Resources

100 Interesting Facts About Graduate School

Written by Grad School Center Team We are a passionate team of experienced educators and advisors at GradSchoolCenter.com, dedicated to guiding students through their graduate education journey. Our experts, with advanced degrees across various disciplines, offer personalized advice, up-to-date program information, and practical insights into application processes.

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: February 28, 2024, Reading time: 31 minutes

GSC_grad 100 interesting facts-backdrop

Find your perfect college degree

Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

In this article, we will be covering...

By 2031, the enrollment rate for post-baccalaureate studies is projected to grow by 6%, according to the NCES. This growth trend in graduate enrollment is a testament to increasing interest among undergraduates to pursue a master’s degree or a doctorate that, by standards, would lead to lucrative and rewarding professions.

GSC_grad 100 interesting facts 3

If you’ve just graduated from your bachelor’s program and are planning to pursue a more advanced degree, you’ve probably encountered a lot of misconceptions about grad school. Life isn’t always smooth and easy for graduate students, but it’s a worthwhile journey!

Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Interesting Facts About Graduate School

1. Being a self-starter in graduate school will take you places.

Most of the time, graduate programs require students to be self-starters. Your thesis advisors won’t reach out to you if problems persist. You will, instead, need to track your courses and reach out to the people you need to communicate with when issues arise.

When it comes to graduate research, you may work with a faculty staff as your thesis advisor, but when it comes to developing research, no one except yourself can direct you to the right places. You are the captain of your ship during your grad school venture.

2. You’ll have less time to get more things done.

There’s no doubt that graduate coursework is more extensive and demanding than the ones from your undergraduate studies. You might not be aware that, outside of grad school, you have even more things that need to be accomplished.

3. Research work takes up your time and priority.

Most graduate programs will require some form of research work. In some instances, you will choose a faculty member with whom you’ll work throughout your entire program. Research doesn’t only require motivation; it also needs your attentiveness and proactiveness!

The concepts surrounding research subjects are fleeting; thus, you should be open-minded and stay committed to your work.

4. Graduate schools are no longer the same as undergraduate schools.

During your undergrad years, you’re most likely discovering and getting to know yourself better – your career aspirations, academic interests, and purpose for getting into such a program. By the time you’re admitted to a graduate program, much of the self-discovery process has settled down, and what’s left is to become immersed exclusively in your preferred area of study.

Graduate courses tend to be more practical, which means more work outside the classroom, smaller, and longer in duration.

5. Your work and graduate school experience are worthwhile.

Although you’ve received numerous criticisms, denied, or rejected by several departments, publications, scholarships, and fellowship programs, your graduate experience is one for the books. It has made you more reliable, more resilient, and more flexible to whatever life has shown upon you.

6. You are still figuring out what your dissertation is while you’re already working on it.

You’ll find out that, just like you, everybody doesn’t seem to know what type of topic your dissertation is all about, but they’re already in the process of completing it. In most cases, you just need to go for what you believe in and stand for it.

7. You’ll borrow more books in the library than in your undergraduate years.

Since grad school requires extensive hours of research, you need to read and consult a lot of publications, resources, papers, and books. You’ll eventually realize all of a sudden that you have numerous books that are already overdue in your school’s library.

8. In some cases, the professor you want to learn from the most dislikes you.

Despite meeting different kinds of professors, you’ll end up having one that you want to learn from the most because of their consistency, craft, and manner of teaching the subject. The drawback is that not everyone is going to like you, and that’s OK.

After all, you can always seek out other faculty members who are willing to help you on a specific subject.

9. You’ll have moments of short-lived brilliance once in a while.

At one point, you’ll feel overwhelmed; at another point, you’ll feel brilliant. Due to the extensiveness of some graduate courses, even just a simple solving of an equation that you’ve worked on for days is already a luxury to make you feel brilliant. After that, you’ll remember the many other things that are piling up on your to-do list.

10. Your eating habits are irregular while you’re in grad school.

Graduate programs are very demanding or even costly. You may be eating irregularly due to extremely hectic schedules or just because you’re broke. Also, the chances are it can be both.

