Grad Students Mixing with Undergraduates

juillet
Thu, 20 Mar 2014 06:15:19 +0000

1) Not much, to be honest. I think this is pretty universal - the amount of “not much” will vary by field but socially speaking, graduate students have different priorities and developmental stages than undergrads and don’t chill together much socially. This is not a bad thing.

2) The two are not mutually exclusive. Most universities have a variety of clubs, campus events, and social organizations for grad students. Not only that, but your chosen city will probably have social and professional orgs for young professionals, which now includes you. (This is also true of working adults, FYI.) How active they are will depend on the university and the students within, but they will be there.

3) Of course. Many grad students are married, some have children, many date throughout grad school and virtually all have friends. Honestly, many people make out graduate school to be this time-sucking awfulness, but even with mediocre time management skills the average grad student will probably spend 50-65 hours per week on schoolwork/grad school stuff. There are lots of other careers in which young professionals spend 50-65 hours a week on work stuff, and in some careers (like physicians, consultants, high-powered lawyers) you can spend even more. So grad students are not unique in being busy, and if a medical intern or Skadden, Arps lawyer can have a wife and a cat, so can you.

If you want a pet, get one. You’re going to grad school, not joining a monastery ;)