Advice on Getting Through Graduate School

For both my domestic and international business experience, I desire to strengthen my comprehensive business knowledge and communication skills, and be humble to anyone. Also, I found a Vanderbilt MBA can definitely help me to strengthen my speciality. '19

I chose to attend grad school to give myself more career options. By the time I've earned my Ph.D., I'll be qualified to work as a professor at a research institution, an educational administrator, or a psychologist working in a school or private practice. I still have time to figure out exactly what I want to do, and if I want, I can do a little of everything throughout my career. '17

I wanted to continue learning and ensure I was prepared to take the next steps in my career. I knew it would open up new doors. '16

I had always been passionate about helping people through health care, and ultimately I decided the best way to have the impact I wanted was to go to medical school. '18

Graduate school has given me exposure in so many ways. It's like being very independent and multitasking with everyday activities. I chose to attend graduate school for better career opportunities, more learning and to find my curated interests. '22

After student teaching in a high poverty and high racial diversity school, I realized that I needed to learn more about educating diverse students before going into the classroom. '17

In a meeting with my academic advisor at the beginning of my senior year, I made some comment about getting a job. He asked what kind of job I wanted, and I told him something akin to R&D in my field. He told me that he knows that field and that pretty much everyone doing that kind of R&D has a PhD. I hadn't thought much about grad school until that conversation, but then I started to get excited about it. I liked that I was steered toward grad school in a really authentic way, since I actually need to get that degree to do the work I want to do, rather than seeing grad school as a way to avoid getting a "regular" job out of school/a way to postpone big career decisions.’23

I chose to attend graduate school to develop myself further and become the best teacher possible. '19

I had an interest in medicine starting in college and wanted to continue to develop research and clinical experience to confirm my interest in medicine. It sounds cliche but I wanted to combine my interest in science and helping others solve their complex medical issues as well as work to improve public health. '19

I followed my passions, wanted more skill-based, technical training in the area of policymaking, and hoped to find my niche while surrounded by experts in the field. '21

I wanted to grow my network, shift career path, and accelerate my growth. '20

I chose to attend graduate school because it allowed me to enhance and expand my skill set in a new environment. '18

I am studying to become a Catholic priest in the Order of Preachers. I am working on two degrees in order to become a well-formed preacher of the truth, for the salvation of souls. '20

For me, a J.D. was an investment in the sense that it has opened doors and elevated my ceiling. By this, it got me a seat at the tables I wanted to be at and put me in the tax bracket I wanted to be in. With a B.A., I think it would have taken me 15 years to get here, but with a law degree it'll take me three. '20

I chose to attend medical school because I wanted to become a physician that would serve the underserved community. ‘23

I wish I had known before that grad school is totally different from undergrad. There's way more studying but less homework; and there's way fewer people who are interested in being social. Don't expect to come in and make friends right away. It takes serious time to talk to people about stuff other than school. '18

Early on in my first semester of graduate school, I felt a lot of pressure to have a mastery of the science and research skills immediate. I had to remind myself to be patient-I still have a lot to learn, and that's OK! The whole point of graduate school is to build upon and learn from the information you studied in undergrad. '18

Referrals are key. You can get a new role the easiest and with the least amount of competition by being referred internally by someone who likes you. But that's a secret for this book only! ‘21

At least skim through professors' work or listen to speaking engagements on YouTube before taking a class. I read professors' books after the first semester and realized one book was basically a course map and would have helped a lot. '18

The opportunity is always there; you just have to seek it. '22

I wish I knew that I would get into grad school so I could take back so many months of stress. But, just work hard, trust the process, and try not to forget to enjoy life. '18

Don't be afraid to go back even after a break. My experience in the workplace made grad school that much easier. '16

I wish I knew how loans and insurance worked before I was a grad student. ‘23

Don't be afraid to reach out to other students your first year. Try to make some friends or form a study group since classes can be pretty tough, and it's always nice to have people to work with. '19

I wish I knew beforehand that the classes are much less structured than in undergrad. '19