11. You’ll have moments of finding unfunny or weird stuff hilarious,

Once in a while, there are times when you need to lighten up the mood. If you’re creating ridiculous hypothetical circumstances involving your professors and colleagues, you’ll find out that the unfunny and weird things you’ve imagined before have now become hilarious to you.

12. Planning to accomplish one errand or simple task, and it may not get done.

There are days when you will not feel like doing anything! Or perhaps there’s too much going on that a straightforward task or errand never gets accomplished.

13. You’ll end up rewarding yourself with tedious tasks once you’ve accomplished something.

If you’ve completed your final project or thesis, you’ll reward yourself with the luxury of time to wash the dishes, clean your basement, or perhaps put your laundry in the washing machine.

14. Anxiety comes out of the blue when you’re studying in grad school.

Anxiety creeps in all of a sudden when you’re on a holiday break because you tend to feel that you’ve forgotten to finish something even though it isn’t the truth.

15. Overthinking becomes your hobby.

Due to the pressure of deadlines, piling up of paperwork, and meeting advisors’ expectations, you end up overthinking even the slightest details and have a hard time sleeping.

16. You may sometimes find it hard to communicate with people outside of grad school.

The commitment and time you’ve invested in your research have made you immune to your usual jargon. As such, you may find it hard to talk to people in simple terms because you’re used to complex terms such as “allogenic” or “carcinoma.”

17. You may, at times, be asking yourself never-ending questions.

You tend to develop witty comebacks to mundane questions regarding graduate school. Questions include, “Can I afford to enroll in this program?” or “What kind of career will I end up after graduation?

18. You give pep talks to yourself now and then.

At random times, you’ll give yourself pep talks in front of the mirror for a daily dose of inspiration and strength. When you’ve gotten used to it, you tend to do this even before and during comprehensive examinations.

19. Your thoughts are no longer simplified.

At some point, you only have two primary responses for communicating with other people – either completely speechless/tongue-tied or a verbal thesis. This is due to the time and commitment to finishing your thesis, capstone, or final project.

20. Your basic human essentials have now become due dates, books, and papers,

If you used to have eating, drinking, and sleeping as your basic human needs, you’d now have deadlines, books, and paperwork for graduate school as additional essentials.

21. You’re constantly checking your email for no apparent reason.

Unlike undergraduate programs, you’re mostly on your laptop or smartphone, communicating with your colleagues, professors, or advisors regarding essential deadlines and deliverables. Even if nothing has arrived, you’ll feel restless and might even think your internet connection is down.

22. You feel you’re not yourself at random times.

Despite having achieved too much, there’s one of those days where you need to fake it until you make it. You’ll even wonder when your thesis advisors or faculty members will call your attention and eliminate you from the program.

23. Once you’re on a break or graduated already, you’ll start missing having homework.

During Christmas breaks or holidays, you’ll miss the feeling of having to complete your homework, assignments, and projects. When you’re on a downtime, you’ll remember the times you’re cramming overnight because of an unfinished deliverable, which is due on the next day.

24. You consider yourself grad school speech ready for when you interact with new people.

You know you’re 100% ready for a graduate program when you’ve entirely known what to do with your graduate degree, the reason for studying a specific concentration, and the program itself.

Another aspect of becoming ready is when you’re already comfortable meeting and interacting with new people since this is what graduate school is all about – to network and collaborate with people to your advantage.

25. It’s either you have a million things to do or nothing at all.

It’s not a healthy medium between a million things to accomplish or nothing at all. It is either you’ll end up with a lot of research, paperwork, and assignments, or you end up watching your favorite TV show or series on Netflix all day.

26. There are times you want to be grateful when an illness matches your schedule.

As weird as it may sound, but you’re grateful you got a minor headache or fever to excuse yourself from not meeting your thesis advisor. Also, you end up feeling grateful for the weekend, and you don’t tend to miss your class.

27. Due to information overload and paperwork, spelling the easiest terms suddenly becomes difficult.

Dealing with complicated jargon daily may result in you not being able to spell simple terms such as “baccalaureate,” “spontaneous,” “museum,” or “Mississippi.” You’ll quickly get confused with spelling.

