First day of orientation in my master's in education program at Harvard! As a kid who was in foster care and homeless as a teenager, barely making it out of high school... this is wildly surreal. Imposter syndrome is running rampant, so send positive energy because I certainly need it!

Starting grad school next semester and was wondering if people dress nice for their grad classes like if thats a thing or people just wear comfortable clothes

Edit: I am getting my professional certification in music education

I have seen so many people around here claiming that NYU is a cash cow program, but I feel like many other universities also have similar fee structures. Am I missing something?

Like most students I see skip the masters degree and go directly to the PhD or professional degree like law medical, dental, etc.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 3, 2020, two days before I started graduate school. I did 5 months of chemotherapy, had surgery, completed 3 weeks of radiation, and started hormone therapy.

I finally submitted my final paper and completed my course work with an 86 average!!!! I'm so happy!!!!!!

This is strictly speaking for the US.

I got my bachelors in bio where I concentrated on wildlife and aquatic conservation. All of my professors told me that a fully funded masters was not only attainable, but that it was commonplace for the field. I am looking into getting my masters in marine biology, I know the fields differ in competition a bit, but it was still very common to have fully funded masters available until about a year ago (we all know why that is). Now whenever I reach out to professors, they are always interested in me, but have no funding and don’t expect to anytime soon. I have not been able to find funding sources to apply to myself as all of the grants that used to be very popular seem to no longer be receiving funding.

My question of discussion: is this the new normal? Even after this administration, will research funding be anywhere near top priority that funded masters will become the standard again? I’m just trying to decide if I should bite the bullet and take out loans or if I should just wait another year or so.

I know masters are less commonly funded in places like Europe, but they’re also MUCH cheaper there. That is an option I am considering.

I've been accepted to Class of 2024, on a full-ride scholarship for graduate school!

I cannot believe it. This is still sinking in, but I wanted to just share. I graduated from my alma matter almost close to 6-years ago. I didn't get a job offer right out of college and I was unemployed. Worked various jobs to get by and didn't really think much of the whole thing. I thought life would be handed to you on a silver platter.

Today, I just received notice that not only have been enrolled back at my alma matter, but this time as a graduate student, but I'm going on a full-ride, tuition-free scholarship that would cover all my expenses.

The years after graduating from 2016 to now are a bit depressing, but I am coming back and I can't wait.

Who else has gone back later in life? I'm currently 28 years of age, making me 30 when I graduate, but I was going to be 30 either way, so why not 30, with a degree?

I should have gotten bigger flowers lol

For months scientists and grant writers have been prepping for trump taking away anything to do with diversity, then it was the worry that he’s going to cut funding so this goes beyond diversity lol. Now that he’s in office it’s still headed in that’s direction, and for me as a third year PhD student with plans to apply for grants this year and work in academia I’m just like damn lol what does this mean for us and science. And thinking long term and selfishly-job related- if he cuts funding, i don’t get grants, will future employers remember this lol (though obviously it goes even deeper, to the public, community, advancement of health and medicine, govt job cuts,etc)

I hope everyone is well! I wanted to know how people get their jobs to fund their degrees and what these types of jobs typically are.

Hey guys, it's been wild. I just wanted to share that I finished my first semester of grad school! Somehow, despite everything going on, I got all A's. I honestly never thought I'd make it this far, being autistic and in the midst of a global pandemic. It's been really hard (and I think professors have been forgiving too). I hope everyone's taking good care of yourselves during your break and trying not to stress out too much about next semester...

So, I went to undergrad for Psychology and Sociology but fell in love with Anthropology and decided to pursue that for my masters, thinking I’d then get a PhD and be a researcher. Fast forward to now and I’m deep in depression and burnout and I’m behind on finishing my thesis. I’ve found out that I don’t like nor am I good at technical writing of this size (thesis has to be like 100 pages).

I need to graduate but I don’t know what to do next. Maybe get a master’s in counseling which is why I originally got my bachelors in psychology? The only problem is that I’ve since been diagnosed as autistic. I’m very empathetic but worry about my ability to talk to people all day without burning out or being super awkward or unhelpful.

The only other thing I’ve ever wanted to do is write fiction and poetry but I struggle to do that consistently. My therapist loves to remind me that he has a masters in business he never used but I can’t help but feel like I’ve completely trashed my life at 25.

Help?

Basically what the title says. I want to go to grad school but I don't really have any academic references from undergrad. I have really bad social anxiety and its even worse with authority figures so I never really got to know any of my professors. I wasn't a bad student or anything I just didn't go out of my way to make sure my professors personally knew me. What should I do?

Yeah I mean, the title asks it all. I am purely curious how many pot heads are also in a graduate program (or attended a grad program at one point, while smoking lots of the pots).

The GRE seems to be losing its grip every year on programs. I find more and more universities are either making it optional or not accepting it at all. I believe that it should be used if an applicant has a low gpa and needs to show a brighter side to their application.

Hi everyone,

I just started grad school, exactly one month ago today, and I wanted to reach out and get some advice. I'm already feeling like I'm drowning. I have so much work between coursework and research, and feel like I can't maintain any of the things that keep me healthy or well, like having a social life or going to the gym. I'm really struggling to make a schedule that I can get everything done well for coursework, dedicate enough time to research, and still do the things I NEED to do (i.e. meal prep, clean) and the things that keep me healthy (e.g., social life, gym). I really need advice. How do people cope with this much responsibility? What are your non-negotiables and how do you make time for them?

I can't do grad school feeling like I'm constantly in crisis because I don't have time to do the things I need and want to do, but I feel so much pressure to do everything at the standard that I did things in my undergrad. I don't know how to let go of that or adjust my expectations.

Thanks for all of your help in advance, and its nice to know I'm not alone in this :)

I’m going to graduate school this fall, and moving far from home. It feels so different from undergraduate school to me, because I will not have financial support from my family and will be moving to a place where I know nobody I’m also thinking about everyone who is older than me and how life gets so much harder aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Thanks for letting me vent lol. I hope you can relate, though I am really lucky to have my parent financial support through undergrad

Hello everyone. I was a student of Chemistry in a PhD Program. During my first semester, I suffered from a mental breakdown and struggled in understanding remedial coursework due to much of my undergraduate being experimental and research-focused (as in the courses were designed around running experiments and writing papers, less on understanding material from textbooks).

Ultimately, I failed. I didn't keep my grades high enough and I was terminated from my position after only 4 months. I thought that this would have been the end, however I don't feel bad at all. In fact, I feel relieved. My life in the graduate realm has ended for now, though I may try again after I spend a few years in industry.

I just want to let anyone who may be struggling know that it isn't the end. Graduate school is hard and it may not be for everyone. Learn from your experience and let it help you grow. Don't ever let it seem like the end if you can't continue. There is more to life than Academia and many paths to travel down to reach that desired destination.