Many students are not fully aware of the differences between graduate and undergraduate studies. Many people just assume grad school is just more classes at a higher level of difficulty. However, this isn’t true. In this post I will discuss some of the major differences between undergraduate and graduate school.

Several students wrongly believe that admission to graduate school depends solely on getting high scores on standardized tests or having higher than the required GPA. While, good academic success is definitely a very important qualification for admission, getting into grad school depends on much more than these indicators of academic ability. Admission committees are looking at more than just your grades and standardized test scores. They are considering additional signs that you will be productive and successful once you are in grad school. Admission boards will try and conclude whether you truly have a clear understanding of what graduate school is like and what your expectations are once you are accepted. This is because they do not want students who are unable to adjust to an entirely new collection of conditions for learning, performance, and evaluation than what they are used to.

The coursework in grad school is also a major difference. First off, your field of study will be much narrower, and much deeper. You’ll be focused on a single field or discipline. While you may have gotten a good comprehension of your subject in college, a graduate degree the same field will require know your field so well that you can be said to have mastered it. You should approach grad school as a full-time job; it's not "school" in the undergraduate sense. If you soared through college with little studying, you're in for a big culture shock. The reading lists will be longer and more extensive than you've encountered in college. You will often be expected to read and be prepared to critically evaluate and discuss it all. It is also common that you will do more and more independent research that you will hypothesize and implement on your own. Remember that no one will hold your hand and walk you through. You must provide your own motivation.

Lastly, your lifestyle during your time in graduate school will probably be very different than in college. It is very common for students to have part time jobs to help with the burden of expensive tuition. You will most likely have less free time between classes, studying, work, and any clubs or activities you are involved in. However, most students say they love the busy lifestyle and enjoy all the activities they take part in. It important to know that a major benefit of graduate school is the strong support system you will receive. Since the same people will be in most of your classes, you definitely build great relationships! Peers help each other out and are great study partners. Professors also build a much more personal relationship with students than during undergraduate studies. They understand the difficulty of the program and are always there to listen and assistant their students. While graduate school is much more difficult, it is encouraging to know that you will have a great support system. The rewards for all your hard work will be well worth it!

-Janine Minerva

Janine graduated in 2011 from Quinnipiac University with an undergraduate degree in Economics. Subscribe to our feed for more posts from Janine!