The 11 (Real) Best Things About Grad School
Wonder what it’s like being a grad student? A few weeks ago we did a post about some of the “best” things about grad school that really weren’t all that great. This time we actually have some things that are great about being a grad student.
1. You have a purpose.
The work you’re doing makes an impact, and that’s something you can hang your hat on at the end of each day.
2. You get to work with awesome faculty members.
These faculty members are some of the best in their field—they know a lot, and they are invested in you.
3. You learn to learn from your failures.
You probably have and probably will fail a lot, but you learn to look at failure as a learning experience and not a road block.
4. You’re continuously getting smarter.
The brain was designed to learn and you’re continuously learning new things. You’re creating new knowledge.
5. The people you hang around are pretty smart, too.
Chances are their knowledge will rub off on you and you’ll find yourself knowing interesting stuff about their particular fields of study.
6. Your job has its perks.
You get to take advantage of your institution’s library, labs, gym, pool, and health care services while you’re a grad student. Most people can’t say they have those things in their office.
7. Your schedule is flexible.
If you feel like going on a 6-hour Netflix binge, that’s okay, because you’ll likely make up that research time on Saturday at 2 a.m. or maybe even on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s up to you, as long as you meet your deadlines.
8. You’re job is interesting.
You chose to study and focus on something that interests you, so you’re reading, researching, and writing about a topic that you really care about.
9. You’re advancing yourself personally.
You spend the better part of your life (your 20’s) in graduate school, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The whole process of going through grad school allows you to develop yourself as an individual.
10. You’re advancing yourself professionally.
Not only are you advancing yourself personally, but professionally as well. You develop skills and abilities that you will use all throughout your career.
11. You’re advancing society.
Education is the backbone of a functioning society, and the research that you do each day is transforming that society and providing us with a better understanding of the world in which we live.
