Life after HCA – what to do next?
Rachel is a Master’s in History student. In this blog, Rachel addresses that tricky question…what should I do next?
For many M.A., MSc, and MScR students, the idea of what comes “next” is akin to the Sword of Damocles. It comes up in conversation with parents, peers, and professors and in those wakeful moments lying in bed at night. Especially for those of us in shorter programs, it can feel daunting to start the entire process all over, when it feels like we just finished it. It’s March now, and though the second semester is only just over halfway through, it can feel like it’s already too late to be looking into next steps. It’s a lot of stress to add on top of dissertations, semester assessments, and the average grind of everyday life.
Don’t give up! HCA and the University of Edinburgh at large has lots of resources to help you find out where you want to go next! I’ve organized them into, yet another, helpful list, but the points aren’t in any ranked order. What has worked for me, may not work for you, but they’re all resources at your disposal. The process of deciding where to go next can be daunting and feel like an endless slog, but you’re not in it alone.
- Make use of the university’s experts (your professors)
I’m sure at this point, you’re rolling your eyes and thinking, “duh.” However, when was the last time you went to oRice hours for more than just confirmation of an essay topic? Your lecturers are an excellent resource! They’ve done this process before and came out the other side (mostly) unscathed. Make an appointment and bring some questions:
- “How did you decide on a graduate school?”
- “What should I be looking for in a graduate advisor?”
- “How did you know grad school was right for you?”
- “What was the most challenging part of your graduate program?”
- “If you were to do the process over, what would be one thing that you would
change?”
The lecturer you speak with doesn’t even have to be one that you’re taking a class with. If there’s a professor whose work interests you, send them an email! You already have an “in.” There’s no one answer or right answer, so speaking to someone who’s career you admire or like to emulate can help you narrow down your search.
2. Email professors from other institutions and HCA Alumni!
Have you read an article or a book for class and thought “wow, this is really cool!” I know I have. Well, the person who wrote that is an actual person! Better yet, they’d love to hear from you! Seriously!
It can seem really scary to reach out to experts in the field and ask them some simple questions. However, just like the professors in our school, the experts around the world were also once wondering what direction their future was going to go. Plus, many of those experts have connections to the University of Edinburgh and HCA. Look to the HCA Alumni webpage to see if someone’s profile matches the career you’d like to build. Even if you aren’t sure that graduate school is for you, the perfect people to ask are those whose work
you would like to emulate. The worst thing that can happen is that they won’t email you back.
3. Make use of the HCA Intranet & online resources
We are not the first students to come through the University of Edinburgh system and be unsure as where to go next. Myself and others have been compiling resources for years to help students make those elusive and seemingly life changing decisions. It’s easy enough to say that they exist, but really who has the time to go combing through all the many webpages published by the university! Me!
- The HCA Sharepoint (log in required) has tab for “Careers & Mentoring” that directs to mentoring programs, the UoE Career hub, & Career Services!
- It’s never too late to get started, as the Career Service website has help for undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and those who have already graduated. They have specific advice already compiled for 2025 graduates.
- The SHCA Blog has already posted an article on this topic, a few years ago.
I’d also like to highlight, on the Career Services website, the Careers Compass Toolkit. If you’re really unsure as to what is next, this tool is designed to help you better understand yourself. It’s all well and good to talk to the experts, but the only real expert on you is YOU.
4. Talk to your friends.
I’m serious! Yeah, your mate might seem like a bit of an idiot, but they have a future to consider too. They may have been looking in places you’ve never heard of and come up with some strategies of their own. The best part of an institution like the University of Edinburgh is the community it creates. You may not realize it, but you are surrounded by the best and brightest students in the world. It can feel nerve-wracking to hear how far along everyone else is in the process but use that to your advantage! Ask question, be honest, and commiserate as a collective. You are NOT alone.
5. It is NEVER too late.
Many deadlines for an autumn 2025 start date have already passed, true. That’s not the end of the world. There are many schools who are still searching for postgraduate students and many institutions who haven’t posted their job openings. Don’t lose heart.
If you are paralyzed by indecision, that’s okay too! It means that maybe 2025 wasn’t the right year to jump into the next step. No one has the same path, and getting started now, tomorrow, or even next year is not going to be the monumental change it feels like. Take time, be honest with yourself, and if you truly do feel like Sisyphus pushing that rock back up the hill, it’s okay to let it roll back down a little.
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