Anyone been to graduate school?

Well? I'm looking at starting (most likely) in January. Any advice? Nuggets of wisdom? Things to do or not do?

Yep, don't think it will be the same as undergrad.  Undergrad they more or less assume you don't know a whole lot.  Grad school, they expect to build on a substantial knowledge base.  Most people take is seriously, so it usually leads to a better educational experience.  The professors also start treating you more like potential colleagues than just another face in the crowd.  I don't know what your field is, but I suspect there will be a lot of reading and a lot of writing involved.  I enjoyed grad school much more than undergrad because it was more focused work on subjects and material that interested me and not all the gen-ed garbage.  

I hope I haven't scared you off.

I haven't been but I was offered a scholarship (couldn't do it because I had a family, mounting debt, and needed to get into the work-force).  I did take a graduate course as and elective and worked in the research lab with several gradual students.
The only advice they gave me was to be wary which professor you get stuck with when it comes to defending your thesis.  Two guys I know had the same professor and they both ended up getting stuck for two or three additional quarters because he kept yanking them around on dates to finalize their thesis.  It would be better if you were getting a degree that didn't require you to defend a thesis.

I would love to go back and get my master's in Biblical counseling.  I think it would make me a better pastor someday.

messiaen77 wrote:

Yep, don't think it will be the same as undergrad.  Undergrad they more or less assume you don't know a whole lot.  Grad school, they expect to build on a substantial knowledge base.  Most people take is seriously, so it usually leads to a better educational experience.  The professors also start treating you more like potential colleagues than just another face in the crowd.  I don't know what your field is, but I suspect there will be a lot of reading and a lot of writing involved.  I enjoyed grad school much more than undergrad because it was more focused work on subjects and material that interested me and not all the gen-ed garbage.  

I hope I haven't scared you off.

Quite the opposite actually. My favorite part of undergrad was the last 18 months when I was only doing classes specific to my major. My BS is in Business Administration with a focus in Management/Leadership and HR. I want to get an MBA with a focus on Management/Leadership and eventually teach at the university level full time.

UMSL (University of Missouri - St Louis) has some MBA options for the working professional (well, I'm close enough) and a DBA (Doctorate of Bus. Admin.) that I'd love to finish at some point after I start teaching. It's the only DBA in St Louis.

As far as reading and writing, that isn't an issue. I read about 2 hours a day anyway - I'll just shift what I'm reading.

me77, if I'm not mistaken, you teach at the collegiate level, right? Do you enjoy it?

I've not shared this with many people but in my head I've always had a vision of teaching at that level and have kept putting it off, convincing myself that I'm supposed to do something else. But now, I'm 35 and by the time I finish the MBA I'll be 37 or 38. I'm tired of knowing what God purposed me to do and not doing it. I think that's why I have hated every job I've had a little more than the last one...

So in case anyone was wondering....

I attended an informational seminar last night at the school of my choice to get an MBA. I've settled on a program and am looking to start in January. Just need to sit for the GMAT, complete an application, file for financial aid, get a bag to carry my books in, enroll in class, get my books....

Knock 'em dead!

Very cool!

ishmael81 wrote:

messiaen77 wrote:

Yep, don't think it will be the same as undergrad.  Undergrad they more or less assume you don't know a whole lot.  Grad school, they expect to build on a substantial knowledge base.  Most people take is seriously, so it usually leads to a better educational experience.  The professors also start treating you more like potential colleagues than just another face in the crowd.  I don't know what your field is, but I suspect there will be a lot of reading and a lot of writing involved.  I enjoyed grad school much more than undergrad because it was more focused work on subjects and material that interested me and not all the gen-ed garbage.  

I hope I haven't scared you off.

Quite the opposite actually. My favorite part of undergrad was the last 18 months when I was only doing classes specific to my major. My BS is in Business Administration with a focus in Management/Leadership and HR. I want to get an MBA with a focus on Management/Leadership and eventually teach at the university level full time.

UMSL (University of Missouri - St Louis) has some MBA options for the working professional (well, I'm close enough) and a DBA (Doctorate of Bus. Admin.) that I'd love to finish at some point after I start teaching. It's the only DBA in St Louis.

As far as reading and writing, that isn't an issue. I read about 2 hours a day anyway - I'll just shift what I'm reading.

me77, if I'm not mistaken, you teach at the collegiate level, right? Do you enjoy it?

I've not shared this with many people but in my head I've always had a vision of teaching at that level and have kept putting it off, convincing myself that I'm supposed to do something else. But now, I'm 35 and by the time I finish the MBA I'll be 37 or 38. I'm tired of knowing what God purposed me to do and not doing it. I think that's why I have hated every job I've had a little more than the last one...

Yeah, I love it.  I've taught all levels, and this is my favorite.  For one, you don't have to deal with parents as much.

Good to know. I realize I'll have to start at the BS level but when I finish my MBA, I'd like to continue at UMSL and get either a PhD or DBA and continue teaching. I'd really like to do it full time but like I said, I'm likely going to have to teach Adjunct for a while first.

Oh yeah, all the jobs now are going to adjunct or non-tenure track because those are a heckuva lot cheaper for the schools.  Really sucks when you spend all the time and money to get the degrees and then basically become a year-to-year employee with no real job security.

I've seen that too. I would think that impacts the quality of your teaching staff in terms of morale, etc. Honestly, as scary as that is to me, I feel like this is what God wants me to do so I have to trust he'll open doors when the time is right.