Continuing Directly On

Your graduate classes will differ from your undergraduate class experiences. Instead of taking a variety of subjects, you will focus entirely on your field or specialty, and that focus will continue to sharpen throughout your graduate program. The advantage to this emphasis is that you will probably not be taking any courses that are not related to your field, and the topics should be more enjoyable because they reflect your area of interest. You will become well versed in your area, and will perform research to gather even more knowledge.

Professors will expect you to synthesize reading material and to defend your point of view in class. At the graduate level, reading can be anywhere from 200 to 300 pages a week, with extra assignments completed outside of class time. Students with poor time management skills may find themselves feeling over-their-head.

Undergraduate classes tend to meet two or three times a week for an hour, while graduate classes usually meet once a week for three hours. There is little opportunity for extra credit, and while participation is expected, it is not often calculated into your grade.

Graduate classes may have only one exam and/or paper, that counts for a large percentage of your grade. Rather than multiple choice or short answer tests, you are likely to encounter challenging written exams that require you to apply theories and concepts to new examples or situations. In applied fields, such as business, engineering, or the social sciences, you may have to complete challenging fieldwork assignments under professional supervision.

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Returning to School

Whether the move to graduate or professional school marks your first complete break from home, or involves a move away from family or relocation to a distant city, it is important to allow yourself time to adjust and develop a new support system. Even if your living situation does not change, there will be additional demands on your time and attention as you take on the responsibilities of course work and possibly an assistantship or job.

You may find that the demands of graduate school place severe limitations on your social life. If you have a spouse, partner or children, you may have to reassign household responsibilities and other chores. If you are supporting yourself for the first time, you should expect a lower standard of living, as there may be fewer sources of financial aid available than there are for undergraduates. Begin developing a realistic budget for yourself now and stick to it.

Finally, time management skills will be important. There are usually support groups specifically for graduate students available through the campus counseling center.

Once You Are In

You will soon begin to feel a part of a community of scholars and these new experiences may be stimulating and even exhilarating. However, be prepared for the possibility of greater competition. Since both faculty and students will be under strong pressure to succeed in their individual scholarly pursuits, you may find yourself in a highly competitive atmosphere with little in the way of either academic or psychological support. This is the time to rely on the support system you have developed. But there may be many times when no one else is there to prod, encourage, or motivate you. You will have to become your own best friend and guide.

As you begin your graduate studies, there will be many new demands on you. Making a graceful and successful transition into this new, often challenging environment requires dedication to your goals and a genuine passion for your field of study. Good luck with this challenge!

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