A Day in the Life of a Graduate Student

Most graduate school students will agree that the only thing typical about the day in the life of a graduate student is work, work, and more hard work. Maria, who held a full-time job at the American Hockey League while seeking her MBA from the University of Massachusetts, describes a day in the life of a graduate school student as "Very, very hectic…I was working full time and going to school part time. I used to joke and say that I usually could be found in one of four places…work, class, the library or asleep."

But even though pursuing an MBA involved a heavy workload, Maria says is was well worth it. "Even though I missed having free time to relax, in the end the experience was very worthwhile. Receiving my diploma was extremely rewarding!"

Rani, an MBA graduate from Darden's business school at the University of Virginia, remembers a rigorous two years of business school. "First year, I was up at 7:00 and in class from 8:00 to 1:00. I'd scarf down lunch in 10 minutes and begin a deep dive into my reading and homework. I would typically take a quick dinner break or work out, and then meet with my study group from about 7:00 to 11:00. The next day, I'd get up and do it all over again."

The work didn't end there. Some of her constantly busy days also included making phone calls to companies for whom she was interested in working or going to job interviews.
"Second year was less structured but just as busy." Rani says. "Classes were interspersed throughout the day, the job hunt continued, and I didn't have a learning team, but did have lots of different teams that I worked with on projects. Also, I usually had more time to exercise or socialize."

Joey, a graduate from the University of Southern California's film school, attended one or two classes a day and worked on independent projects for class. He says that classes met less frequently than undergraduate study, that they were more specialized and only in the field of your study. Most of his day was free to work on specific projects or to work part time.

And Mitch, who's seeking his Ph.D. from Purdue University, says there's no typical day. As a full-time student, he enjoys the flexibility of his schedule and the control he has over it. "I can still do the stuff I like. It [becomes] your way of life. I get up, work out, or play racquetball. Get on campus early to start my work and research before others get on campus. For me, I don't see that much has changed since undergraduate school."

Pros and Cons of Graduate School at a Glance

You Might Be a Graduate Student If...

__You rate coffee shops by the availability of outlets for your laptop.
__You have discussed academic matters at a sporting event.
__You have spent more than $50 on photocopying while researching a single paper.
__You regard ibuprofen as a vitamin.
__You have given up trying to keep your books organized and are now just trying to keep them
     all in the same general area.
__You wonder how long you can live on pasta without getting scurvy.
__You look forward to taking some time off to do laundry.
__You have more photocopy cards than credit cards.
__The concept of free time scares you.
__You consider caffeine to be a major food group.
__You've brought books with you on vacation and actually studied.
__Saturday nights spent studying no longer seem weird.
__The professor doesn't show up to class, and you discuss the readings anyway.
__You appreciate the fact that you get to choose which twenty hours out of each day you have to work.
__You can read course books and cook at the same time.
__Your knowledge of world events is limited to Saturday Night Live.
__As far as you know, beer only comes in pitchers.
__You consider it cooking if you toast the bagel.

Graduate School: What's the Big Difference?

So how does graduate school differ from undergraduate life? The bottom line is higher stakes. Take it from Rani. "For most of us, college is an expected next step. Grad school is another story, since I went through a painful and extensive application process, quit a job that paid real money, relocated and incurred debt to go to B-school. In light of all of these changes, I expected not just an education, but significant impact on my career potential and quality of life."

Another big difference is the degree of focus you have on one industry. Rani says that for her, getting her B.A. was a smorgasbord of liberal arts courses. "I read a lot of great books, learned to write really well, but was not terribly focused. I was more mature [at Darden], and the curriculum was more directed, so I was better able to develop depth in several functional areas, instead of remaining a 'mile wide and an inch deep.'"

She did, however, have to put her personal life on hold for a bit. "Much to the chagrin of my family and friends from my former lives, I was singularly focused on school, and spent most of my free time with friends who were in the same program-there wasn't much time for much else."

Maria shares a similar experience, "The level of work was more difficult and intense. I would attend class once a week for three hours versus three times a week for one hour."  Sarah noticed a change in the campus environment. "More [of my life] revolved around the academic aspect. There are a great deal more commuters, therefore the campus life is not as active."

Why Attend Graduate School Immediately After College?

-Uninterrupted studies
-It may be easier while you're in the "student" mode
-The job market isn't good and may be better later
-You'd rather not disrupt your career later
-Your profession requires more education
-Admission/tests may be harder later
-You have assistantships or financial assistance now

Why Work, Then Return to Graduate School?

-Landing a good position after undergraduate school
-Career change
-An advanced degree is necessary to climb the corporate ladder
-Practical experience makes you a more serious, interested student
-Seeking work after downsizing requires new skills and knowledge
-Establish solid experience first
-Your employer will pay for more education
-Technology has changed your field; you need an update

Information on this page was obtained from Grad View