Graduate School
Top 10 Graduate School Myths:
Myth: Graduate School is expensive.
Fact: Most graduate schools have funding available to support students. You should NOT have to pay for graduate school. It is a job and they will pay you ($13,000 and up) to do research or teach. Many also provide health benefits.
Myth: The reputation of the school is the most important aspect of deciding on graduate school.
Fact: While the reputation of the school is important, your advisor is equally important. Carefully search for a compatible advisor.
Myth: Graduate school is like undergraduate school in the fact that you go for a set period of time, take a set number of classes, and then graduate.
Fact: Graduate school is based on your research. When you finish your research, along with some core requirements, you defend that research and graduate. It can be difficult at times to estimate when that will be, though you should talk to your advisor early and often about expectations.
Myth: You have to have predetermined your research project before applying to graduate school.
Fact: While you need to have some idea about general topics, you don’t have to have an entire proposal written up. Your advisor will work with you to determine a mutually agreed on project.
Myth: If I get rejected from a graduate school, it means I am a bad applicant and a failure.
Fact: Acceptance rates are very low and depend on many factors. If you are not accepted, it does not mean you are not qualified merely that there may not have been funding available or research space available at that school. This is why it is important to contact potential advisors early so they can advocate early for you.
Myth: Graduate school is structured like undergraduate school.
Fact: Graduate school is a mix of many things. You will be taking classes for the first couple years. You will also be designing and implementing experiments and you may also be asked to teach. At the same time you will be asked to focus on your specific research questions intensely and independently unlike undergrad where you are told specifically what to read. You will be expected to understand the field. And do the reading that is necessary for you to do that. The positive of this is that you really do set your own schedule. The negative is that you have to be really disciplined to stick to this schedule.
Myth: My graduate advisor is interested in helping me become a better teacher.
Fact: Graduate students are researchers first and everything else second. While some advisors will appreciate your interest in teaching most or more are interested in research and publications.
Myth: Advisors don’t have time for their students.
Fact: This really does vary among advisors. There may be a trade off between someone who is else unknown but has fewer graduate students to assist. Compared to the more established professors whose name recognition is high but have so many students that they are too busy to spend time training one. Ask graduate students of that advisor about what it is like to work with him or her.
Myth: I’m not going into academia, so graduate school isn’t for me.
Fact: There are a number of jobs available to master level or beyond that aren’t available to people with their bachelors. See local listings.
Myth: I don’t know what to do next, so I’ll go to graduate school.
Fact: While this may be tempting, graduate school is not for everyone and requires serious commitment. Having a vision of your goals and how graduate school can help those goals, will help you survive. If you are unsure of your goals or your project, try out a masters program first. You can always enter a doctorate program later.