Graduate student success: Coping mechanisms and the journey to the Ivory Tower

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of the study is to explore the successful graduate student experience focusing specifically on stress, its influences, sources, the various ways students cope and expected outcomes. Additionally, assessment was done to determine the usefulness of the coping lens for understanding the success of graduate students. Participants, selected because of their status as doctoral seeking graduate students, were interviewed in a semi-structured, open ended interviews. Then the data was analyzed and compared for similarities and scanned for differences.

Findings and Conclusions: The findings that the problem-solving coping skill users were the most successful lends credence to the previous studies on the subject and adds to the premise that it will help graduate students to be successful. If coping skills, especially problem-based coping skills are added to the graduate student developmental framework, a method for success can be found and implemented to help future students succeed. The doctoral students that used problem-based coping skills maintained social support networks, found a balance between academic and personal time, and were active participants in meeting their future goals.