New grad and new to forum (any math phd candidate?)

[Keisha]

Hey I have loads of questions but will narrow it down. I will be starting a phd program in math in fall 2012. How hard is grad school? I seriously know its not easy because if it was everyone would be in the program. Since I'm right here at the door for grad school, I kind of scare because don't know what to expect. I will try to get with a professor to become a RA. How is becoming a RA? Is it hard work? What about balancing that, school work, and little free time... if any free time.

Please answer... I welcome all answers!!!! I really would like to know how it will be. It would be great if someone in science can tell me what they go/went/going through.

[Chasely]

For your math-specific questions, it might be a good idea to check out the Math & Statistics sub-forum on the site.

I'm just starting too, so I'm "along for the ride" like a lot of other people on this site.

[SeriousSillyPutty]

Another thread recommended the book, Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D. by Robert L. Peters. It's old (ignore the part about technology) but the narrative it told about the different parts of the PhD process were quite insightful, I thought. Reading it was a good way to channel restless energy I was having toward grad school. (Unfortunately, now my restless energy has to be channeled into learning statistical physics, which is not quite as easy or engaging a read.)