1) Using material you have read, discuss what you believe are the 3 graduate-level

competencies that will contribute most to your success as a student

Though there are a number of graduate-level competencies that are believed to be essential to
graduate-level studies, there are three that I believe would most contribute to my success as a
student. These competencies include critical thinking, information literacy and time
management.
Hannel and Hannel (1998) stated that there are seven steps to critical thinking. According to
their argument, the seven steps include, label or identify, compare/interrelate/analogize,
classify/integrate/pre-summarize, decode/deduce, encode, infer/project/apply and summarize.
Critical thinking is defined as thinking clearly and rationally. It involves thinking precisely and
systematically and following the rules of logic and scientific reasoning, among other things
(Lau, 2011, p.1). Graduate-level study requires that one exercise the skill of critical thinking in
order to be able to reason at acceptable levels and produce scholastic work that can assist others
and contribute to their field of study.
Information literacy is a very important component to achieving success at the graduate level.
According to The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), information literacy is
a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed.(then) locate,
evaluate, and use effectively the needed information (2000, n.p.). Studying at the graduate level
requires constant access to and use of appropriate information, especially on a technological and
advanced level to aid in exploring and deriving logical solutions and conclusions. It is required
that extensive research and accessing of information from a wide range of credible sources to
support ones arguments/views and in other instances the reverse is done.

Of the three graduate-level competencies identified, time management can be argued as the
most important. Based on careful thought, I have come to realize that though one may make
adequate use of critical thinking and have grasped the importance of information literacy at the
graduate-level, without proper time management, one may not achieve the level of success they
had initially set out to achieve. This is due to the fact that study at the graduate level involves
much dedication and sacrifice as such a progarmme is very demanding, challenging and time
consuming. With this in mind, taking into consideration everyday responsibilities and
commitments, Adams (2001) supports that adequate time will have to be shared between ones
personal and professional undertakings to ensure success educationally.