It's official -- 24 years later, I'm a grad student

[Sunrazor]

Tuesday was my first day of classes as I launch my career in graduate school. I took an online class this summer in grammar, but this is the real plunge into real classrooms, real research papers, real presentations and real moments of "what the hell am I doing here!?!?"

Any suggestions on how to survive three years of graduate school (I commute 90 miles each way twice a week) and hold down a full-time job AND keep a marriage intact would be deeply appreciated.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

So am I! I just started an entirely online master's degree program at CSU Fullerton.

We only have to show up on campus twice, once for initial orientation and again, one year later for what they call the Midpoint Colloquium. We can add to that a third time, if we want to participate in the graduation ceremony.

As for me, let's just say I got my other master's degree in 1984, so you do the math.

[Sunrazor]

Originally Posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus

As for me, let's just say I got my other master's degree in 1984, so you do the math.

Sorry, can't do the math. My degree is gonna' be in English -- we don' do no math, we jus' speek gude Englishe.

I envy you -- I wish even half of my coursework was online. But noooooooooooo! Of course, you'll miss the fun of terrorizing kids young enough to be your sons and daughters. I'm really looking forward to that.

Sending virtual pie to Mouse Maven. I graduated with my BA in journalism when I was 30. My wife finished her BS in business management when she was 46, and my father received his BA in English when he was 63. Hang in there, kiddo -- there are few things more satisfying that looking at that diploma and saying, "Yep, I did it myself!"

[Ogre]

I'm a brand new PhD student in Biology, and sometimes I wake at night thinking, "What the hell have I done?" I've been through oral and written comprehensives once. I hated them then. Why the hell am I subjecting myself to more?

Sigh. Congratulations, I guess.

[Ogre]

I should have also pointed out that it has been 10 years since I got my Master's. Blargh.

[nivlac]

The grad school experience depends a lot on your field (hard science or not) and if you're in a PhD or master's program. The PhD experience in a hard science can be brutal and there will be moments of great angst along the way. I can't speak about a non-scientific field.

[Mouse_Maven]

Congrats and good luck!


Sunrazor, I understant the "what the hell am I doing here!?!?" feeling. Expect it to come and go.

Mouse_Maven
Part-time undergraduate for five years now and turning 30 in 6 months.