Grad/Professional School - Page 3

darling1 · #1 07-14-2003, 12:08 AM

i suggest that you take a step back and really think about what it is that you want. as you already know grad school is a serious committment. you need to take time to ask yourself some hard question and be honest: what are my future plans next year, 5 yrs from now? how will my advanced degree help me to achieve those goals? why have i chosen to pursue this graduate program? what was my motivation? making the investment now to answer these question will save you in the future. if need be, take a break from school until you have more focus. speak to advisors or mentors, people that can give you honest feedback.

grad school is not for everyone and it might not be a necessity for you in order for you to pursue your goals, but you have to have some clearly defined goals written down.

i hopes this helps some.

Quote:

Originally posted by ProseChild02
I am currently in grad school but thinking of changing programs. I'm a very indecisive person. I'm afraid of making a final decision, then 10 yrs down the road realizing that I should have chosen the 'other' choice. So currently I'm back into the research bin as far as what I want to do and what I can do with my career.

My strengths: strong writing skills, strong editing skills, good organization skills, good at working with people, computer proficiency..

weaknesses: not really sure yet, but I think its monotony. Jobs where I'm doing endless clerical duties or anything that is the same, day in day out - that doesn't seem to have a purpose drives me crazy.

I'm so lost! I've researched law, teaching, editing, magazine journalism, you name it, if it has to do with writing I've probably looked at doing that. Reading everyone's grad school plans made me feel even more lost . *sigh

Any suggestions?

kitten03 · #2 07-14-2003, 11:36 AM

what about masters in education? does anyone have any experience with masters programs for teachers or any specifically in the DC metro area. I'm trying to decide if I want to start a program but I dont know where to start or even how to research the field I'm interested in. Help!

darling1 · #3 07-14-2003, 06:09 PM

check out maryland - www.umd.edu

perhaps udc or bowie.

us news and world reports or maybe www.peterson.com to find out rankings and get feed back on these programs.

speaking as a maryland alumnus many of the programs are highly ranked and i have heard that their education department is pretty good.

AKA_Monet · #4 07-15-2003, 06:47 PM

Unfortunately we still live a world that severely wants to restrict access to higher degree education... So I am basing what I am going to say about my close to 10 years of hell in grad school. Although, grateful for the final outcome--my Ph.D. in molecular genetics, I want those who wish to pursue a higher degree to know how to take the glaze out of their eyes much like I had to do...

It's about sacrifice. How much are you willing to give up. If you are 20-something, you may think this could be the best thing to do. Well it is true for some fields, such as medicine, science and law. But not for all fields. Are you willing to give up all your 20's for a piece a paper?

Well, if you are, the risks are great but the benefits are plenty!

If you are 20-something--you will watch your fellow school friends obtain wealths of cash, houses and cars. Your folks--no matter how supportive they are--will wonder why you are behind. They might not say it, but you will feel it and they will never admit it.

Your fellow girlfriends will get married to the "ultimate" husband and have tons of children. And you will begin to wonder about the meaning of life during grad school. Why the hell would you want to do this...

It is at this point when you have to go back are remember what most of us are telling you now... Once your in--you don't give up... But if you have any reservations before you are in--wait! And work awhile...

Think of it this way, most employers want responsible employees. Typically, that means folks who have mortgages to pay and some vested interest in the field... What that means is that you will not be a "super" accomplisher until your late 20's or early 30's anyway. So in the meantime, for your ultimate goal of what you want to become, do you see the folks who are doing what you want to do with higher degrees? If so, I'd say, go for it. If not, rethink about what it is you wish to seek...

No matter how hard grad school can become, once your in it, you must not give up. Get the poem "Don't Quit" and follow it each difficult day you will have while in grad school.

And hey, you aren't the first person to say they are sick of school--no more school... But also do not live with the regret of why not...

So in some ways it is a catch-22...

Pray and seek God's counsel...

