The next set of commencements are around the corner and many of us are left wondering, what next? Some have jobs lined up from previous internships, others might take time off and explore the world outside their campus and hometown. A few can't imagine their lives outside of school, and the rest are just trying to figure out how to defer those impending loan repayments.
Regardless of your future intentions you may find yourself sucked into the wonderful world of applying to graduate school. It's like your senior year of high school all over again, except you already have a degree that says you should kinda be good at a thing or two already...
Here are some things you've probably experienced so far:
10. Wondering What Exactly Should You Study?
You could further you major or take your minor to the next level. But the job forecast is saying something else in yada yada sector. Stick with what you know or what you know could make a difference in the world?
9. Staying At Your Alma Mater Or Going Far Away?
Remember those months you spent during junior and senior of high school looking for the perfect college? Yeah, you have to do it again and this time you have to choose between the place you spent years making home or a place where you'll spend even less time.
8. You Probably Can't Afford The Really *Good* Programs...
I've met many people who have had their Masters or PhD paid for, and I'd love that too. But I've missed the deadline for assistantships and there's probably 100 more qaulified people for the three scholarships some of these schools offer.
7. ...Or The Applications. You Definitely Cannot Afford More Than Three.
Not only is your program $50,000, you application is $85. Why? It's just my name and two of my interest and maybe a typo or two. Please just take my application for free.
6. Speaking of Applications...WHY ARE THEY SO LONG
Honestly, I made a LinkedIn - all my professional and educational capabilities are there. Who I really am might be on Snapchat, but you can just google me for more objective information. These four part applications are tedious and I'm only saving 15 minutes worth of work each day...
5. Asking For Letters of Reference Is Daunting
It's uncomfortable to ask someone to professionally brag about you. I don't want to seem like I'm imposing on your daily life, but could you spare a page of nice and supportive words? You have to find the right people, because these letters are a matter of life and death.
4. Attempting To Study For The GRE Is A Nightmare
While you're applying to the deciders of your future and the drainers of you parents' personal savings, you're also probably preparing for the GRE - the SAT's older, more sophisticated brother who has doesn't play any games. An expensive test which all these schools say don't determine you acceptance, but you know probably does. Some of us haven't taken a standardized test in years or done legitimate math in years...so you know how this is all going to go down, right?
3. Personal Statement - More Like Personal Hell, Am I Right?
They ask you to answer a few relatively broad yet specific questions and ask you to answer it in approximately 500-1,500 words I haven't figured out if approximately is suggestive or definitive. Either way, I've sorta been working on it off and on for a while...in my head. Selling yourself still hasn't gotten any easier.
2. Additional (Optional) Documents and Responses
The word additional seems optional, but it's probably not. These applications have you requesting documents from all kinds of people and institutions all over the place, and most of the time it's not free. Also, what does additional experiences mean? If I gave you my tailored resume to highlight the best and the brightest things that are relevant - what else would I have to offer you in this section?
1. Deadlines...More Like Suggestive Submission Dates
Your program's website has at least two different deadlines listed, and to be honest, I may end up missing one of them. But don't we all do our best work when the pressure's on?
Whether or not you've experienced these ten things, I hope you get to experience the joy of an acceptance letter and the relief when you get some money from your future graduate institution. Good luck!