28. You’ll feel as if you’re having a nervous breakdown.

Grad school demands a lot of time, effort, prioritization, determination, and grit. Juggling between hectic personal and professional schedules may even lead you to have a nervous breakdown.

29. The purest joys in life become a luxury.

When you purchase a new indoor plant or new kitchenware, these simple joys are a way of diversion from your hectic schedule/routine that becomes luxurious enough. Receiving your package from the online store you’ve shopped becomes a source of joy for you.

30. You’ll respond to the same student’s questions through emails repeatedly.

If you’re working in groups, you can’t avoid having to deal with colleagues who ask the same type of questions every single time. Since email has been one of the most common forms of collaboration, you’ll end up writing the same response countless times.

31. Your grad school bucket list includes making new friends outside of grad school.

In the hopes of keeping your sanity in place, making new friends outside of the usual grad school routine becomes your bucket list. Human as you are, you tend to look for new people to talk to, have coffee, or simply hang out to catch up with things outside your busy routine.

32. There are times you’ll avoid a dissertation advisor like a debt collector due to unfinished tasks.

If you’re guilty that you haven’t completed your research paper, capstone, or final project, you tend to hide away or avoid your thesis advisor like a debt collector who reminds you of your dues regularly.

33. It can be challenging to hold a discussion with a disagreeing colleague.

In grad school, you’ll meet different kinds of people who have different perspectives on life. You’ll likely end up having a difficult time discussing with your colleagues or peers about the very thing you don’t agree with.

As a result, grad school is teaching you to be more flexible in your approach and see things from a different angle.

34. You’ll start asking questions about life decisions related to graduate school.

Since working 8 to 11 hours a day has become your routine, even during weekends, you tend to ask yourself, “Is this the life I signed up for?” type of questions. You may contemplate on your own regarding the decisions and the choices you’ve made.

Soon, you’ll be reminded of your purpose and the “why” you initially set yourself before enrolling in a graduate program.

35. Your excitement is sometimes short-lived.

Visiting an IKEA store can sometimes become one of the short-lived excitements you can have while completing your graduate program. When you’ve done purchasing a bookshelf or a computer table, you’ll again be reminded of the amount of paperwork piling up on the table.

36. The scent of new books for the new semester excites you.

When you’re enrolled for the new semester, you’ll get excited with the new books you’ll study and perhaps the books that become your study companions wherever you are.

37. You’ll get so drained that you don’t even have the desire to sleep.

Due to stress, pressure, anxieties, and tasks to accomplish, you get so exhausted that you just end up laying on your bed, couch, or floor, staring at the ceiling and not having the energy to sleep. You’ll remember the numerous pending work you need to do, and just the thought of it makes you unable to sleep.

38. It’s a tough decision to make whether you prioritize social life, school, and sleep.

When you’ve realized you must prioritize between social life, sleep, and school, you’ll most likely end up prioritizing school. You’re in it for the long haul; therefore, neglecting and slacking your responsibilities isn’t in your vocabulary.

39. You look forward to the week since you only have a 15-page paper to write.

You’re looking forward to the new week. You’ll only need to write a 15-page paper as a requirement. That said, you can schedule other things and appointments outside of your graduate school routine.

40. The anxiety kicks in when you have a scheduled task that won’t involve grad school.

At some point, you get so used to the paperwork that you end up not feeling settled or complete when you’re accomplishing things not related to your graduate program. Even just a straightforward appointment to the dentist feels like you’re not accomplishing anything for your graduate program.

41. Your weekends will temporarily become unexciting and mundane.

During my undergraduate years, weekends involved parties, hanging out with friends, overnight camping, and traveling. With grad school, the weekend is all about a dreaded mix of books, assignments, research work, and collaborating with your colleagues.

42. You’re working whenever, wherever – with your laptop and books.

Your smartphone, books, and laptop become your study and travel companions wherever you are. They are synced to your body wherever you’re planning to work – be it in a coffee shop, library, or co-working space.

43. Almost all your household surfaces become simple extensions of your workstation.

The piles of paperwork on your desk, coffee mug, water tumbler, and even your vanity kit have found a new home on your desk. As a result, it has become just another small extension of your household since you’re spending most of your time in that space.

