Strategies for Slow Readers in Grad School | How to Read in Grad School for Distracted & Slow Reader

If you are like me, you may need strategies for how to read in grad school. This video for Distracted & Slow Readers who want strategies especially for slow readers in Grad School

Hello everyone! Today's video was specially requested and I am so excited to share! I have never been a strong reader, and even worse I never really enjoyed it either. As a result, I have had to develop and find a bunch of strategies to help me succeed in my grad programs. While it may be a little harder to go to grad school as a slow reader or as someone easily distracted, it doesn't necessarily mean we can’t do it! I hope this video helps you and anyone you know learn some strategies to approach how to read for grad school!

Please leave comments of questions or ideas you have to share!

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○ How to choose Grad School Letters of Recommendation | UCLA Grad Advice on Letters of Rec
○ Most Common Ways People Find Money for Graduate Degrees

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[victoria]

I also take an hour or so to read a 20-page reading, so it was really comforting hearing that I'm not the only one!

[amstreater]

I struggle with walls of text and use Apple’s Spoken Content feature loads - whether it’s a webpage, eBook or PDF. On my laptop I’ll often use Google Chrome’s Speech feature (select text, right click, Speech > Start Speaking) to read out paragraphs from a webpage. It’s amazing. I particularly like it for ebooks because it means I can effectively turn any ebook into an audiobook - the voice is obviously not as natural as a voice actor but it works well for me.

I love the other tips too - I am definitely a slow and distractible reader, and I’m about to start grad school after being out of formal education for 15 years (and not reading most of the books for the literature classes of my French undergrad).

New follow!

[leaoipd]

So helpful. My favorite thing about this video is the fact that you pointed out that there are ways for people to be successful in grad even if you don't love to read! These tips were everything! Thanks, girl!

[anthonyscarborough]

Hey, so I’m a first semester grad student on the spectrum. B/c of my disability, it naturally takes me longer to absorb information than my NT peers, and it’s more work for me than it is for them.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say the amount of reading I have to do now was overwhelming me.

So thanks, this video really helped me put things in perspective and these strategies will make things more manageable for me going forward.

Also, I’m so glad you weren’t just like “now you have to think criticality instead of remembering a list of facts”. I know that. I was already thinking critically in undergrad, and that doesn’t explain how grad school differs from undergrad specifically within higher ed 😂

[alexanderlopezdiaz]

Thank you for this great video. I am also in the 20-page per hr group., and a full time job. This video is so good. I struggle with the need of memorizing everything.

[Neanyboo]

I am working on my second master’s after being out of school over ten years. It is so much harder now that I have a family! Your tips make me feel like I can do this again!❤❤❤

[gedenirfiorese]

I am a doctoral student, don’t read a fraction of what you read lol it’s more understanding concepts and active learning. So far so good

[shellysommerfield]

Keep in mind the stats Google gives are likely based on reading something more like a novel than a research article. I doubt you’re as “below average” than that stat makes it seem when you account for the difference in content.

[addis]

This is great advice! I like that you emphasize knowing your strengths and honoring your limits. I will definitely use those read-out-loud features!

[icekk]

This is such a cool video I'm so glad I found this. I'm transitioning from my bachelor's degree to my masters and to be honest this problem of getting distracted every single time I'm reading and always going back one or two paragraphs or sometimes even entire sections was troubling me. Thanks for the tip on note taking and mentioning how they don't need to be deep, cause I often make the mistake of getting too involved with the note taking process rather than studying and end up never even using those notes again T-T thanks a lot for this!! Subbed!

[pocket]

Thank you for the tips. This is so helpful.
As I am waiting on my graduate program to start soon,
I had tons of anxieties around the reading and understanding.
I love reading but grad books are horribly hard to understand and very dry.
But after listening to your vids, I know I should go on checking all the resources including reviews and youtube, and summaries to get help with the real reading. It is so reliving to hear this..! Thank u!

[Aggdam]

I just discovered your channel and I as an older person (46) considering applying to grad schools, I am binge-watching all your videos! You explain everything so well and really help to demystify the process. I’m a little scared of the reading involved so this one helped put me at ease. Thank you and keep up the good work!!

[markcoren]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I'm preparing for grad school as student with a brain injury. My former reading skills have had to be rebuilt from scratch as I recover. You have several insights and strategies that I hadn't found yet that i think are going to be very useful, especially your last couple ideas about how to divide and conquer those readings. I hope the rest of your journey has been as successful!

[darkninjamandelta]

Thank you, it’s been like 5 years for me since undergrad but I’m a prospective MAT student

[amalexander]

I just found this video. Thinking of going back for my masters after finishing my bachelors degree 10 years ago. I get distracted reading too, and this video has great advice and encouragement. Love it!

[msemma]

Hi Brisa. I had never left a meaningful comment on any YouTube videos before. However, I feel like I really want to this time. I am a non-traditional grad student in every way (age, path, ability, and the origin of country) and have struggled a lot after getting into the grad program that I love. One of the reason, for sure, was the high mountain of readings. Your sharing gave me flexibility and practicality to think about reading. I feel much hopeful now, so thank you!

[molycules]

This was so so helpful!! These seem very doable and helpful! In my last semester of undergrad I had a ton of reading and this would have been so helpful then lol. I especially liked the paragraph by paragraph summarizing - helps so much’ thank you!

[PhoenixCounsellingServicesCana]

Hey, thank you so much
I am starting grad school next month
Nervous but excited
Thank you for those tips
Very helpful

[isaiahgonzalez]

I also suggest listening to Harry Potter Pomodoro sessions to help concentrate when reading! There are either 25 min study/5 min break, or 50 min study/10 min break.Try it out! 💫

[mariafuller]

I love your suggestion of writing notes as you read. I start Grad School 2/01! I will be using your tip!