By Michelle Barbeau
Published March 04, 2010 | 136 Views
It’s well worth the plunge.
Grad school is all I could have ever dreamed. Seriously, I love it! If you thrive in a learning environment and want to expand your career opportunities, it’s the place for you. I am in a writing/teaching Master’s program at a local state university and couldn’t be happier with the thoughts it has provoked and opportunities it’s presented. I’m even teaching a freshmen writing course already as a graduate instructor!
Grad school has been a very different experience from my undergraduate years. And not just because there aren’t any frat parties. Here’s how:
- Networking opportunities: Classes are more career-oriented and tailored to your interests. No more Calc 101 or some other despised course that has no relation to your career. You’re able to share business ideas with fellow classmates who have your same interests and professors who love to chat about career plans too. Most programs are linked with internship opportunities as well.
- No busy work: No more article summaries. No more quizzes. No more busy work! Grad school, from my experience, is made up of two things: tons of theory-based readings and final essays. There isn’t too much real “homework” per se, but instead lots of reading and follow-up discussions. And a lot of times, you can slide by in discussion without doing all of the reading (although I would never do this of course). The end of the semester is then crunch time as final exams must be taken, or in my case, final essays must be turned in. Overall, grad school is much easier and more manageable than I thought it would be.
- Class length: Since most grad students also have full-time jobs, classes are in the evenings. They are designed more like small seminars and typically last about three hours. A lot of times professors let the class out early, because they often have families to go home to. This is much better than three-days-a-week classes!
- All ages: With the rise in unemployment rates, a wider range of age groups are in grad school. It’s not uncommon for students to be married with kids. I even had one woman in my class who was in her 70s! Hearing perspectives on issues from a variety of ages can make for dynamic discussions. (Although, hearing World War II references every time she raised her hand got a little annoying!)
- Adult topics: Almost anything goes in grad school. We’re “real” adults now. People are willing to express their political and religious beliefs, or at least imply them, and sex-related topics pop up more often than you’d think. This absolutely makes for interesting classes!
- More authority: I couldn’t believe it when one of my professors inserted the word “ideal” before “due date.” What?!? Anytime before grades are due? Yes, in grad school, they know many students have families and/or full-time jobs, so a paper that’s a week late is rarely frowned upon. Absences and tardies are also more acceptable, because professors know students are typically juggling heavier responsibilities than undergrads. The role of the professor becomes more of a discussion facilitator and mentor rather than an authority figure. This means you’re treated as a fellow scholar versus just a student.
- The THESIS: The catch to getting your diploma is that you have to write a dissertation or thesis. This is a HUGE, often year-long, project. But because you get to choose what you want to research, it’s not so bad. Plus, you’ll leave school with a great addition to your portfolio.
- Dress code: Most people come to class directly from work which means they tend to wear business casual clothing. But you still get your fair share of jeans. PJs and sweat pants (standard code as an undergrad), however, are definitely out of place. This unspoken dress code adds to the professional atmosphere of grad school.
Now I can’t speak about the joys of law school, med school, or MBA programs (if there are any), but my grad school experience has been nothing short of terrific. Everyone of course is entitled to their own opinion, but these are my encouraging realizations on why you should take the graduate studies plunge. Go for it!
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