Graduate School ?

[sophia jane]

I feel a little bad starting a thread for my own selfish needs when I hardly ever post anymore, but not bad enough not to post my question.

I'm thinking of going to grad school next fall after I graduate but in looking at the grad programs I've been getting really intimidated. So what I want to know from anyone in grad school or who has gone to grad school- is it as scary as it seems? How difficult will it be? How much of a stickler are they really in admissions or does it depend on the school? I'll have a liberal arts degree but some of the grad programs want you to have background in the program and I'm wondering how strict that is. Also, how awful is the GRE? It's been a long time since I had to take a standarized test.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[The_Fool]

Hey SJ,

The difficulty of grad school varies with the field. Most schools have guidelines for admission that are dependent on GPA and testing scores. They are looking for magic numbers, but will often admit under probation, which means you take less hours until you establish a history of good grades.

As for the GRE or any other standardized test. Get the software and study on how to take the test. Get some practice questions out of the way. When I took the GMAT, I studied how to take the test rather than the test itself and did very well.

 

[Pure]

hi sophia jane,
i was in grad school at a major university for some time.

as for admission, it depends on what 'tier' you're applying at: Harvard is not East Arkansas.

in the mid range, some kind of "B" average should suffice.

as for previous courses, this varies, because some grad schools allow or force you to make up undergrad courses, i.e., you spend a year doing that, while enrolled as a grad student.

i can't say much about the GRE; i took it and did OK. probably it counts much less than course work, unless it's terrible (suggesting you're not literate, or some such thing).

here is one tip. ultimately grad work is with a certain professor or two.
find out a prof who is expert in what you want to learn. you might even write to him or her. profs in departments, esp. up the road at the doctoral level, pick their supervisees.

lastly, there are issues around some masters degrees being 'terminal', i.e they expect you to leave after. some such programs are much easier to get into. OTOH, such students are second class citizens, and the stuff above about specialized work does not apply. frankly some 'terminal' masters' are simply 'cash cows'; you might check to see that the worth, if any, of such a degree is? (in some fields like hs teaching, a masters, though 'cheap', still gets you a pay raise, etc.).

please mention other specific issues if you wish.

 

[only_more_so]

I feel a little bad starting a thread for my own selfish needs when I hardly ever post anymore, but not bad enough not to post my question.

I'm thinking of going to grad school next fall after I graduate but in looking at the grad programs I've been getting really intimidated. So what I want to know from anyone in grad school or who has gone to grad school- is it as scary as it seems? How difficult will it be? How much of a stickler are they really in admissions or does it depend on the school? I'll have a liberal arts degree but some of the grad programs want you to have background in the program and I'm wondering how strict that is. Also, how awful is the GRE? It's been a long time since I had to take a standarized test.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

The GRE is a pain in the ass, at least if you have to sit in wooden seats like I did. Mostly I remember it being really long, too may questions, but not particularly brutal.

As for grad departments, I only know about Engineering. The real question is, why are you thinking of going to graduate school? Is it for personal development or to obtain a better job (or in some cases any job in your chosen field). For me, grad school was actually easier than undergraduate. The idea is that by the time you are a graduate student, you should be studying for your own sake rather than for just a grade. So the classes are slightly less structured but more informative. Again, this is for engineering.

Anyway, there is no reason to be afraid of applying or taking the GRE. The worst that could happen is you have to start the real world a little sooner. And while you are applying, do the same sorts of things you did to apply for college. Visit the school (if possible) and more importantly talk to the professors in the department you are going to apply to. They are the ones you are really going to have to get along with, and learn from. Also, the best advice I ever heard was to pick your thesis advisor carefully, since they are the most important person you will know in grad school. The best way to get a feel for that is talking to that professors students (again, if possible).

 

[dr_mabeuse]

They're not as hard as they look. It's mainly a lot of bookkeeping crap you have to go through with admissions and records - at least that was my experience and I went for a while in English, then quit and took an MS in chemistry.

