Grad School Vs. Under-Grad
- Thread starter SIR_GRAM
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Suge
The Phat Mack
It would be safe to assume that the rigor of graduate school is increased, or there would be no need for advanced studies. Each level of education is more advanced than the prior level. 9th grade is/should be "harder" or more rigourous than 8th grade.
As far as how the difficulty measures up or is compared, it is a personal assesment.
As far as how the difficulty measures up or is compared, it is a personal assesment.
ABE
Running and Gunning
It also depends on your level of academic prowess. If you barely scraped through undergraduate, you will need to rededicate yourself to doing the work required by the graduate school. In short, it is not harder, but the work is REAL. If you are asked to do a 15 page paper, it better be 15 pages, done in the correct format, and turned in on time. Otherwise, you may be looking to repeat the course or change your academic aspirations.
JROCK
Preeminent
Graduate school was easier for me. Why one may ask:
I went to college at 17. Consequently, I had no experience in my discipline and had to learn theory. In addition to the aforementioned, my discipline had room for growth. In contrast, I went to Grad School over 20 years later. Hence, I had a wealth of practical experience. Further, in many instances, I had already applied a great deal of the theory. To add to this, my discipline level had grown tremendously, became more assertive over the years, and I was a much more mature person. Graduate school was more of a honing process for me. I believe that it is not a one experience fit all situation. There is so much more that can be stated about this topic. I hope the aforementioned helps.
I went to college at 17. Consequently, I had no experience in my discipline and had to learn theory. In addition to the aforementioned, my discipline had room for growth. In contrast, I went to Grad School over 20 years later. Hence, I had a wealth of practical experience. Further, in many instances, I had already applied a great deal of the theory. To add to this, my discipline level had grown tremendously, became more assertive over the years, and I was a much more mature person. Graduate school was more of a honing process for me. I believe that it is not a one experience fit all situation. There is so much more that can be stated about this topic. I hope the aforementioned helps.
TSUalum05
Well-Known Member
Grad school has been easier for me for a number of reasons and like someone said earlier its a professional enviroment and I believe there is a more in-dept emphasis on the subjects. Some of these classes that I have taken in undergrad, I have taken grad school. To me it is more is expected out of you because your trying to "master" what ever your studying.
Truely, the biggest difference of the two is the amount of research needed to conduct research papers.
Other things that are making it easier for me is the following:
1. No more living the undergrad bachelor life.:banana::sperm:
2. Not being an athlete (I played baseball)
3. Knowing this degree will pay off in the long run (bonuses, higher pay)
4. Smaller classes and better interaction with professors (At the end of the semester we all go out to drinks with our professors)
5. Fellow students are more focused and have a goal in mind with the program. (No one's slacking and they are there for a purpose)
Truely, the biggest difference of the two is the amount of research needed to conduct research papers.
Other things that are making it easier for me is the following:
1. No more living the undergrad bachelor life.:banana::sperm:
2. Not being an athlete (I played baseball)
3. Knowing this degree will pay off in the long run (bonuses, higher pay)
4. Smaller classes and better interaction with professors (At the end of the semester we all go out to drinks with our professors)
5. Fellow students are more focused and have a goal in mind with the program. (No one's slacking and they are there for a purpose)
silentrage
Delta Girl
Great post JROCK and I concur.
Depending on when you enter graduate school you may have a different experience than the next person. A person entering grad school directly after undergrad has no work experience to compare or reflect on as they are learning in grad school. On the other hand, those that wait 5, 10 or 20 years have more work experience and bring a totally different mindset to their coursework.
Overall, I think perspective may play a part on whether one sees grad school as more difficult or not.
ABE
Running and Gunning
I would have dropped my courses if I had gone to grad school @ 21. I had to take the hard road and realized that school is the lesser of the evils. I look @ my classmates like they are crazy when they complain. Most of them don't even take a full load, and they complain. I would recommend that a person only take 2 classes the first semester in a program. I did not heed this advice and took 4 classes. Although I did well in all of them, I had to hump in the last month due to faulty prioritizing. Buy a PDA, if you do not have one. Input EVERYTHING. You can not afford to miss any deadline(s).
Devil's Gun Trigger Man
onward and upward son!
the difference to me is basically grad school requires me to write waaaaaaay........more papers than I had to in undergrad.
Suge
The Phat Mack
You guys are making the question personal, and I understand that it may be easier for some than it is for others. But his question was simply about the difficulty of grad schol in relation to undergrad. Everyone will have a different opinion of how difficult it was for them to complete the graduate program, factors like academic ability, maturation, location, life situation, etc. will all come into play. But I am sure that we can all agree the requirements were more rigourous than undergrad.
I am assuming that is what he was asking. But maybe he did want more personal examples. But like Jrock said....perspective.
I am assuming that is what he was asking. But maybe he did want more personal examples. But like Jrock said....perspective.
Donald K. Willi
New Member
To me undergrad was harder but more was expected of me in graduate school.In grad school, I focused on social work and social work issues but in undergrad,I had to be a jack of all trades and I didn't care very much for some of those trades.
ABE
Running and Gunning
In that case I will answer the question.. .
No graduate school is not 2 times harder than undergraduate. It is just a natural continuation.
MightyDog
Well-Known Member
Undergraduate School is harder. In graduate school, all the coursework or curriculum was related, but in undergraduate the different subjects that I was required to take did not have the same type of relationship as my graduate courses.