Kali-n-Kohl · #5 09-20-2006, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Unfortunately we still live a world that severely wants to restrict access to higher degree education... So I am basing what I am going to say about my close to 10 years of hell in grad school. Although, grateful for the final outcome--my Ph.D. in molecular genetics, I want those who wish to pursue a higher degree to know how to take the glaze out of their eyes much like I had to do...

It's about sacrifice. How much are you willing to give up. If you are 20-something, you may think this could be the best thing to do. Well it is true for some fields, such as medicine, science and law. But not for all fields. Are you willing to give up all your 20's for a piece a paper?

Well, if you are, the risks are great but the benefits are plenty!

If you are 20-something--you will watch your fellow school friends obtain wealths of cash, houses and cars. Your folks--no matter how supportive they are--will wonder why you are behind. They might not say it, but you will feel it and they will never admit it.

Your fellow girlfriends will get married to the "ultimate" husband and have tons of children. And you will begin to wonder about the meaning of life during grad school. Why the hell would you want to do this...

It is at this point when you have to go back are remember what most of us are telling you now... Once your in--you don't give up... But if you have any reservations before you are in--wait! And work awhile...

Think of it this way, most employers want responsible employees. Typically, that means folks who have mortgages to pay and some vested interest in the field... What that means is that you will not be a "super" accomplisher until your late 20's or early 30's anyway. So in the meantime, for your ultimate goal of what you want to become, do you see the folks who are doing what you want to do with higher degrees? If so, I'd say, go for it. If not, rethink about what it is you wish to seek...

No matter how hard grad school can become, once your in it, you must not give up. Get the poem "Don't Quit" and follow it each difficult day you will have while in grad school.

And hey, you aren't the first person to say they are sick of school--no more school... But also do not live with the regret of why not...

So in some ways it is a catch-22...

Pray and seek God's counsel...

you just summed up all my feelings. i'm in an MSW program right now with plans to go on for a phd upon completion i can't belive how well you got my feelings out.
thanks and sorry to crash your thread

PhDiva · #6 09-20-2006, 01:45 AM

Heed the words of AKA_Monet. Graduate school is about endurance so you have to have a strong mental and spiritual constitution to navigate through the bureaucracy, politics and lack of "life" outside of school.

While I think my research is important, I am also aware that the Ph.D. gives me a social and cultural capital to open doors that would have been closed to me as a Black woman. Make sure you have a clear idea why you are putting yourself through this process. I wanted to teach young adults and especially challenge young Black women to look beyond media representations that teaches us to look beyond ourselves for validation. A PhD gives me a captive audience and a credibility that having years of teaching experience did not. With only 2% of the US population holding a Ph.D., people are more willing to listen to what I have to say than treating my experience as an valid source of knowledge. As much as I disagree with this idea, I have to be pragmatic. If I want to reach more black girls that enter into the academy, I need the Ph.D. Keep the reason for this sacrafice at the forefront of your mind because it's easy to lose focus when you get bogged down in reading journal articles, writing countless papers and spending several hours in the library.

Here's some questions to ponder (sorry if some of this is a repeat)

Ask yourself, am I willing to find ways to keep me motivated when the "grind" gets to be too much?

Am I willing to delay gratification while friends are getting married, having children and moving on with their lives?

Am I able to take constructive (and not so constructive) feedback from advisors and committee members without losing my cool?

Do I have confidence in my writing and speaking abilities?

Will I be able to make a return on my financial and mental/spiritual investment? Esp. if you end up in the professoriate, you won't make the money you really should but having flexibility and autonomy often makeup for not making as much money (I teach 3 days a week; get May-Aug and January off which balances out not making alot of money).

Do I know how to negoitate with a variety of personality types to construct a committee that will facilitate my graduation?

Am I a procrastinator and how can I change that to make myself self-motivated and organized?

A good resource for prospective and current grad students is www.phinished.org. It's a site for MA and Ph.D. students needing support to get through their theses and dissertation. Check out their archive about setting writing and working goals and read through some of the folks trials and triumphs. This site helped me to stop "polishing a turd" which was chapter 4 of my dissertation.