44. Caffeine will become an essential food group.

Coffee has been your go-to food and drink to keep you up all night and working all day. It’s one of the most convenient drinks that you can even make at home. Whether you’re at home or outside, working on your paperwork and studying typically involves a cup of coffee.

45. Your social life involves people debating philosophical concepts and challenging subjects.

Your undergraduate social circle is different from your graduate social circle. When you used to have topics related to traveling, gadgets, cars, and gaming consoles, this time, it generally involves brainstorming and discussing different philosophies for your dissertation or capstone project.

46. You neglect a day speaking out loud because your reading dominates.

When your routine generally involves discussing specific subjects with your colleagues and peers, it’s entirely different at some point in grad school since your reading has outpaced your speaking just for the day.

There is one of those days when you need to read extensively so you can gain ideas and perspectives from other sources for your dissertation.

47. As soon as you have a relaxing day, a colleague says, “thesis,” and it’s done.

You tend to have downtime for the weekend and are in the mood for completely doing nothing. When your colleague blurts out “thesis,” that keyword is enough to remind you to get yourself on track again and finish what you’ve started.

48. You’ll feel bored between qualifying examinations and coursework instead of studying.

You’ll have a hard time choosing between completing coursework and exams; instead, you get bored and have done nothing. In grad school, it’s perfectly normal to feel tired, overwhelmed, and bored, but don’t let this feeling consume you.

49. Trying to remember what you’ve eaten today and yesterday is a challenge.

Because of several things going on in your life and a long list of to-dos, only remembering what you’ve had for lunch and dinner the previous day is already hard enough. Also, preparing for your next meal is challenging enough to figure out that you end up toasting bread instead.

50. The struggle is real when you’re trying to find a balance between studying, school, and research.

When your plate is already full to start with, it’s challenging but not impossible for you to strike a balance between research, school, and studying.

Preparing for an exam the next day while also finalizing your dissertation is a situation every graduate student has gone through. The good news is that they all made it until the end; therefore, it’s a reassurance that you can also make it through.

GSC_grad 100 interesting facts 1

51. Your grad school life is summarized in one word: research.

While your undergraduate studies are entirely about completing not-so-complex assignments, textbooks, and easy projects, grad school life is different. From the start until you complete your graduate program, you’ll have lots of extensive and comprehensive research work to do.

52. You’ll have lonely office hours, and it hits you.

When you’re a busy professional working on completing a graduate program at the same time, you’ll realize how lonely it can be at times when you only have yourself working on timelines and deliverables.

53. Meetings with your professors and thesis advisors happen at the most inconvenient schedule.

In rare circumstances, you’ll encounter, once in a while, a scheduled appointment with your thesis advisor that happens at the most inconvenient time, like during your daughter’s birthday party. There is nothing you can do but comply since it may be the only day your advisor is available, and you need to complete your paperwork as soon as possible.

54. You’re always excessively worried about your research paper, final project, or thesis.

When it’s almost the deadline, you can’t help but get excessively worried about your final project or research paper. The anxiety, doubt, overthinking, and worry all come in, especially when it’s the final requirement before graduation.

55. You will realize that you’ve wasted numerous opportunities as an undergraduate student.

As an undergraduate, you tend to be more relaxed, chill, and carefree about life. Now that you’re a grad student who is seeing things clearly, you’ll realize that you have squandered many opportunities that might have benefited you in your current graduate program.

56. You’ll meet new lifelong friends who are more than just acquaintances.

As you venture into grad school, you’ll meet people who are more serious, tend to have figured out their lives, and have already experienced the real deal. It may be an excellent opportunity for you to make friends with them and eventually become lifelong friends who stick in the long run.

The friends you’ve met in your undergraduate days may have already outgrown, and it’s time to meet new friends who are suitable for your current stage and well-being.

57. Due to your hectic schedule, you’ve had to temporarily leave old habits such as working out, recreational sports, and healthy eating.

Preparing a healthy meal plan for the week, going to the gym every other day, and playing basketball with your friends may have to be on the back burner temporarily. Your priority now as a graduate student will be shifted to books, research work, seminars, projects, and collaborating with your colleagues.

