In this thread, we give each other advice for grad school

[90sNickelodeon]

Hello newbs and seasoned grad school veterans!

I am new to the game, and will be starting grad school (MA in Education Administration) next fall.

What should I expect from professors?

What are grad students like?

What is the course load like?

What about the lifestyle of a grad student--poor and stressed? Comfortable and happy as heck?

ANY help that you can provide would be appreciated!

[rising_star]

Hello newbs and seasoned grad school veterans!

I am new to the game, and will be starting grad school (MA in Education Administration) next fall.

What should I expect from professors?

Expect that professors will be treating you like junior colleagues and have higher expectations than your undergrad professors had. That each one will be different and be looking for slightly different things in assignments. Expect that they want you to do well.

What are grad students like?

Depends on the students, depends on the program. Graduate students are people pursuing advanced degrees. That's about the only generalization that I'm willing to make.

What is the course load like?

Again, depends on the program and your funding situation. My department requires 9 credit hours for students with a TA or RA position; 12 credit hours for those without. What you choose to fill those hours varies: I usually take a combination of lecture and seminar courses; other students take 1-2 courses and enroll in independent study for the remaining hours.

What about the lifestyle of a grad student--poor and stressed? Comfortable and happy as heck?

Depends on how your work, the workload of your program, whether you have to do research/write grants independently, etc. Poverty depends on stipend levels in your program and/or your ability to secure a part-time job.

[90sNickelodeon]

Expect that professors will be treating you like junior colleagues and have higher expectations than your undergrad professors had. That each one will be different and be looking for slightly different things in assignments. Expect that they want you to do well.

Depends on the students, depends on the program. Graduate students are people pursuing advanced degrees. That's about the only generalization that I'm willing to make.

Again, depends on the program and your funding situation. My department requires 9 credit hours for students with a TA or RA position; 12 credit hours for those without. What you choose to fill those hours varies: I usually take a combination of lecture and seminar courses; other students take 1-2 courses and enroll in independent study for the remaining hours.

Depends on how your work, the workload of your program, whether you have to do research/write grants independently, etc. Poverty depends on stipend levels in your program and/or your ability to secure a part-time job.

Thanks!! This was helpful!