Differences between undergrad and grad school

I was just wondering, what are some of the differences between undergraduate and graduate school both academically and socially? Is it true you really don't make any friends, and people you meet are no more than just friendly acquaintances that you work with just to get the work done? I know it is probably more stressful but overall it is over a shorter period of time before completing the degree.

It has been > 20 yrs since I was in grad school but your understanding of it was in line with my experience. The course work was more challenging and involved and as I was working and going to school, getting the work done was more important than socializing.

Makes sense.

Often one is working when one goes to graduate school so, yes, one might have more trouble making friends. My undergraduate years I was living at school, too, so that meant there were other students living around me but with graduate school there often isn't housing there at school so you are on your own. Graduate school is more like "work", a bit more serious. You are studying what you work at/want to work at so there isn't the "general" education requirements where you might meet people who are studying something different.

In graduate school you pretty much have to make only A's and B's, you can't pass/graduate with C's or D's. However, usually the work is "automatically" deemed that level or they would not have let you in :-) so getting A's and B's is just doing the same level of work you did pretty much as an undergraduate. They do not explain things very much or do much "hand holding" in graduate school, you have to figure stuff out yourself. Some things you were expected to learn/know as an undergraduate you have to learn on your own, they don't have classes to catch you up, you can't "fake" things as well or "get by" as a graduate student :-) They might not have assignments, either, it's more like "read this book" and may only recommend texts rather than insist you buy books X, Y, and Z. Even with specific texts it is up to you to read/understand what parts you "need" to follow along in discussions, they don't assign pages 24-38, etc. and the "texts" are usually not textbooks, but "regular" academic books in the field and you have to figure out how they relate to the subject.

A social thing -- people are doing different things with the subject they're getting a graduate degree in and may be from different backgrounds. For example, most of the students in my graduate school were teachers getting an advanced degree because it was required of their school system or they wanted to get more money or better job. I was not a teacher, had never been a teacher or in a system where graduate school was expected. I was going to graduate school in that subject for my own purposes/I wanted "that" subject matter. So, the chances of "socializing" were more remote because of that, too, the backgrounds were different and there was no connection between our lives other than being in "this" course or "that" one together.

Thanks for this thread. I'm starting my master's in the fall. I had a really hard time making friends in undergrad; I hoped grad school would be better, as it's at a different institution, and everyone in my classes is studying the same subject. We'll see!

That makes sense.

You're welcome and same here, I've always had trouble making friends so I kind of expect grad school to be no different in terms of socializing, I'll probably be on my now as it always has been which for grad school is probably a good thing.

hmmm, it was a donkey's age since I was an undergrad. My grad school experiences might be a bit different than is typical.

I put myself through both undergrad and grad schools. As a result I was more serious about school than some others. I remember a lot of people in undergrad who majored in partying. They were more interested in the social aspect of college life than getting a degree. I worked while I was taking classes so I was kind of a grind, but did some minor partying on weekends.

I was in my 40s when I went to grad school. It was the beginning of a MAJOR career change for me. Again, I was working and supporting myself while I went to school. I found most of the older students in the program were more focused on earning their degree than in partying. The people I knew who were into the social aspect of school in grad school tended to be younger students who had just gotten their undergrad degree and went straight on to grad school. Interestingly those folks did not stay in the field long after they graduated. I had little to no social life while in grad school. I worked, went to classes and studied my but off.

As some others commented, profs don't hold your hand in grad classes. You either learn or you sink. I did find that grad profs were more open to students who sought information. Someone mentioned that the material in grad classes is aimed so that you get either As or Bs. That was not my experience. The program I was in reguired that you maintain at least a 3.0 GPA (B average) but the profs did not make it easy to earn those As and Bs. Like I said, I studied my but off and earned a 4.0. But I had classmates who did not put in the work they should have and they got Cs. The program had a policy to call in students who were earning Ds or Fs to counsel them. Some were put on academic probation pending better grades.

I will say that even though I did not have much time to socialize in grad school I developed some long lasting relationships with fellow students. I'm still friends with a couple of them. The friendships developed through study groups and grabbing meals between classes.

That is good, makes sense. And I'm glad professors make it so you get A's and B's.

Not all profs make it so you can get As and Bs. I just graduated 2 years ago, and Everyone was studying like crazy to pass the classes (well except one person who had photographic memory). But it also depends on the area of study and the school. Sometimes in grad school getting/keeping stipends/workstudy/grants depends on you getting the best grades in your section, which can cause competition between students. So it really depends on how the department is set up. And also if you are working in a profesor's lab, you are at their mercy for what happens to you.

Makes sense.

I think you misunderstood me. The profs did not make it so we got Bs. I/we had to study our backsides off to get those As and Bs. The people who did not study their b-hinds off did not get As and Bs. That's why I was so proud of that 4.0. I earned that sucker!

Oh okay, I misread it then. That makes sense and congratulations!

Yes, I think I gave you that potential misunderstanding Only A's and B's "pass" but the people you are in graduate school with are all like you so are very smart and work hard and got A's and B's in undergrad classes so the classes are of a difficulty so it is expected everyone will get A's and B's. Is that clearer? It can be harder to get that A (since the difference between success and failure is smaller) but when I got an A, since I was "Me" I took it more for granted than lizardlady took hers. But then, I know "I'm never lost because I am with Me" (how can "I" be lost with "Me" there all the time? :-)

Oh okay yes that is much clearer lol thanks.