Mainly, unless you're in a top-tier university, schools are businesses now and they want your money and they don't want you giving them a lot of trouble. If you're just going for a Master's, you're invisible and you don't even count. You're just a sword carrier and just there to teach the professor's 100-level courses. They'll work your ass off, but it's fun, getting to scare the freshmen.

No, seriously, what are you planning to study and where? Those are the two big questions. Economics at the U of C is a lot different than Physical Education at the U of Northern South Dakota at Hoople

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Sophia, you can ask all the personal questions you wish.

So far, I've agreed with just about everything everyone else has said. I've always contended education follows this formula:

A High School diploma shows you can endure regimentation and BS.

A College Bachelor's proves you can learn crap you hate.

A Master's indicates you've learned a lot about soemthing that interests you.

A Ph.d (in theory) says you've added to the body of knowledge.

Sweat it not, lady. You'll do fine in grad school.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[rgraham666]

A High School diploma shows you can endure regimentation and BS.

Rumple Foreskin

Ah. That explains why I never finished high school.

Good luck, sj. I'm sure you'll do fine.

 

[jomar]

Hi SJ. Others have said it well, so I'll just add a bit. You'll be busy so motivation and time management skills will help. You won't think you have enough time to get it all done, but you will. Depending on the program you'll get some theory, but a ton of hardcore memorization for sure. It's not life or death, so don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

 

[impressive]

As with most things, it's what you make of it.

Admissions weren't so much of an issue, but I found the programming severely lacking in my field at the time (computer science).

By far, the certification I completed for childbirth education was FAR more grueling.

 

[Guest]

Sophia,

Always a pleasure to see you here.

My wife is doing Grad work, and from what I've seen (although I'd never admit this to her), it doesn't seem that challenging compared to the college work you're already doing.

Go for it!

And hi.

Ted

 

[sophia jane]

I think my biggest concern is the field of study background issue. I'm seriously considering getting my MA in political science and my official background in that isn't particularly strong, so I'm a little worried that might cause me problems.
My GPA is high, and I suspect I'll do okay on the GRE and I can easily secure the letters of recommendation, so I'm just hoping that will be enough. I scared myself a little last night looking at some of the syllabi, but I'.m going to try anyway I think.

 

[Guest]

I'.m going to try anyway I think.

Good for you.

Just, please, use your education for good, not evil. One Karl Rove in the world is one more than needed.

 

[cloudy]

My wife is doing Grad work, and from what I've seen (although I'd never admit this to her), it doesn't seem that challenging compared to the college work you're already doing.

Go for it!

I'd agree with this, although I'm sure it depends what you're studying.

I've started my master's in psychology, and the coursework is no harder than undergrad. All I have left are my clinicals - those will be harder, I'm sure.

 

[rgraham666]

Go for it, sj!

 

[Guest]

I've started my master's in psychology, and the coursework is no harder than undergrad. All I have left are my clinicals - those will be harder, I'm sure.

Mental note: watch what I say to Cloudy, and don't respond to her polls.

 

[JamesSD]

I think my biggest concern is the field of study background issue. I'm seriously considering getting my MA in political science and my official background in that isn't particularly strong, so I'm a little worried that might cause me problems.
My GPA is high, and I suspect I'll do okay on the GRE and I can easily secure the letters of recommendation, so I'm just hoping that will be enough. I scared myself a little last night looking at some of the syllabi, but I'.m going to try anyway I think.

I would send specific questions to the admissions department where you're considering applying. In some cases you may have to do some sort of "remedial" classwork if there are gaps in your background knowledge. In others, you may not need to.

Ok, so...

Before starting grad school, you need to take a long hard look at the WHY of it, in terms of why you want to do it. Is there a specific job(s) that you want that require a Master's? Or are you simply not sure what you want to do with your life, and grad school seems safer than getting a job?