May the Force Be with You,
PhDiva

jubilance1922 · #7 09-20-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhDiva

Heed the words of AKA_Monet. Graduate school is about endurance so you have to have a strong mental and spiritual constitution to navigate through the bureaucracy, politics and lack of "life" outside of school.

While I think my research is important, I am also aware that the Ph.D. gives me a social and cultural capital to open doors that would have been closed to me as a Black woman. Make sure you have a clear idea why you are putting yourself through this process. I wanted to teach young adults and especially challenge young Black women to look beyond media representations that teaches us to look beyond ourselves for validation. A PhD gives me a captive audience and a credibility that having years of teaching experience did not. With only 2% of the US population holding a Ph.D., people are more willing to listen to what I have to say than treating my experience as an valid source of knowledge. As much as I disagree with this idea, I have to be pragmatic. If I want to reach more black girls that enter into the academy, I need the Ph.D. Keep the reason for this sacrafice at the forefront of your mind because it's easy to lose focus when you get bogged down in reading journal articles, writing countless papers and spending several hours in the library.

Here's some questions to ponder (sorry if some of this is a repeat)

Ask yourself, am I willing to find ways to keep me motivated when the "grind" gets to be too much?

Am I willing to delay gratification while friends are getting married, having children and moving on with their lives?

Am I able to take constructive (and not so constructive) feedback from advisors and committee members without losing my cool?

Do I have confidence in my writing and speaking abilities?

Will I be able to make a return on my financial and mental/spiritual investment? Esp. if you end up in the professoriate, you won't make the money you really should but having flexibility and autonomy often makeup for not making as much money (I teach 3 days a week; get May-Aug and January off which balances out not making alot of money).

Do I know how to negoitate with a variety of personality types to construct a committee that will facilitate my graduation?

Am I a procrastinator and how can I change that to make myself self-motivated and organized?

A good resource for prospective and current grad students is www.phinished.org. It's a site for MA and Ph.D. students needing support to get through their theses and dissertation. Check out their archive about setting writing and working goals and read through some of the folks trials and triumphs. This site helped me to stop "polishing a turd" which was chapter 4 of my dissertation.

May the Force Be with You,
PhDiva

Your post and the post by AKA_Monet were so on point.

I spent two years in a PhD program for polymer chemistry, and left this August with my masters. At this point in my life I was not ready or mature enough to devote my entire life to the pursuit of my PhD. While I love the subject matter, I was not physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to handle everything that comes with working towards a PhD.

I'm hoping that one day soon I will be able to resume my studies, but I desparately needed to get out of the lab and out of school.

NeuroTypical · #8 09-23-2006, 08:42 PM

I'm a first year master's student in an M.S. Speech Pathology Program.

I think the biggest difference between grad and undergrad is that in grad school your professors begin to expect you to think on your own. The days of regurgitating information are basically over. For assignments, they give you the foundation and expect you to expand on what they have given you with critical thinking. I say adopt a philosophy for your field and have information that supports your way of thinking. Where I am professors seem to appreciate difference in opinion with adequate reasoning.

As far as the process of selecting a school goes. I felt that going beyond the rankings was crucial. Rankings involve alot of politics. I would suggest taking advantages of visits offered and get to know 1) the faculty, 2) the current students, and 3) probably the most important, the other students that are attracted to the program. I LOVE MY COHORT!!!

ProseChild02 · #9 07-15-2003, 07:04 PM

Thank you ladies for all of your helpful comments and suggestions.

I decided to take a break until I get more of an idea of what I have a passion for - and how it is I will get there.

Exquisite5 · #10 07-16-2003, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA_Monet

Your fellow girlfriends will get married to the "ultimate" husband and have tons of children. And you will begin to wonder about the meaning of life during grad school. Why the hell would you want to do this...