58. You’ll miss the times you can randomly wear a t-shirt and sweatpants to school.

When you’re in grad school, you need to be presentable and smart-looking. You have to protect yourself in such a way you are reputable and decent. If you’re wearing a plain t-shirt while having your thesis defense, it’s a loss point for your reputation and professionalism.

59. You’ll unleash your hidden talent in doodling.

At random times, you can unleash the creativity in you or perhaps awaken your artistic side. When you’re bored from hours of studying or listening to lengthy discussions, you’ll end up doodling on your paper or notebook as a form of diversion or therapy.

60. Your thesis advisors and professors consistently make cryptic feedback about the relevance of a portfolio, cover letter, or resume.

Concerning being open-minded and flexible, you need to have a more resilient and positive perspective whenever your professors and advisors give unsolicited feedback about your cover letter and portfolio. Chances are, you will learn a thing or two from these criticisms, which can be beneficial in the long run.

61. Your daily organizer looks less at the responsibilities of one individual and more at the plans of small companies.

It’s always an extreme level for grad school life. It’s either you have too much or nothing at all. Similarly, your daily to-do list might look like it’s a simple task for one person. Still, from a different angle, it looks like a business proposal or timeline for a small company or even a Fortune 500 organization.

62. You’ve gotten to a point where you know your professors or advisors a little too much, including unnecessary details about their lives.

Because you’re working closely with your thesis advisors and professors, you’ll end up listening to how they started their career as an undergraduate degree holder and how it led up to a position in academia. It’s in the frequent meetings you have that you get to listen to their small talks regularly.

63. You want a fun-filled weekend with undergraduate students once in a while.

If you’re feeling a little nostalgic, you’ll invite your friends once in a while and visit your favorite hang-out place when you were still an undergraduate. Talking to your close friends as one way to divert is one of the best ways to stay sane and empowered.

64. If you’re single, you’ll start to feel self-conscious about the percentage of your colleagues who are in serious relationships.

When you’re enrolled in a graduate program, chances are most of your colleagues are already married, engaged, or in a serious relationship. If you’re the only single candidate in the group, you can’t help but feel self-conscious, unless you’re completely fine with that status.

65. There is one colleague that everyone in your class loves to gossip about and hates.

Whether you’re in an undergraduate or graduate class, you’ll always have a colleague whom everyone wants to talk about! There will always be an unsolicited comment about that person’s behavior. In grad school, it’s not uncommon to meet certain types of people who love to meddle with other businesses.

66. You’ll have no idea what happens around your campus or no knowledge about events in grad school.

You are completely unaware or outdated with your campus events and happenings. When you encounter many students crowding the school plaza, you are not 100% sure if they are protesting something, celebrating your school’s basketball championship title, or just campaigning for the next student body election.

Your priority is always to manage a full calendar of your events and meetings.

67. You will sometimes feel you have no school spirit.

You’re not aware of your school’s official colors, and the only thing you remember is your school’s mascot that parades every time a sports event occurs. It is likely because you are so immersed in your graduate program that, you are out of touch with your school’s events and extracurricular activities.

68. You generally tend to have high standards or expectations for the quality and rigor of your classes.

You no longer settle for mediocre professors, just like how you did in your undergrad years. If your instructor is an easy grader and keeps things simple and vague, you’ll wonder if this course is worth all your time and expenses.

You tend to set high standards for yourself to learn something new and relevant out of the courses you’ve enrolled in.

69. There’s a good possibility that you’re a commuter graduate student.

Grad students have books tethered to their bodies even when they’re commuting. It’s part of your daily routine to be saddled with 40 pounds of textbooks on your way to school if you’re learning on-campus.

70. You are expected to refrain from having a drinking session from Sunday until Wednesday.

Despite having a busy schedule, you can’t help but insert a cocktail or light drink with your best friend or colleagues as a diversion. You should, however, be mindful of the responsibilities that you need to accomplish for the week. Having a hangover on a Monday morning and also a comprehensive exam day is never a good idea.

