The ONE thing I hate most about grad school....

[danieleWrites]

I did my MA and then spent a year and a half off doing some adjuncting without any real studying (other than to read stuff written by faculty and grad students in the programs I was interested in for application purposes, rather than learning). Now I'm in a program and found that there's a lot to love and a lot to hate and everything in the middle.

If I had to pick the one thing I hate most is the time compression of research (I'm reading pretty much Herbert Blumer's entire intellectual lineage and some important relatives in order to write a paper) and how that compression changes the way I speak with my non-grad friends and family. I keep dropping all of these words without thinking first, into every day conversations. The fam is full of brilliant people, some that are always interested in learning new things, but defining things like symbolic interactionism in a sentence or two? I'm an introvert and suck at conversation already. Add in the short sleep and over-thinking. I want to go back to the normal conversations I had with the fam when I adjuncted. Where I'd say compromise instead of dialectic and we all contributed to the conversation, rather than me dropping in these stupid words and shutting everyone up. And hurt feelings are had by all.

*sigh*

[PhDerp]

I think you can work on this. Maybe talk to some patient friends and ask them to be honest when you're point is not getting across, as long as they're interested in the material.

Being able to communicate with people is a very important skill. I really think it's beneficial to work on it. Talk to people from different backgrounds whenever possible. Practice when you can!

EDIT: Speaking of communication... I write really awkwardly when I'm typing from my phone. Haha

Edited March 17, 2014 by PhDerp

[MsDarjeeling]

I can only pick one thing?  Geez.  I'd have to go with my classmates.  I find many of them so frustrating that I would rather just have classes all by myself and be able to guide the lectures toward my own interests.

[pears]

Hmm, I think I have a very even tie between 3 things: constant money worries (although I'll have fewer next year! hooray!), the "two body" problem (not living with my S.O. most of the year), & dealing with entitled/rude/uninterested undergrads when TAing. Grad school itself is great most of the time, but these 3 things weigh on my mind & emotions very heavily. I'm not looking forward to adjusting to a new, likely more expensive living situation without my S.O., while waist deep in thesis stuff & TAing once again next fall. :/

 

Edit: I am the worst kind of indecisive! Picking one is hard, but I think money worries are at the top of the list.

Edited March 17, 2014 by pears