Note to Self:
Grad school isn't all it's cracked up to be - but at the same time it's so much more.
About three weeks ago, I finished my first semester in grad school! I started my school counseling masters program at USU and you could say I'm pretty excited about it.
I've been dreaming about going to grad school for years. Wondering what I'd do, what it would be like, what I'd learn. Worrying about where I'd go, if I'd make the right decision, and if I could handle it. The truth is that grad school, so far, is nothing like what I expected. In some ways it's worse, but in many ways it's better.
Here's my cheesy "first day of school" pic.
1) Grad school isn't a competition
Before I got into my program, I had multiple anxiety attacks about whether or not I would be good enough. I knew that my 3.9 GPA, good GRE score, experience, etc. would not make me unique among the students in my program. I knew that would be the average. I worried about proving myself and didn't want to be at the "bottom" of my cohort. There were days I didn't even want to apply for fear that I wouldn't make the cut. The truth is, grad school isn't a competition. I'm in a cohort of 37 students. That's 36 other people who are working towards the same goal and going through many of the same struggles as I am. Basically, you have to remember that you are definitely not alone. I have never felt more at home in a group of people. Maybe I got lucky - but we all have this cheesy, high school musical, "we're all in this together" type of feel (at least I think so). If someone records or types out the lecture, we share it. We have a Facebook group where we can all talk, help, and encourage each other. Since day one it's felt like the farthest thing from a competition and I'm so grateful for that. I can already tell that some of these people will be life-long friends and that we'll all help each other out throughout our careers.
2) Grades don't matter like they did in your undergrad
I've always been a straight A student. Once you get into grad school, the majority of the students around you were straight A students. So imagine our dismay when we took our first quiz and the average was a 78%! Grad school is hard. After the first week I started to worry, again, if I had what it took to get through. I began to give up on getting A's, but still hoped that I would and worked for it. I think it took nearly the entire semester for the majority of us to wrap our heads around the fact that not getting an A is OK. To move on in our program, we need to get B's in our courses. Throughout the semester, I can't tell you how many times I heard something along the lines of "It'll be OK... we only need to get a B" through deep breaths. The professors don't want you to fail, either. No matter how much individual professors may make you question this. They want you to succeed and most are willing to help you in any way they can. Stressing about the difference between a B and an A is simply not worth it. No one is going to look at your transcripts after you graduate and say "Oh dear, she only got a B - let's hire someone else." Getting through the program and earning your degree is good enough.
3) There's more reading than you ever imagined possible
Even though my graduate program is only part time (2 classes, 6 credits), I had more reading each week than I did in my undergrad with 5 classes. And I've heard that next semester's classes are even more reading intensive! If you didn't learn how to skim and grasp the main points in your undergrad, the first semester of grad school is the time to learn. It's also important to learn how to research a topic in depth. I read more research articles this semester than I did my entire undergrad (even with my research methods class). You'll learn a lot - but don't underestimate the time it takes to do so!
4) Plan ahead - turn in assignments early
This one is hard to learn! I had spurts of time during the semester where I got ahead by planning and turning things in early, and other times when I was turning things in moments before they were due. The first option is always better. Our big assignment was due while I was scheduled to be on vacation so I finished it and turned it in the night before we left. It was such a relief to have it done! I wish I had been more productive and turned in the majority of my assignments early. The end of the semester is so much more manageable if you turn most of your assignments in beforehand. You'll thank yourself for it and your professors will thank you too.
5) Organization is key
I don't know how I ever survived without my Plum Paper planner (or any planner for that matter). Staying organized in grad school is more important than ever! Keeping track of all of the readings, papers, quizzes, exams, etc. can feel overwhelming. Looking over the syllabi that first night of class was so intimidating! I spent that first weekend writing out everything in my planner and it helped me get through the semester without too many breakdowns ;) - really it helped a TON. You don't have to purchase a customized planner if you don't want to (I just can't help myself), but investing in some kind of planner is definitely worth it! Figure out what works best for you and do it.
6) Grad school has to be a priority
Grad school is going to take up a ton of your time - there's no getting around it. Our program director gave us two pieces of advice during orientation. The first was: you have to be willing to set aside time for school and make it a priority. Everyone in my life knows that for the next two years they better not plan anything for Thursday nights, because I have class and will not be able to make it. I came to terms with the fact that my husband and I would no longer be able to hit up B-dubs for boneless wing Thursday (heartbreaking). I also accepted the fact that even though we have cable now, I would still have to watch Grey's Anatomy on Fridays. Those might be little sacrifices, but in all seriousness, you are going to have to make sacrifices for grad school. But it will be worth it. (At least that's what they keep telling me!)
7) Veggies and the gym are important
The second piece of advice our director gave us was: eat vegetables. No joke. We all laughed at the time, but it's so true. During those psychometrics study sessions it was so hard not to eat a whole bag of chocolate covered cinnamon bears instead of some carrots and celery. Many professors won't mind if you snack during classes (especially long ones) so take the time to plan out a healthy (preferably quiet) snack, instead of just picking up a bag of chips on your way out the door. If you don't take care of yourself, you'll be amazed at how quickly your health can go downhill when you're busy and stressed about school. So eat your vegetables. And go to the gym.
8) It's serious - but not THAT serious
Grad school is serious. It's bigger than your undergrad and it determines what you'll do next. However, it's not so serious that you can't laugh your way through it and even ENJOY it. That first semester was hard. I have to say, though... I am ecstatic for this next semester to start. I'm excited to learn more about what I want to do with my life. I'm glad I'll get to see all of my friends again every Thursday night. I want to enjoy grad school while I'm in it, instead of just looking back and thinking, "Wow, that was really a great time."
9) Give yourself a break
Most people in grad school aren't only in grad school. I've got a full time job that also requires many service hours, a husband, a puppy, etc. Whatever it is you're doing alongside grad school, it's likely that you'll have times when you feel overwhelmed. I know I have and it's only been one semester! That's why it's so important to give yourself a break. And by that I mean two things: 1) give yourself a break when you're not able to do it all (you're still doing great!) and 2) give yourself the time to take a break every once in a while. You'll thank yourself for both.
10) It's going to be OK
I think this one is the most important - and something that I needed to hear often throughout the last semester. It's going to be OK. If you put in the time and the effort, you are going to be ok. You have to work and it's not going to be easy - but you didn't get into grad school on a whim. You have what it takes! So on those really hard days, look in the mirror and tell yourself that it's going to be OK. Get together with other students in your program and remind each other that it's going to be OK. Because it will be. Somehow you'll make it happen; you'll finish all of your assignments, you'll pass your classes, and before you know it you'll be onto the next semester.
Hope you enjoyed my awesome, not so original, 10 things I learned post! ;)
Now go out there and rock your grad program!
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