning their Duke journey. Let's get started.

Alright, to start, could each of you briefly introduce yourself, your program, and what brought you to Duke?

Shen Shen

Hi everyone, my name is Shen Shen. I'm a rising third-year dual degree student, a Master of Public Policy at Sanford, and a Master of Environment Management at the Nicholas School. So, uh, what actually brought me to Duke? Because Duke is one of the few places where those of the two schools actually talk to each other, like shared courses, shared faculty, and that is why I pursue a real dual degree pathway here rather than two individual degrees like staples together.

Camille Green

Hi everybody, my name is Camille Green. I'm a second-year Ph.D. student in the chemistry program, and I'm advised by Dr. Kathy Franz. I chose Duke—My answer is a little bit more simple, but my dad's family is from Greensboro, so I was looking for a school that was near my family, and I also was looking for a school that had medium weather. I went to undergrad in Florida, which was really, really warm all year round. So I was looking for something that got all four seasons.

Lucas Lopes

Hi everyone, my name is Lucas Lopes, and I'm a seventh-year Ph.D. candidate in romance studies. Um, and well, I came to Duke because I wanted a place I could grow academically. And also, I was very interested in working across disciplines and learn from people with very different backgrounds, and I like the feeling that my choice of coming to Duke provided me with this space and situation in which I can see myself growing  both intellectually and as a person.

Leo

That's awesome. Thank you, thank you all for those. I love the diversity of reasons there, but um, the themes of interdisciplinary conversation and growth outside the classroom feel very consistent. If you could go back to your first week at Duke and tell yourself one practical thing, what would it be?

Camille

I'd like to go ahead and share here because I really struggled going through my first semester of grad school with this. And now some of our first year grad students are coming in and they're struggling with this as well. But I really, really wish that I could tell myself that I am meant to be here. Duke chose me for a reason. I did not overhype myself up on my personal statement. I didn't make myself look better than I actually am. I just was myself. Um and when I got here, I was so concerned about, 'everybody else seems so much smarter than me and so much better than me. They all have more experience.' So I really wish that I had realized that I actually am meant to be here.

Shen

From my side, I would like to say something I want to like tell myself in the first week will be  several things. The first thing is like definitely like say yes to fewer things in week one that you think you should. Like the September calendar should be your default for your whole year. So, and also the second thing is,  especially during what when we're choosing the class that drop and add period before that, ask every question clearly about the class you choose because this will be like largely define your availability for the whole semester. So make everything super clear in the week one. So like we will have less trouble in your, in the rest of the semester.

Lucas

I would like to say that I strongly agree with both Camille and Shen. Talking about what Camille mentioned, I also experienced this imposter syndrome  that we, it's kind of common among many of us, many of us. And uh now being at the last fraction of my time in the program, I can definitely say I was glad to be here. This program is for me, and I can see it clearly now, and I would encourage encourage everyone to understand that if they are here, it's because they deserve to be here and because this place is for them. But one  thing that I think it's especially, would be especially relevant in right at the beginning, because being an international student was challenging, is that I would definitely tell myself you don't need to figure out Duke in the first week, or I would even extend that time and would say you don't need to figure out Duke in the first semester. It's much more useful to give yourself time to observe, to ask questions, and to gradually figure out what actually matters for you, especially in a Ph.D. program, which is a long, a long way until you graduate. So that would be definitely something important for me.

Leo

Thank you all. That's such good advice, such relevant and practical advice for starting your first week. And I want to go back to Shen and Camille. You both kind of talked about what it means to find a rhythm in your whole semester. So I'm curious, how did the three of you begin to find a weekly rhythm that worked for you, balancing coursework and advisory meetings and outside the classroom? How did you find that weekly rhythm?