I truly have great respect for you and your opinion. What I am wondering is, what does marriage have to do with grad school? I ask because, in my undergraduate department almost ALL of the grad students were married- some even had kids. Texas A&M is the #1 grad school for Biological and Agricultural Engineering, so its no easy program, but I can only think of one or two grad students that I knew that weren't married. I speak from experience because I spent a summer doing bio-engineering research and worked very closely with them.

So I guess my question is do you really feel grad school precluded you marrying, or could it be something else? I understand the difficulty in having children, but I really am curious as to why you felt somehow grad school inhibited you marrying? That is what I took the above quoted section to mean, I apologize if I have misunderstood your intent.

I ask also because I plan to get married during law school, as I know many who have, and am wondering if I am missing something.

southernelle25 · #11 10-22-2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exquisite5

So I guess my question is do you really feel grad school precluded you marrying, or could it be something else? I understand the difficulty in having children, but I really am curious as to why you felt somehow grad school inhibited you marrying? That is what I took the above quoted section to mean, I apologize if I have misunderstood your intent.

I ask also because I plan to get married during law school, as I know many who have, and am wondering if I am missing something.

Interesting question and there were very informative responses. I am glad I am past the Graduate/Professional School stage in my life. Looking back, it did not preclude me marrying because I could never imagine myself married that young. lol I can't imagine it now, in fact. Maybe a few years from now.

black_princess · #12 10-22-2006, 08:13 PM

Hey all,

So currently, I am working on getting my Master's in Child Life. I absolutely love it. The work is fun and educational at the same time. Who ever thought that I would be coloring, drawing, making dolls, and observing babies would be part of my class work. True enough next year I'll have a full hospital internship to complete and currently I have papers to write and reserch to do, but so far it's great.

My advice, similar to the advice others have said, would be to find something that you love. I always wanted to work with children in a hospital setting but hated being in a lab doing chemistry calculus and what not when I was a bio major during undergrad, so changed majors to family studies graduated and found Child Life. It allows me to make a difference in the lives of children. Also, make sure your English skills are up to par. You will be presenting your ideas both in front of the class and on paper

Mainly, dont' be nervous . . it may take a while to get used to, but in time if it's the right place you'll know . . .

hellocutie · #13 10-24-2006, 12:56 AM

My university as a 5 year master's program, and I have been contemplating applying. However, I would only be getting this master's degree to make a little extra money before I get my MBA. I don't know if getting the master's will be a waste of time , or be beneficial. I am very confused at the moment.

southernelle25 · #14 10-24-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellocutie

My university as a 5 year master's program, and I have been contemplating applying. However, I would only be getting this master's degree to make a little extra money before I get my MBA. I don't know if getting the master's will be a waste of time , or be beneficial. I am very confused at the moment.

It depends on your individual circumstances and what your objectives are. If it interests you sufficiently and you are prepared to put in the work, then go for it. I don't believe education is ever a waste of time, but I must admit that I don't understand why you would put off getting your MBA. Surely, you could make money while pursuing the degree you really want.

darling1 · #15 07-16-2003, 10:28 AM

fortunately i have a supportive husband however, i think many people find it difficult to develop any type of long term relationship or marriage with someone while they are in grad school, particularly if it is a doctoral program. many people do not understand the sacrifices that a student has to make, the long reading and research, the various projects and the work you have to do as a grad asst. as part of your financial obligation.

from what i have gotten from a close friend of mine in a doctoral program, you are essentially married to the program. unless you are in it, it hard for someone to relate to a person when they are up real late working and up real early because a project is due.

financially it is a big sacrifice. we are talking about years of not being able to progress a whole; difficulty buying a home, a new car. it is hard to work while in your program or from my understanding it is not recommended. therefore there is no supplemental income to do some extra curricular things.

exquisite-depending on what your financial situation is, you may want to wait, simply because many law school graduates leave with lofty loan obligations after graduation. weddings are very expensive, so unless you plan on something small and intimate or your family is footing the bill, i suggest you do it before you go to law school or consider waiting until after. if you consider waiting, at least you will have something to think about when you get tired of reading those law texts or need a break from studying for the bar.