71. Despite what you’ve learned in your undergraduate days, Thursday night is still a weeknight.

When you’ve got a long week and are looking forward to the weekend, you sometimes can’t help but call it a week on a Thursday night. You shouldn’t enjoy having a weekend just yet, especially if you have exams scheduled on Fridays.

72. You have no idea where anything on your grad school campus is except two or four buildings where you have classes.

The prioritized whereabouts in your grad school are only when you’ve frequently visited that venue for your classes or laboratory sessions. Otherwise, you’re not even aware of where your basketball court is located or not even aware that you have one in the first place.

73. You are expected to love reading.

Whether you like it or not, reading is one of the essential skills every graduate student must have. Since all your grad school life generally revolves around research, you are expected to read a lot of textbooks, publications, journals, and papers for accomplishing specific projects/thesis/final papers/dissertations.

74. Being a graduate student is double the work of being an undergraduate student.

If your undergraduate days used to have chill weekends and quiet weekdays, it’s the exact opposite for grad schools. The majority of your time is consumed with lots of paperwork, textbooks, and other professional commitments on the side.

75. Graduate school is more than research; it also involves discussions, capstone projects, and assignments.

One of the grad school myths is that grad school only consists of research and dissertation/research work. The fact, however, is that grad school also contains discussions, collaboration, capstone requirements, and elective courses. Depending on your graduate program, the way it is implemented and structured differs.

76. As a grad student, one should consistently put his or her best foot forward, even on assignments.

Unlike your undergraduate program, grad school requires consistent effort and commitment in projects and other school-related tasks that can impact your grades significantly.

77. You aren’t just a student – you’re a grad student.

You’re no longer considered an undergrad, and you’re now embarking on a new venture as a grad student. You now own up to your decision to enroll in grad school and consider it part of a grand plan and ambition.

78. You don’t have the same timeline as your other 20-something colleagues.

While most of your friends are already having babies, opening a new business, or getting married, here, you are still carrying your textbooks around your campus when you’re supposed to be done a year or two ago. There is no need to feel guilty, ashamed, or lost since this is the unique path you take.

79. Graduating with honors doesn’t guarantee success.

If you’re graduating with honors in an undergraduate program, it’s a bonus for your “real world” venture after school. In grad school, it’s entirely the same real world that you’ve already ventured into.

The only difference is that you’re just adding to your worth by pursuing advanced degrees applicable to your current profession.

80. Health is wealth, and sleep for you is more important at this point.

Since you’re mostly juggling with personal and professional obligations during grad school, there are times when sleep is the best present you can give yourself instead of just hitting the gym. Getting enough sleep is one of the best self-care routines you can do to keep yourself sane and healthy.

81. You expect food during seminars and workshops.

With courses and seminars piling up one after the other, graduate students would sometimes ask if there is food in that specific event. Having food is already the best consolation for grad students attending long seminars or workshops.

82. Smartphones are your office workstations. Backpacks are your home.

In the modern world, it seems everything is accessible through your smartphone. With numerous grad student-friendly apps, you can be more productive wherever, whenever, even when you’re on the go. If you’re considering working in a coffee shop or library, your backpacks come in handy to help you carry your books anywhere.

83. Expect the unexpected with mediocre colleagues – they’ll surprise you.

In graduate schools, your colleagues are unique to you. It’s not fair to judge someone too early just because of the clothes he or she is wearing. You’ll never know if they can be your lifelong friends and perhaps one of the best achievers in your class.

84. Weekends are a myth!

Before grad school, weekends were two-day rest days where you could completely do nothing at all. Entering grad school has made the weekend a myth and no longer exists in your vocabulary. As a grad student, your weekend is all about finishing paperwork or anything you haven’t accomplished during the weekday.

85. Grad students seriously take bedtime equally as study time.

Most of the time, grad students are sleep-deprived. You’ll even feel sleepy when you’re in the middle of a study session. As a grad student, sleep time is primarily needed as study time. After all, you can’t entirely focus on reviewing and studying for your exams if you lack sleep and rest.

86. Your office can be a warehouse of research papers.

If you’re working in a company, there are times when you can just print PDF files, proposals, or research papers for free in your workplace’s printer. You should be thankful to generous colleagues and managers for letting you print without a fee.

