The grad school blues
Wes Payne
Erin McGovern
Heed my warning, all those who dare pursue graduate education: the process is not for the faint of heart.
You may be thinking that the grad school process can’t be that different from undergrad, and you’d be correct. You still get to drop hundreds of dollars on application fees, still get to visit new campuses and still get to figure out what is and isn’t within the realm of affordability.
What they don’t tell you about is the pressure that comes with the decision, and the pressure that comes with pursuing a specialized degree. September and October come around and you begin your applications, confident in your decision. Mentors encourage you along the way and it feels validating.
But what if you’re not making the right decision? You’re taking a risk. One that will take up at least two years of your life, with no guarantee of a job to follow. It’s a risk based on passion and positive experience, so it can’t be the wrong decision, right?
Before you know it, April comes around, your decision deadline is in less than two weeks and you’re terrified of making the wrong choice. Graduation is coming up, and you’re thinking about leaving your friends and favorite professors behind.
It’s moving faster and faster every day.
Despite the pressure, though, there’s a sense of cautious optimism. Undergrad at Miami was fun. You did all the things and met all the people. You know grad school won’t be the same, but new experiences are valuable.
Everything is about to change; it’s terrifying and wonderful at the same time. I have no idea what’s coming next, but I’m just glad the process is almost over.
It’s just two years of my life. No pressure, right?
