In the middle of the summer I was overwhelmed and frustrated and SKRESSED. Exams in my program are 48 hr take home exams and I just new I couldn't do it in 48hrs with the way that I was feeling and with the way the world was going. I knew that the thing I needed was more time...

So I went to my advisor and told her that what I needed to be successful taking an exam in this time, was more time to take the exam. And she supported me in going to my program director/chair of my exam committee and ask for a time extension.

When I made that ask, I made it not only for myself, but also for the other people in my program who were taking comps. I had had conversations with other ppl who were comping and knew that they were feeling overwhelmed like I was...

I also knew that there were ppl in my program who were dealing with things that I wasn't, like loss of childcare, which would make their ability to comp harder than it normally would've been. So when I asked for the time extension, I asked for everyone to get it.

And my program director said yes not just to extra time for me, but agreed to give everyone taking comp exams this semester to have an optional 48 hr extension if they needed it. I know that this extension made a huge difference for me. It was probably how I was able to pass...

this exam while the world was on fire. And I think, I hope, it made a difference for my classmates. So my grad school pro tip for today is to ask for what you need. Ask for it to apply for everyone. And if you don't get it? squad up. And if that doesn't work? LEAVE.

A program that won't consider changing to help you while the world is on fire is a program that does not want you to succeed.