87. When some colleagues say they are broke, chances are they are broke.

The majority of graduate students are juggling between full-time work and grad studies. If you’re lucky enough that your parents will finance your graduate program, then it is no problem for you. However, most working graduate students are paying their graduate program fees at the same time as paying rent, books, loans, and bills.

88. You’ll miss a Saturday night or a weekend night out with friends.

While it is tempting to always say yes to a friend’s invitation for dinner and some booze afterward, you can’t help but choose to study instead for a comprehensive examination. Grad school life doesn’t permit you either to “take it easy” when you have a do-or-die presentation the following day!

89. As grad students, you shouldn’t have any fixed expectations after graduating.

Once you’ve finally completed your graduate program, don’t expect an instant breakthrough to happen right then and there. It doesn’t matter what program you completed, but just because you recently earned an MBA doesn’t necessarily indicate you’ll land a lucrative job in the same month after graduation.

90. When you’re in grad school, you must find your niche.

Unlike undergraduate studies, graduate school is the best opportunity to find your niche or a specific concentration you want to focus on. Don’t just settle and go with the flow of the program’s curriculum; instead, take your time discovering the parts of your grad education that spark your interest.

91. Your intelligence isn’t as crucial as you might think it is.

During your undergrad days, your intelligence is highly recognized. In grad school and anywhere after that, intelligence is also essential, but it’s not enough to pay the bills. You also need to be confident, diligent, and an effective communicator. You’ll encounter people less intelligent than you; however, they have excellent soft skills to get the job done.

92. Be prepared for a competition you’ve never experienced in your undergrad years.

One of the things you might not probably be aware of is that your classmates in grad school are highly competitive. It was an entirely different scenario than the one you had in undergrad school, where most of the students were required to do the work individually.

With grad school, your classmates may work hard enough to engage in activities actively and be well-admired and known by professors.

93. You should ask intelligent questions.

When you are in grad school, your level of asking questions becomes more extensive, subjective, and relevant.

Before choosing a graduate program, ask, ”How much educational debt will I deal with after graduation?” or “Does this program lead to fulfilling career pathways outside of academia?” so you can identify a program that is aligned with your academic and professional goals.

94. Grad school life is a grit and grind.

Graduate programs require hard work and require dedication, patience, and a resilient mindset. There’s no other way to say it!

95. Your default move shouldn’t be grad school.

Grad students generally enroll in graduate schools without knowing much about the prospective career paths to which a graduate program can lead to. The worst is that they enroll in graduate schools because they have no idea what to do or can’t find a suitable profession.

 96. As a grad student, be patient and don’t be in a rush.

There isn’t a good reason to enroll in grad school immediately after completing a baccalaureate program. It’s challenging for students to know if graduate schools are the best and most suitable option until they are working in the workforce of their related area of study for quite some time.

97. Graduate school is a test of character.

Due to the graduate program’s robust, extensive, and demanding nature, grad students are molded into a character where they’ve become resilient, grounded, and patient. You’ll also meet new people who come from different personalities and backgrounds, so you need to interact with them in the best way possible even though they aren’t helpful to you.

98. Grad school may be the one excellent opportunity to travel abroad and immerse yourself in a new culture.

Some graduate programs, such as anthropology or linguistics, allow you to travel to a different country due to the program’s nature of the study. A proven way to learn is to immerse yourself fully in an environment where your skills and expertise are directly practiced and applied.

99. Grad courses aren’t offered anytime you’d like to enroll.

Just when you thought graduate courses are offered all year round, it’s not always the case. Some colleges and universities open graduate courses during specific semesters only. To always stay on track with your timeline or schedule, you should check first with your school whether you can enroll in some specific courses or electives.

100. Networking results in unlimited opportunities.

Having a graduate program won’t 100% guarantee you an immediate job. Your relationships with colleagues, thesis advisors, and faculty members are significant. If you’re participating in a seminar or conference, put your best self forward.

Communicate with people who can be your inspiration for your career. You’ll never know what opportunities you can open.

Additional Resources

We’re certain of one thing—your search for more information on picking the best graduate degree or school landed you here. Let our experts help guide your through the decision making process with thoughtful content written by experts.