Reach for the stars when applying for jobs/programs that might seem outside your wheelhouse. There's a huge pressure at Vanderbilt to secure a high-paying job midway through your senior year. This simply isn't reality for people outside the Vandy bubble. Don't let your banking/consultant friends pressure you into seeing the world through their narrow lens. '21

You will feel like your friends are growing faster than you in other areas of life, but it is okay.  In their 20s, everyone is meeting milestones at different points, so don't put pressure on yourself if your priorities lie elsewhere (like grad school).  ‘22

Prior to being a graduate student, I wish I knew how much free time I had available as a graduate student. Graduate school is the best opportunity to really focus in on your craft and grow. '18

I wish I had known how difficult it would be to know what to work on at my 9-5. We all spend years of being assigned homework and studying for exams, but PhDs are so freeform. I know all about my project, but there's so much to do that it's difficult to know where to start. I think I have a mental block about not wanting to try something and risk doing it wrong, so I've been waiting for my advisor to tell me what to do. I think that building my independence is going to be a big avenue for growth for me in the coming years.’23

It'll feel weird to watch your friends start real jobs and still be stuck in the student role where you don't feel like a real adult, but it's also so so so much fun and you have the rest of your life to spend in the real world. Also, medical school is hard but not as scary as everyone says; every week feels like finals season but you do adjust to it. Remember that grad/medical/law school is a full-time job, and you'll put at least as much time into it as you would working. That said, you're never too busy to spend 15 minutes on something that makes you happy! Fifteen minutes to call someone you love, do some yoga, or watch a YouTube video is way more valuable than doing 15 extra flash cards or reading a few more textbook pages. '21

How to best manage my time, what to do to de-stress, how the labs work at the professional level (as opposed to the undergrad labs). '21

I wish I'd known how important it is to have close relationships with your professors. '17

You don't have to have it all figured out, even in grad school. '20

I wish I knew it would not be as difficult as I imagined to return to school. If you are interested in the subject you are studying and you at least slightly enjoy academics, going back to school is exciting and easy.'21

Straight in. It's a long road so might as well get started if you can.'18

I chose not to take time off because I want to continue school while my mind is in "study mode" so to speak. '17

I went straight into the program after undergrad. An advantage is being able to get a higher education degree out of the way quickly and early, + momentum from undergrad to earn financial aid easier (potentially). Disadvantage, if you're burnt out from educational institutions post-undergrad, you won't be able to take a break right after graduating. ‘21

Straight into program because I wanted to get my schooling done.'22

Vanderbilt makes you a professional student, and I kept up that momentum by going straight to grad school from Vandy. While I definitely feel burned out at times, I know that when I (eventually) finish, I'll still be young as compared to others with my training in my field. '16

I took a gap year, and I'm so glad I did! Having a regular job after graduation gave me the time I needed to really put my best foot forward on applications, because I had time to complete them in the evenings and wasn't stressed about getting homework done at the same time. I don't think I would have gotten nearly as many grad school interviews if I had applied during my senior year. '17

I decided to take time off because I was very overwhelmed and burned out by the end of the final semester. I knew I needed time to recharge before I'd be ready to give so much energy to school again. I also did not want to spend more time and money on school unless I had a clear goal for the future and additional schooling would help me get there. '18

I took two years before going back to grad school. I was ready for a break from studying, and I wanted to focus on my new career. '16

I'd considered pursuing both an MBA and my J.D. at various points, so I wanted to work after graduation as a way to figure out what I wanted. That led me to working in marketing at a tech company that specializes in legal software. After about a year there, it became clear that I should pursue my J.D. I'm glad I took that break because I not only know where I want to focus my legal career, I also have a recommendation from my CEO in my application! '17

I'll have taken two gap years by the time I matriculate this fall. Gap years are honestly so important-I used the time to gain several hundred hours of clinical experience by scribing. It allowed me to bolster my application while making amazing connections with physicians and ensuring that I was committed to my path. Stepping away from school also gave me a much-needed break to prevent burnout. '19

I did a full time MBA after 4 years of work - if I was going to invest into a program I wanted to be fully present to optimize the connections I made, the learnings I had, and the time to make personal reflections on where I wanted to go in my career.'20

