Graduate Students

Graduate student programs, especially doctorate programs, may require a longer stay in Ann Arbor, and whether you’re coming from another city, another state, or another country, there is no doubt that relocation can be stressful. In addition to adjusting to the new demands of your program, you have to create a new home for yourself. And if you are moving with a partner or children, this transition can be equally as stressful for them.

One of the best things that you can do is get to know Ann Arbor. Explore and enjoy all that Ann Arbor has to offer.

The difference in ages and experiences of students at the graduate level is often greater than during the undergraduate years. These perceived differences, coupled with living alone and working long hours, can leave some graduate students feeling alone or isolated.  Although it can be challenging, connecting with people and creating a support network is an important way to stay healthy.

Connect with students in your program: It’s safe to assume that most students in your program at least share similar professional or academic interests, which can be a good starting point in connecting with others who may at first seem very different from yourself. Another great way to find others who share your interests is to ask about what student organizations you can get involved in within your program.

Connect with others outside your program: Taking time to do something that you enjoy outside of your field of study, like joining an unrelated student organization or sport, signing up for an art class, or volunteering, can not only help you to connect with others but is also good for your overall wellbeing.

Many graduate and professional school students find that managing the academic demands at U-M can be stressful, and that balancing work, courses and personal needs can be very challenging. In graduate school the expectation is that you will contribute, rather than be a passive consumer of information, meaning that you will likely be conducting more independent research.

The advising relationship is also different. It can be scary to think about discussing your mental health with the person who may review your work or make professional recommendations. This worksheet can be helpful in making the decision about whether or not to disclose.

Whether you have arrived at U-M from another part of the country or the world and are trying to make new friends, exploring a new romantic connection, or learning to live with a new roommate, social relationships can sometimes be a source of stress.  Although it can be challenging, connecting with people and creating a support network at U-M is an important way to protect your mental health.

Graduate/Family Housing:  Living on-campus in the graduate or family housing can be a great way to meet new people with similar lifestyles. Check out Northwood Housing or Munger Residencies for graduate student housing options.

Graduate Programs: Graduate programs are typically small, providing more opportunities to interact with your classmates. Other students, especially those in your program, can be a great source of friendship and support.

Student Activities and Organizations: Joining a student organization can help you connect with other students who share your interests. With a large student population, U-M has a student organization to match almost any interest. To find a group with similar interests as your own, visit Maize Pages. Also, Festifall or Northfest are large events held each year to showcase student groups on campus for both undergraduate and graduate students. To locate activities specific to graduate students, visit the Student Life, Rackham Graduate School website.

• Managing the demands of parenting as a graduate student can be uniquely challenging, but whether you already have children, or become a parent during graduate school, the University has many resources to support you both academically and socially.

• Keeping a healthy work/life balance as a priority, connecting with other student parents, and taking advantage of the resources available, can all be helpful in managing some of the stresses of being a student parent.

• The Students with Children website, the University’s Work/Life Resource Center, and Rackham Graduate School are great sources of information for student parents.

• The Students with Children website, aimed at all student parents and caregivers, includes information on childcare, financial resources, social support, health clinics, insurance options, and more.

• The Work/Life Resource Center is a starting point for the U-M community to learn about resources and tools to promote work/life balance, including resources to support parents.

• Rackham offers programs and events throughout the year and provides quick access to important resource information including academic policies, and links to resources.

Whether you are moving out of the dorms into your own apartment, or are new to Ann Arbor and searching for off-campus housing for the first time, issues related to your living situation can be stressful.

• Housing: Many graduate students are coming from out of state or out of the country and need assistance finding a place to live. Your concerns may include finding housing close to classes, keeping housing costs in check, locating a peaceful neighborhood, or researching the area’s school system if you have children. The U-M housing website has information on graduate, family, and off-campus housing, and staff is available to assist you with your questions.
• Roommates: If you lived with a roommate in undergraduate school, you are no doubt aware of the stress that can surface. Talking with your roommate about mutual expectations and developing strategies to compromise and share responsibilities can help to avoid conflict in the future. If you and your roommate need help mediating a conflict, you can talk with an advisor at the Office of Housing, or visit the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) website. They can also help to resolve conflicts with landlords or neighbors.
  • Become a part of U-M Graduate Housing: A staff position within U-M graduate housing, such as a Community Assistant, might be another housing alternative to pursue. To learn more about becoming a live-in staff member in U-M graduate housing, click here.
  • Finding What You Need: Many graduate students arrive on campus just before the academic semester begins and have little time to explore their new home town. Attending orientations and talking with current graduate students is a helpful way to discover Ann Arbor and the U-M campus. The Campus Information Center’s website provides an enormous amount of information about living in Ann Arbor, covering everything from where to register to vote, to where to find grocery stores, to where to rent movies, to where to find the U-M football schedule.
  • Coming Prepared: Before arriving on campus, complete this checklist to help you prepare.

