These four tips from international PhD graduate Kulsoom Hisam will help any student stay on track with their research.
Earning a PhD is tough. Doing it as an international student? Even harder—but also ten times more rewarding.
I was 23 when I moved to the U.S. to pursue my PhD in economics. Fresh out of undergrad, I was desperate to break free from my small, suffocating community in Pakistan and explore the unknown. All I knew was that I wanted to understand the world better, ask more questions, turn what I learned into compelling stories, and share them. I had no specific research focus and zero work experience.
Now, at 28, I’ve completed my PhD—and somehow landed a tenure-track position at a U.S. liberal arts college, something I never imagined achieving so soon.
But a PhD isn’t the finish line. It’s just the start of a lifelong learning journey.
Most PhD programs begin with two years of coursework, followed by three years of research. That’s when the real test begins. Coursework was easy for me—I’d been a student my whole life, thriving on schedules, exams, and grades. Then, after two years, everything went quiet.
No more exams. No more classes. No more deadlines. That’s when discipline becomes everything. It’s hard to master, but not impossible. Here are four key strategies that helped me through my PhD journey.
Discipline
You have to build your own routine. Schedule meetings, block off research time like you would class time, eliminate distractions, and set mini-deadlines to stay on track. For me, sticking to a routine was the most rewarding part.
I’ll admit—I’m a procrastinator. The kind who works frantically only when a deadline looms. Not my proudest trait, and honestly, fighting procrastination while forcing discipline is a daily struggle. Discipline means pushing yourself to work even when motivation is gone. But it does get easier once you build a schedule.
Failures
You will fail. I hit wall after wall in my research. At one point, I abandoned a project entirely, buried myself in others—only to hit more walls. Eventually, I circled back, pushed through, and broke past the obstacles.
And you know what? It worked. Patience and perseverance pay off. You’ll redo work endlessly, but something good will come of it—a lesson, a solution, a new idea. After countless setbacks, I don’t see them as wasted time.
Instead, I’m grateful for the skills I picked up—map-making, spatial analysis, the painstaking work of digitizing historical data. My research relies on rare historical maps and records, which are brutally hard to obtain. The tougher the work, the more rewarding it felt. You want your research—and your degree—to mean something.
Support
People say a PhD is isolating. It’s true, especially for international students—but it doesn’t have to be. Remember: A PhD isn’t just your achievement. It’s the result of support from advisors, co-authors, family, and friends.
Without them, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Surround yourself with people who energize, motivate, and bring you joy. Cherish the little things—good coffee with a friend, long walks, or just breathing in the air on a beautiful day.
Belief
What got me through grad school more than anything? Belief. Believing in the universe, in yourself, that things will work out—especially at your lowest—is the ultimate discipline and strength.
Self-doubt makes faith hard. The job market can be brutal, and you’ll need perseverance, especially when the odds are against you.
I hope my story offers some comfort or encouragement. I don’t see myself as someone with many achievements—just endless curiosity. If you feel trapped where you are and want to explore, grow, and gain confidence, maybe this path is for you.