Month: February 2015

Graduate Students in Need of Decompression (GrIND) is a student led group at the Thayer School of Engineering that seeks to promote the general health and wellness among all graduate students.  Maneuvering through graduate school can be a difficult proposition, even without taking into account the academic side of the equation.  Learning how to manage your time effectively, not get too stressed/anxious/depressed, getting along with your advisor, learning your way around a new area or culture, writing a thesis, finding time to exercise or spend time with your family, etc….these can all be significant factors affecting your overall outlook on life and your academic performance.  Through the GrIND, we hope to provide students with a local network of peer-based moral support as well as a structured and healthy approach to managing day-to-day graduate school life.

 

Think you are the only one who is struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression?  Maybe you are not sure how best to manage your time?  Well, you are not alone!  Shown below are the results from a recent GrIND survey of 48 graduate students at the Thayer School of Engineering when asked, “If attending a seminar, what topic(s) would you be most likely to attend?”  These results really speak to the need for all students to adopt a structured approach in managing their mental health and time while in graduate school.  This is what the GrIND hopes to provide.

In descending order from top, Efficient Time Management, Work/Life Balance, Advisor/Student Relationships, Stress/Anxiety/Depression, Thesis/Journal Writing, Transitioning into the “Real” world, Specific Challenges for International Students, Specific Challenges for Families/Couples.