I'm not trying to be mean, I've just seen plenty of people start grad school for the wrong reasons. If you are in a field like mine (Chemistry) where you can get a stipend and your tuition is covered, it's not as painful a mistake as those who flush $25,000 or more pursuing a degree they ultimately won't use. So yeah, grad school isn't like undergrad, where getting a degree in anything can be beneficial (although, less so than it was 10 years ago). I feel you should have a specific path in mind before you start a program, or you won't have the motivation to follow through.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

It can be hard, and not entirely necessary.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I think my biggest concern is the field of study background issue. I'm seriously considering getting my MA in political science and my official background in that isn't particularly strong, so I'm a little worried that might cause me problems.
My GPA is high, and I suspect I'll do okay on the GRE and I can easily secure the letters of recommendation, so I'm just hoping that will be enough. I scared myself a little last night looking at some of the syllabi, but I'.m going to try anyway I think.

As others have said, it depends on the school. UW Madison is probably rather persnickety and bureaucratic because they can aford to pick and choose, but second tier schools can't afford that - they don't have people beating on their doors for programs like that, they want your money, and once you're in they want you to succeed, so they are often more "entrepreneurial." Assuming you are reasonably school-smart - a fair bet given that you are an AH semi-regular - there is no reason at all that you should have any difficulty getting in or doing the work.

Poli-sci has gotten very big into statistics crap, so you may need to polish up on that right at the outset. Undergrad stats courses are not hard - they build one step at a time, so if you keep up and do the homework you'll have no problem. You probably need Stats 101 and 102 to feel comfortable, or whatever they are called - two semesters worth at the max. You can take those concurrently with a poli sci course - many of the latter involve no stats at all. You might be able to get by with just stats 101. Don't let it intimidate you - such courses are designed to bring not-very bright people along step by step, and an AHer will find it a snap.

Go for it - in a few years you can come back and whip both Pure's and my butt in the political threads (although hopefully you have better things to do. )

 

[WRJames]

The one thing we've told our children is that it's easier to go on and get a graduate degree right out of college than to go back when you are older. I've done it both ways, so I speak from personal experience. On the other hand, if you are more mature, you probably have a better chance of actually understanding what's going on.

I did my first graduate work in mathematics -- which really does not require life experience to comprehend. But I wonder about political science? I started at Columbia in 1965, and took all sorts of courses in history and humanities. But I learned more about politics in the two weeks of the 1968 strike.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Well, I took one grad degree right after college and another 10 years later. Neither was difficult to get into. The coursework for both was interesting and somewhat intense but not too difficult. Basically, I thought it was fun. I agree that it depends on the school and the discipline. I can tell you my second one was at an ivy league school and seemed quite easy to get into. PM me if you want details.

 

[moonlight elf]

I think you'll do wonderful. Go for it, SJ.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Ah. That explains why I never finished high school.

Good luck, sj. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Also explains why I finished, but didn't excel.

SJ, never be scared when you look at syllabi. By the time you have to take those classes, you'll know what you need to know. If you've done well up until now, you'll keep kicking ass. I just went back to school after 15 years and I realized how much attitude has to do with success. It sounds corny, but it's true. Once I stopped thinking "I don't know if I can do this" and started thinking "I'm going to do this, there is no other option", I began to excel and now have a 4.0 GPA going into second semester.

Go for it. Beating the odds and proving to everyone, especially yourself, that you CAN do it is the best feeling in the world.

 

[Handprints]

Size matters in grad school, too.

My wife and I both went through this (just a master's for me; she went whole hog and got the sheepskin, too) and the size of the university and department both matter a lot.

I was given the same care and attention as a Big Mac at a large university in a (relatively) well-populated field. She was treated like one of the crown jewels at a smaller place while working in a much less common field.

If you think you're going to want support, care and feeding, giant state universities and departments that crank out MAs/MScs by the thousand probably won't provide it.

Don't over-worry the admissions process: the standardised test really is just one element in the process and they won't weight it very highly if you've got other positives which attract them. Doing dozens of practice tests helps and it can be useful to wager something on the practice results that's important enough to make you sweat a bit - adds realism.

Best of luck with it - in some ways you can get more out of a second bite at the academic cherry.

 

[sophia jane]

Thanks alot for your thoughts on this. I've decided to give it a go and see what happens. Assuming I survive my last year of my BA that is.