Tip #35: (Don't) Take a Directed Studies

This year, I took a directed studies course. Essentially this entails writing a massive paper, but no classes. Most students that do a directed studies (and this is a teny tiny percentage of the student population) will do it in their third or fourth year. This year, I thought a directed studies would be a fun way to learn about something I was interested in, but could not take as a course at Nipissing. I also figured that it would be a good precursor to grad school. I've still got mixed feeling about directed studies courses though. Here's why:

DON'T take a directed studies course if you like to procrastinate. This was my major problem with directed studies. No due-dates until the end of the year just begs for procrastination. I also think I had some preconceived notion that it would be an easier class because I didn't have to attend lecture, write exams etc. This is most certainly not the case. You will read more than in a regular seminar course and just because you aren't in class three hours a week does not mean that you aren't doing the same amount of work. There were points during this directed studies that I was ready to just scream because I had left work until the last minute, and had a meeting with my supervisor and was scrambling to produce something.

DO take a directed studies course if you plan to go to graduate school. I think I learned more about self-directed learning and discipline than the actual content of the directed studies course. I've learned to anticipate when I'll be busy, and do my work ahead of time. I've also learned that I need to set my meetings with my advisor before I'm actually done the work as a way to motivate me to get things done by a deadline. I'm glad I've learned this stuff now, instead of next year in graduate school. In addition, because I took this directed studies course, I'm not nearly as afraid of a 50 page MRP (major research paper - for the MA level). I've learned to split papers of this size into distinct parts and then work on each as if they were a stand-alone essay. It makes the paper so much more manageable and less scary.

So I leave this one up to you. It's a great experience in getting to know your independent working style. Nevertheless, it will drive you crazy at times, so be sure you can handle it along with your other classes or else you may set yourself up for failure.