Do you like your grad program so far?

[Owlie]

3.5/5.

My advisor is pretty awesome, and the 3 other American students in the program are too. I've made some good friends.

Downside is that the politics in this department mean that I have to tread carefully if I want to get involved in things outside the lab.

[Mandalpaca]

Nursing

4

Have had great professors and horrible professors. Overall happy in the program -4 more classes to go!

[FuturePhD12]

After a series of bumps in the road I've found a research home, i love my cohort, & once I found a place where I felt like i belonged &  was offered the opportunity to do research that is equally challenging and mesmerizing I discovered that I'm right where I belong..... in a great program doing great research. Its hard but worth it!

 

 

Med. Chem/Pharmacognosy: 3.75 out of 5

 

Thanks Chai_Latte for your advice...I didn't get a chance to respond back in Nov but I read your comment! Needless to say things have gotten much better lol

[Tall Chai Latte]

Pathology

 

3.5 for my experience since day 1 till the present. 

 

I think my 1st year would probably be a 1. Lots of unwritten rules and speed bumps, and I almost could not find a lab home. Starting my second year the rating has gone up to a 3.75-4, much of it came from being finally settled down somewhere. My supervisor is reasonable, and the rest of the department is collegial. My projects have their typical ups and downs, so averaging everything I would give a 3.5-3.75.

[TropicalCharlie]

2/5

I'm doing well academically and enjoying my classes. The 2 rating is mostly for the fact that I was misled about research opportunities during recruitment. Due to this hick up, I had to change my plans entirely.

Edited January 15, 2013 by Charlie808

[CageFree]

4. History.

 

My adviser has been on leave and there have been less classes available than I thought there would be available. I'm not used to living in a small town yet. However, I love my cohort, the profs have been very supportive, and my experience overall has been really great. 

[theologyofyourface]

Divinity. 4.

I'm having a great time, and loving my classes and life as a grad student.

Really, the only reason I can't give it a 5 is because I'm superstitious and I feel like I'll jinx myself if I do.

[CarlieE]

4- 4.5

 

My first semester, this past Fall, was the WORST semester I have ever had in my college career. But it was not because of the program; it was because I was suffering from Imposter syndrome and a serious lack of self-confidence. There was a lot of work, a lot of reading, but I think I handled it pretty well. And though it was hard and I was all over the place emotionally, I think I learnt a lot. 

 

The program has been GREAT. Very supportive. The faculty and staff are very responsive, very encouraging and have always been around to offer help and answer questions. My cohort and the cohorts ahead of us have been extremely welcoming and we have mixed socials. My cohort has gotten along really well, despite personality clashes and differences - always happens, no matter where you are - and we've developed a good non-competitive kind of camaraderie. 

 

The city is wonderful. I'm in a big metropolitan city in the south where it is WARM! And there is plenty of nightlife, food, entertainment etc. 

 

My advisor is on sabbatical but he has kept in touch with me and his other student here: met up with us regularly, kept in email contact and even now, though he is officially on leave, is doing an independent reading course with us. I couldn't have asked for more support. 

 

I am really looking forward to this semester. 

[Usmivka]

Please don't hate me for asking, but if you fine folks are going to rate at #.5/5, why not just use a 10 point scale? It just seems like 5 divisions can't contain your enthusiasm!

[fuzzylogician]

Please don't hate me for asking, but if you fine folks are going to rate at #.5/5, why not just use a 10 point scale?

 

Maybe because the OP defined the scale as 1-5?

[Usmivka]

Maybe because the OP defined the scale as 1-5?

But then wouldn't whole integers be implied and make sense? Never mind, I surrender.

Edited January 17, 2013 by Usmivka

[loganartemis]

Please don't hate me for asking, but if you fine folks are going to rate at #.5/5, why not just use a 10 point scale? It just seems like 5 divisions can't contain your enthusiasm!

 

I laughed at this because it crossed my mind as well!

[CarlieE]

Maybe because the OP defined the scale as 1-5?

 

I think it's because shoe sizes come in half sizes. LOL That's just MY reasoning! 

 

 

[BytheHammerofThor]

2/5.

 

My program is highly ranked and there are some very good resources here.  Overall, I feel like I'm getting a good education and I'm learning a lot.  However, I do not feel adequately supported by the faculty, there is not a good sense of community in my program (e.g., competitiveness, general cattiness among students), and the coursework is kind of ridiculous.  I expected my program to be difficult, but I thought the difficulty would be contained in doing research, not in coursework, as there isn't time to do anything else but coursework the way my program is structured, and it's super frustrating.