Simran’s strategies to ace your HDR journey
9 August 2021
Hi everyone! My name’s Simran and I started my HDR journey with the Discipline of Politics and International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences in January this year.
...and it has been a very rewarding journey so far! There have been days where the big picture adds up, and extremely low days when my reading list is piling up and I don’t know what to do with it.
If this sounds like you, do not stress! Here’s a quick guide to getting started on your HDR journey and making the most of it:
No matter what stage of candidature you’re in, the importance of community is paramount.
It is an unsaid rule that your supervisor should be your first point of contact for feedback, support and guidance. But remember, it takes a community to craft some of the best research. The HDR Learning Skills Unit puts together a variety of events – online and face-to-face – where you can meet others on the same journey as you. Sign up for one of their meet and greets, and you’re sure to find friends. At Macquarie, there is a whole ecosystem to support you – from research librarians to peer writing assistants to HDR mentors. You never know where the best advice may come from – use all the help you can get!
Reading and writing are inextricably linked.
You may find yourself brooding over how heavily you’ve read, and months later realise you haven’t written much down. This is a shared feeling across research candidates and if this is you, organise what you’ve read under neat headings and write in free flow. Once you have summarised what you’ve read, start editing your work. It helps retain all that you’ve read (and gives you a good go at jotting down your references immediately after you’ve engaged with another scholar’s work).
Keep hydrated, meditate and exercise!
This can not be stressed enough. If you want to get the best out of your degree, it is important that you focus on the overall experience of it. Join MQ Sport, or try to stick to a sleep schedule, expand your social circle by joining a student group – ultimately, life is about balance.
If you work whilst you study, this one is for you.
You’re a champion! Working and studying full-time requires a lot of focus and hard work, and it’s important to have clarity around your timings. Set aside some days for work and others for study, if your schedule permits.
Do not doubt yourself
Self-doubt is a definite deal breaker. Research presents obstacles, but remember a “roadblock” is there for you to cross it (my supervisor's words of wisdom to me early on in my candidature). Keep crossing them and you’ll realise they weren’t as daunting as you thought they were.
Lastly, remember you are doing the best you can. With another wave of lockdowns and extreme uncertainty, there has never been a better time to be a researcher trying to examine the crazy new world we are in. Good luck and keep going!