undergrad vs. grad/med/law school

[Senusret I]

Undergrad was Georgetown; Grad was American University (I didn't finish)



-Classroom stucture
I never had a truly "small" class in undergrad. Most were lectures and the smallest was 25. I had a handful of seminars, but even they seemed crowded. I did have two independent studies in undergrad, though. In grad school, all the classes were small -- I also had a joint grad/undergrad course.




-Kind of classmates
I felt closer to my grad school classmates, as we were all poets and writers. Of course there were some jerks, but all in all they were nice people.




-Schedules
I took 15 credits per semester in undergrad, and 9 in grad school. I could have handled a heavier load, but couldn't afford it.



-Assignments
More work in undergrad, it seemed -- but the grad level professors were more stressful.



-Work and/or social life outside of the classroom
I was more ingratiated in Georgetown student life, but really really enjoyed the company of AU students while I was there. The grad/undergrad class really bridged the gap.



-What you like/dislike
I disliked the graduate program in creative writing at AU so much that I left. Financial aid was the primary factor -- I wasn't getting out of it what I should have been, considering the immense debt I was incurring. Also, a dearth of African American lit classes didn't help.




-Anything else
One doesn't HAVE to attend grad school so fresh out of undergrad -- I think I would have finished if I waited until my mid to late 20s.