Whether you are supporting yourself or your entire family, you may need to find additional work to supplement the loans or stipend you receive while enrolled in graduate school.

• Visit Rackham Graduate School site for information on employment opportunities and funding resources such as fellowships, grants, and awards. Some schools have their own job boards as well.
• Your professors can also be a great resource to learn about any paid opportunities within your program.
• As an enrolled graduate student at the University of Michigan, there are many free and low cost treatment options available to you and your family to address your medical and mental health needs.

Making your health a priority while attending graduate or professional school can be challenging with so many other responsibilities competing for your time and attention. But it’s important to remember that your physical and mental health are interconnected, and both can have a dramatic impact – either positive or negative – on your success in school and in life. Finding ways to stay healthy can help you feel better and prevent or manage existing mental health symptoms.

• Lifestyle: Though you may feel that you are too busy to get enough sleep, eat nutritiously or exercise, all of these lifestyle factors can have an impact on your mental health and academic performance. See the section of this website devoted to self-care for information on ways to stay healthy while on campus.
• Health and Wellness Initiative: Health and Wellness Initiative is a mental health awareness campaign started by Rackham Graduate School in 2006. The Initiative offers programs and activities designed specifically for graduate students, addressing areas such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, professional development and connecting with peers.
• Alcohol and other drugs: Some students use alcohol or other drugs to relieve their mental health symptoms, but in reality these substances are more likely to interfere with mental health recovery. The majority of U-M students make smart decisions when it comes to alcohol and other drugs. But when problems arise, resources are available at U-M to help students with everything from developing moderation strategies to locating substance abuse recovery services.
• Health care: It’s easy to discount the importance of or forget to schedule regular medical checkups. To help you stay healthy, University Health Service offers both walk-in and scheduled appointments, and most services are already covered by the health service fee which is paid as part of your tuition.

• In the past year, more than one third of graduate and professional school students at U-M reported that they thought they needed help because they were feeling sad, blue, anxious or nervous.*
• Over 80% of graduate and professional school students at U-M say they don’t think it’s a sign of weakness to get help.*
• You may find significant stressors related to managing your mental health while enrolled in graduate or professional school. Consider creating a plan for health and wellness on your own or with your clinician. Also, exploring the other topics on this website may leave you better prepared to handle these stressors.

*Healthy Minds Study

A difficult decision for many students is whether or not to be open with other students, professors, and administrators about having a mental illness. It may not always be appropriate or necessary to disclose the details of your condition, but it’s always appropriate to anticipate possible situations before they arise and plan ahead to consider how you might respond and what, if any, information you might choose to share.

• Academic disclosure: Many students choose to keep their mental illness private even when their condition is causing serious academic problems. Whether or not you choose to disclose information about your mental illness, as soon as academic problems arise, it is helpful to speak with your instructor about what steps you can take to get back on track. The earlier academic difficulties are recognized and addressed, the greater your chance for success. Visiting the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities can be helpful if you would benefit from academic accommodations related to your mental illness.
• Social disclosure: You may worry about the reaction of other students if you disclose your mental illness. Having a support network of friends can be beneficial. If you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable sharing with, consider speaking with undergraduate and other graduate students in one of the many student mental health organizations.
• Click here an exercise designed to help you weigh the pros and cons of discussing your diagnosis with others.

There are many mental health resources available for both you and your family on campus and in the Ann Arbor community. For a comprehensive, searchable list of the support services available, visit the resource section of this site.

• Campus Mind Works offers free, drop-in education and support groups open to any U-M student.
• The Community Providers Database is a searchable list of off-campus mental health care providers. Searchable by items like insurance accepted, specialties, and location, it is a great resource for both enrolled and non-enrolled students.
• Frances and Kenneth and Family Eisenberg Depression Center/Department of Psychiatry provides individual, family, and group treatments for a variety of concerns, and offers free support groups and educational workshops for patients and family members.
• Counseling and Psychological Services provides free counseling services for enrolled U-M students. During the academic year, CAPS also offers graduate student support groups and drop-in workshops.
• University Center for the Child and Family (UCCF) offers mental health services to children and families.
• University of Michigan Psychological Clinic offers therapy for students and faculty at University of Michigan and the southeast Michigan community for a variety of difficulties and concerns.
• Watch Rackham’s Graduate Student to Graduate Student videos, including advice on how to balance work and life, advice for students with children, and more.