I went to nursing school right after I graduated from Vandy. I knew that I'd lose motivation if I pushed it back a semester or even a year. By the end of grad school I was pretty burned out on school, though. So while it was tough, I think it was the right choice for me. I'd definitely recommend that anyone planning on grad school at least consider taking a gap year. '16

I took time off to work full time, and I HIGHLY recommend it. The burnout can be real if you go straight to school, and you learn so much about yourself in your first full-time job out of undergrad. Plus that way you can have a bit more freedom to travel before you have to go back to school. There's no rush. '17

I went straight to grad school. The benefit was coming in freshly from a reading and writing intensive undergrad, so I was prepared for the workload. If I had taken a break to work first, I think the adjustment would have been very difficult to adjust to academic demands again and a drop income without a partner to help support me.'18

I did, and I am so grateful for it.  My gap year gave me a chance to really learn about myself as a young adult.  It helped me to feel more grounded and sure of myself when I started school this fall.  ‘22

I honestly took a gap year based on intuition and because the prospect of applying (and the MCAT) seemed too daunting to me junior year. I worked for a year prior to medical school which, in retrospect, was one of the best decisions I ever made. The "gap year" enabled me to strengthen my medical school application, grow as a person, explore New York City, and ground myself in the "real world." If you feel as if you need to take a "gap year," follow your gut. '19

I took a year in between to work. I am glad I did, as I am now in a completely different program and am going to school part-time while keeping my job, which is great for the income stream while studying. Working or having experience between undergrad and grad school is a great way to avoid burnout, consider all possibilities for the future, and be more mature when entering grad school.'21

I decided to take a year off before going to graduate school and it was by far the best decision. I needed a bit of a break from school, but I also needed to spend some time figuring out what it is I really wanted out of life and gaining certainty on what I wanted my career to look like. This year off also enabled me to gain more research experience and be a more competitive applicant for graduate programs. '20

No. A requirement of my fellowship program was that I had to enter grad school the subsequent fall after receiving it which for me meant starting right after I finished undergrad. One of the main advantages of not having a large gap was that my mind was still used to being in school. This helps because academia is much different than the real world, and the way you write, do presentations, etc. is not the same. I'm glad I started early though because I'll have finished at a young age and won't have to interrupt my career. '19

Definitely take a year off before attending professional school. It's important to learn life skills as an adult and work a full-time job before school becomes your life again. '19

I did not. My academic advisor told me that oftentimes it can be difficult to get back into the swing of classes and research if you take time off, and I had no compelling urge to do so. I have faced some productivity issues during my first semester as a grad student, but I think that has more to do with the fact that PhDs are so loosely defined, so it's difficult to know what I should be working on, rather than issues with burn-out. ‘23

While initially unsure if I wanted to attend graduate school or take a gap year after graduating from Vanderbilt, I ultimately decided to go straight into graduate school. I made this decision because I got into an excellent program at a price I could afford. I also predicted that, for me, it would be easier to continue in a "student" mindset for a few more years rather than take a break from schooling and have to regain that momentum and headspace. For students who are unsure if graduate school is for them, the greatest piece of advice I have heard is "You can always apply to graduate school and decide not to attend. It is very difficult to attend graduate school if you did not apply." '18

I am applying for programs for the fall 2022 admissions cycle, so I will have taken off from school for about three years. Personally, I felt like this was an appropriate choice: I needed a break, and if I had not recognized that boundary for myself, then I think I would have fared worse in the long term. I had also always been one of the youngest in my grade level, and I thought I could use some more time to figure out myself before launching into another big commitment. In my experience, taking the time to plot your course and to steady yourself is almost always worthwhile. '19

I worked for about a year first because I wasn't sure if I really wanted to go to grad school. I eventually found a program that suited my needs and decided to just go for it. '20

I went straight into my program because I was certain I wanted to go to medical school. If there's something you really want to do in a gap year, go ahead and do it because this is the most free you'll ever be before things like school, work and family start to anchor you in one place. But if nothing else is calling you, don't be afraid to just start. Going straight through was nice because I was still in student-mode and a lot of review material came back quicker, but I also think my peers who took time off in the real world were more prepared for things like networking and knowing how to find research positions and mentors, so both options have their advantages. '21