Shen

Um, so for me, I would like to say my first week, actually, like in at the especially like the first week of the first semester, I really don't have a rhythm. So basically I just reach every deadline I have to and then like just finish everything on time. And this shift, the real shift actually is moving from like  a to-do list to a, really like a calendar. Like I started to protect things like for every day, one strategy I'm using is one deep work block. This should be like 30 minutes or one day, depends on my schedule, and every day to defending it like a class. And everything else, I got pushed to this edge. The other strategy of me to find my regular rhythm is to how to schedule my class. Because apparently, as a dual degree student, I have at least a class from Sanford and Nicholas at the same time. But traveling between these two campuses needs real, like, travel time. Like, I'm starting to batch in like, my days by location instead of the class subject. So like, if like my one-day class comes into one building, they can largely save my time. And I, every Sunday, I'll have like around 30 minutes to reset my schedule and reset myself. And especially to, for example, first one, pull out my Canvas to know what kind of things is like most important to do and rank them by their importance level. So I know what things I should do every week. And it's like, and this is the time for me to just like evaluate myself, what I'm done before. So, and also the time for me to take a breath.

Camille

Similar to Shen, my first week was not scheduled at all. Actually, I didn't have a real rhythm, I don't think, until I got into a research lab and I really started  picking up on more of the research side compared to a class side. I would say that I tried out something for a week, maybe two weeks. And then if it didn't work, I just kept switching it up until I found something that really worked for me. But I'm a big scheduler, in a slightly different way than Shen. But as a chemistry Ph.D. student, my work changes all of the time. I will do an experiment, and then based on the results of that experiment, I have to change my entire weekly plan. So I do a bunch of different scheduling. At the beginning of each month, I write out a monthly goals list. I try to keep it short, because things change so much, but it's only three or four goals, big things I want to do that month. I want to get these pieces of data. Then every week, I try to schedule out the next week, which helps we have planning meetings in my lab. And that really helps just since my schedule is so variable.

Lucas

In my case, it was basically similar to the experience of Shen and Camille because in the first week I was simply  going to classes and trying to understand how things would be. But  then I started trying to implement some more directed way to  approach my time. And then what I did was is try to always identify a few priorities, and a few is key here because I don't want a full big list of a lot of priorities, it's just like, you know, two or three priorities for the week. It's very crucial for me to protect time for focused work, so it changes based on the  priorities, and also leave some flexibility because unexpected things always come up. And so it's also important to have that flexibility and be able to play with it, and uh, but definitely having a few priorities that you can refer to and organize your week around them is crucial. And in my case, it was always like organizing every week, or the maximum was like one month. So I prefer to have this kind of more short time frames of a week, a month, than trying to establish a rhythm for an entire semester, that is more, that, that is more like unfeasible for me and bring some frustration because it's not sustainable down the road.

Camille

I want to touch on another point that Lucas said. So the sustainability, you have to—I personally need to schedule self-care. I would start on my schedule and say, "oh man, I forgot to schedule lunch." So you really do have to build a schedule that works for you. Remember to breathe.

Lucas

And on that note, I would also say that there's no perfect recipe. It's totally like individual and personal. It depends on how you work, how you feel productive, and what's best for you. So it's, I see like managing my schedule as also a form of self-knowledge, self-examination, and understanding what I can do to improve or what I need to change based on how it worked.

Leo

Wow, y'all. I am, I'm over here taking notes. This is, this is such good advice. Shen, you're moving from a to-do list to a calendar. But then also  these monthly goals, these weekly priorities  that Camille and Lucas both mentioned, as well as leaving room for that flexibility, putting in time for self care, and the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all. I love hearing from all three of you, because they're all different, and they're all ways that you have found to make your schedules and your rhythms work for you. That's fantastic. Moving along to building community and belonging, I would love to hear what advice would you give to someone who does not immediately feel connected, whether that is in your department or at Duke or in Durham. What would you tell someone who's come to Duke and  is like, "you know, I haven't really found my people yet. I haven't really found my spot." What advice would you give to that person?

Shen

Um, I can start first. Especially the first thing, it is not your fault to feel like this kind of feeling. So, and also this is like, because especially for Duke, like we have 10 different school and so many like different kinds of programs. And the grad programs like especially are small, scattered. Everyone's schedule is so different. So like, the connection here may take,  may take months instead of like weeks or days. If possible, pick one recurring things and show up, like show up more time. For example, like I'm in GPSG, because I'm also working as a president for the graduate and professional student government. So, we host recurring events. If that's recurring, that'll be the best. That'll be, that'll be even better. Because like, you have time to meet the people who have the same interest with you, and basically also get some more familiar face. This is like some of the strategy. And one last thing I really want to mention is also trying to start the conversation like by yourself instead of waiting to others to invite you.

