When you are pursuing a course which entails research study as a compulsory component for completion of the course, then you will have to brace yourself for it. This preparation will have to be mental, economical, physical and academic. Let us see how:

• You will need to take many crucial decisions, which will impact your study
• Many studies require team work for which you will have to collaborate with peers and work in tandem
• Taking approval from the concerned organizations is another hassle that you need to face
• Long hours of study are essential. Spending time in the field for survey or observation, in libraries for finding references, and in laboratories for experiments will need ample energy.
• There might be some cost involved in the research work for gathering sources and conducting tests. Your institute may or may not bear these costs.
• Though your research will be based on the subject in which you are specializing, there will be many facets with which you are not familiar. You need to understand them as well.
• Technical aspects like citation guides, analysis tools and presentation styles will demand academic preparation
• Documentation in itself is a major challenge. Writing a bulky document (a few hundred pages) will not be easy and needs perseverance, skill and concentration.

If you make prior preparations, then getting your research work started will be comparatively easy. While handling the economic and physiological aspects is in your control, to get the academic and mental factors on track, you will need the help of research guides who have experience in the field. So another important preparation that you must do is to find a mentor who will offer you reliable and timely advice, help you at all stages of research and lead you to success.

Your university’s research committee will assign a supervisor or guide, who will be responsible for answering your queries and ensuring that the study progresses smoothly. To avail maximum guidance, you will have to make your work schedule and share it with the guide. You must also be aware of the schedule which she follows and plan your meetings in advance. Regular communication with the guide is necessary. This can be done through email or face to face meetings.

However, many a times the assigned mentor is not available for help. In such circumstances, finding external help will also be a part of your preparations for research. Search for reliable mentors who will guide you with dedication and you will save a lot of hassles.