After graduating from Lehigh with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and art in 2019, I decided to stay at Lehigh for another two years to pursue a master’s degree in elementary and special education as a full time graduate student. I thought my grad life would be a repetition of my undergrad days. I was wrong. Grad school took me by surprise in many ways.
1. You take fewer classes but get a lot more in-depth
During undergrad, I did not have to declare a major until the end of sophomore year, which gave me plenty of time to explore my interests. In my first two years of undergrad, I took classes in international relations, theater, environmental sciences, and many more areas of study. I even declared two minors and later decided to drop one. I was also an ambitious student who submitted an overload petition almost every semester so that I could get as much out of my time as possible. There was so much freedom in choosing classes and flexibility in declaring and dropping majors/minors.
Grad school, on the other hand, is a whole different story. I came to the College of Education already knowing my path. There are no more math or science requirements that undergrads dread about. Instead, there are methods, theory, and assessment classes that count toward my teacher certification. My 20-credit semester days are over--taking more than 3 3-credit classes is almost impossible in grad school. There is also no more fooling around and taking easy classes to boost your GPA! Grad classes are more in-depth, and projects are more time consuming. Overall, the academic environment is serious when you are a graduate student.
2. Grad school puts theory into practice
Unlike my undergrad years when my projects were mostly based on a theoretical concept, such as “light and shadow” and “one-point perspective,” my grad assignments are real-life implementations of what’s taught in class. As an elementary and special education major, I am placed at a local elementary school every semester to observe educational practices, design lessons, conduct interventions, and monitor progress. Over the past year, I have observed fourth-grade science classes, assessed third graders’ oral reading fluency, and taught pre-kindergarteners at a summer academy. The hands-on experience taught me to be flexible and prepared me for future employment. The grad experience feels more fulfilling, since I am putting theory into practice in a field that I am passionate about.
3. The whole “college experience” might not be a thing anymore
My undergrad journey can be summed up by the number of student organizations I was part of and the amount of time I spent attending events. The first few weeks of grad school quickly made me realize how overwhelmingly undergrad-oriented the “college experience” can be. When I participate in programs for grad students, I often see the same faces at every event. Most student organizations are run by undergrads; most events are held with undergrads in mind; most campus resources ensure that undergrads have a smooth transition between high school and the workforce. While undergrads are effortlessly presented with an abundance of opportunities to mingle amongst each other, grads need to go out of their comfort zones to interact with different people.
4. It can get lonely
The grad population is usually a lot more diverse than undergrad. Undergrads tend to be full-time students between the ages of 18 and 22, whereas grad students come from all backgrounds. In the College of Education, there are part-time students who are full-time employees somewhere, full-time students who have completed their bachelor’s degrees a long time ago and wanted to come back to school to further their studies, undergrads who are on the bachelor+master’s track, international scholars who came with their families, etc. Due to the diversity, it is more interesting hearing others’ journeys, but also harder to get in touch with them. In addition, the busy academic schedule traps many grads in their own circles. Grad school can definitely get lonely from time to time. Taking care of mental health is especially important for grad students.
5. You will have a brand new experience, even if you stay at the same school
Grad school opened my eyes to many new things. I learned new things, met new people, and formed new relationships--all while staying at Lehigh! Most importantly, grad school made my vision of the future clearer. If you are thinking about going to grad school, I will recommend that you talk to a couple of current students to get a picture of what it is like. From my own experience, I can tell you it’s 100% worth it!