Camille

I 100% agree with you on that point, that it is scary, but I think you really have to try to be brave. Go out, meet people, and especially also, Shen, what you said about finding what you like, not what other people like. Find something that you like. Some Duke resources as well will point you to different clubs, activities, and organizations that you can join to help meet people with similar interests as you.

Lucas

I would say if you don't feel connected, I'd say not to interpret that feeling too quickly. Because if you don't immediately feel like you found your community, it doesn't mean you won't. Everyone arrives with different backgrounds, with different personalities, and it takes time. It takes some effort to create or be part of a community. So basically, keep putting yourself in situations where connection can happen. For instance, the  events that Shen mentioned, there are lots of organizations, events  sponsored by departments, programs, things happen at Duke all the time. So participating in those generally helps. And one thing that Camille mentioned  was also very important to me. I became very good friends with people  from the community, people that are not at Duke. And so be open also to make those friends, friends that are not necessarily in your program, in your department, or even at Duke.

Camille

Something that I love about this question, it always reminds me of this, but everybody is feeling this. That's why it's a question. So the other first years, we're all trying to build community, we're all trying to meet people, we're all trying to build that connection. So you're not in it alone, you're not the only person who maybe feels isolated or maybe feels disconnected. There are other people out there who are looking for friends and looking for things to do. And it's really great to just be bold, ask if they want to go play pickleball someday. They'll probably say yes, and then you have a new friend.

Leo

Yes, I love that. So, all three of you speak to the fact that like, you're not the only one feeling this. You can give it time, you don't have to make all your best friends in the first week, and to put yourself in situations in and out of Duke  that you can meet people with common interests and be open to that. So that's wonderful, that's awesome. Thank you. Thinking now about your support networks inside your academic departments or within your academic career, I'd like to know who, besides your advisor or your PI, who can be part of a student's support network? Who else has your back?

Shen

Um, so for me, I would like to say the first group I want to mention is just the second years or the recent graduate student from your same program. Because they're basically the people who know really well about how the program setting is. And the second thing is  the school's program staff and most importantly the career centers. So they just give me like, sometimes it's not just help about changing your resume or give you some like career inspiration, but sometimes it's all about your life. How could you balance your life and work? And also if there's some people like in your area and they can provide some practical suggestions, maybe also for your life. That would they will also recommend you and connect with other people.

Lucas

I have to acknowledge that my—the DGSA of my department is my unofficial advisor for all things administrative, all things bureaucratic, all things you know, Duke-related. And I wouldn't have been you know, doing my work the way I am doing without her support. So definitely be in touch with your DGSA because  they know everything that is necessary to know, they can guide you to resources, they can provide you with much more than, you know, the, let's say basic stuff of the department. They can prov— direct you to many, many things. And as an international student, I, in my experience I also took advantage of the Duke International Student Center. They can provide you with many resources, connect you to people, to other students, and be a place in which you also feel connected and create community. So especially those two fronts, the DGSA and the International Student Center, they played fundamental, essential, crucial roles for me during my time at Duke.

Camille

Yeah, I'm going to agree with Lucas. My DGS and DGSA, I go to them for so many things. Our DGS is so helpful, and he was great with connecting me with people and supporting me during my search journey and through my classes as well. Our DGSA and all of our administrative team is also amazing. With actual stuff related to my Ph.D. program, with chemistry, going to other students in the department, just like Shen said, is one of the most amazing things. Going to older grad students, maybe people that are about to graduate, and then asking people in your same class too, because they're going through the exact same thing that you're going through.

Leo

That's fantastic. I feel like you have, the three of you have just created like the most amazing list of new resources. So thank you all so much for listening, or for listing the ways that you find support, the people that you go to and the resources that you have drawn on. Moving now to the international student experience, which a few of you have touched on already, but which I want to get a little more into now. For students who are new not only to Duke, but also to the U.S. academic environment, to the U.S. more broadly,  or just to Durham, North Carolina, what advice would you offer?

