I started a PhD program last fall, after more than a few years working as an engineer. In the first week, I met a guy, also new to the school, who had done his undergrad at a school I had attended as a part-time masters student. He was about five years younger than me, but we talked for a couple of minutes about the school and the city before he had to run. After that, I didn’t see him at any of the grad student orientation/social events. A week later I found out why.