Lucas

Oh, if I, if I could start that one, because yeah, that's, that was a huge thing for me. And  as an international student  coming from Brazil to Duke, it was challenging and I felt a lot of pressure, it was, it was difficult, and if I could go back in time, I would say to myself and to all my, you know, my peers, give yourself permission to be a beginner again. And of course it's very very difficult to balance everything because you will be learning your academic program while also learning cultural norms. So all those things, they seem and at some point they may be in fact overwhelming, but they are also the reason why you decided to pursue an international education is, they are part of it. Keep in mind, "I'm allowed to be a beginner again. I can start learning things from zero, and there's no problem, no shame about that." The other thing that  the International [Student] Center helps is that they have, they have kind of guides available and materials available, like explaining step by step, you know, how to, how to get your driver's license, how to do this and that, how to get your social security number, and so they can help navigate those things that are more, let's say, formal, administrative, and generally  more challenging for someone that comes from another country.

Camille

I have a question for Lucas and Shen. As a domestic student, how can we be better peers to international students and make you guys feel more welcome and more at home here?

Shen

That is a good question for me. Like I would like to say, if in the, like, sometimes if possible, trying to give them like, for example, like more guidance, if for example, like they don't understand the question or something. And explain a little bit more and also sometimes just like be more patient, that'll be super helpful. And second thing is like, because we come from like internationally, sometimes we don't know much about Durham, like even North Carolina, even U.S. So if possible, like inviting them first for like a lunch or dinner or something, like, or even just a short walk to Durham or to some place nearby, help them to explore the city a little bit. Even simpler—"Do you want to study together like sometime at school?" That'll be like, it's all like so many, and it would be super helpful for international students to feel that they belong to Duke and they belong to this whole culture, yeah.

Lucas

Talking about my experience, I remember when I arrived at Duke, a fourth-year student in my department, a domestic student, he invited me to have a coffee, and we started talking and he basically explained to me important stuff that got, that kind of guided me through through the program. You know, he helped me in terms of, "Okay, you have to organize yourself around your classes, try to work in this way." He was filling me with his own strategies, his own knowledge and things he knew from other people. It was like, okay, someone that is already in the system, let's say, that grew in this educational environment, that knows everything about it, that is totally familiar with it, provided me with some guiding principles and strategies, and I'm doing them and  I'm implementing this in my life and it's working. So definitely, if you are a domestic student, it will be great if you can, you know, help and be part of the academic life of an international peer.

Leo

Thank you. Thank you both. Thank you all. But let me just ask the very last question, which is what is one thing that made Duke feel more like home? And Shen, why don't you start us off?

Shen

For me, like I would like to say, it's not just the single thing that made me feel like Duke is home, but just Duke itself is my home. This could be including like my class. Like, I like my familiar professor is all in Duke, like my friends is all the Duke, my Duke classmates or the colleagues. And also one important thing I really want to mention, what made me Duke feel like home is the GPSG, which is the organization I'm currently at, the Graduate Professional Student Government. So this is this organization I stayed there like for, like this is my third year, so  with the org. So step by step, I'll I see how this thing goes and also how everything was being developed. But also like I have the opportunity to be in a student leader in different  areas at Duke and also trying to practice my skill and also more important, to serve our student bodies. There's something like just combine all together. This is what made me feel like Duke is a home, and also sometimes more like a home.

Camille

For me, it would be connecting with older graduate students in the chemistry program and in other programs. I was able to get really good advice on how classes go, how lab goes, even the best places to eat around here. So connecting with them really made me feel like I fit in here.

Lucas

And for me, it may sound a little weird, but what made Duke feel like, feel more like home was routine. Having familiar people and familiar places that gradually stopped feeling new, you know, at some point. The places and the people I was in contact on my everyday basis, they were simply like the people that were part of my life, the places that were part of my life, it was like part of my routine. And that feeling of  Duke is an integral, integral part of my daily life, of my routine, made it feel like home for me.

Leo

Thank you all. So thank you to Shen, Lucas Lopes, and Camille Green for sharing their advice and experiences. It's just been a fantastic conversation, and I'm so grateful to all three of you. If you are beginning graduate school at Duke, we hope this conversation reminds you that you do not need to have everything figured out right away. The first year is a time to ask questions, build relationships, learn how your program works, and give yourself room to grow. You can find more resources for graduate students on the Duke Graduate School website, and you can subscribe to Duke GradCast wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening, and welcome to Duke.

outro music