Sometimes the word “Grad school” seems to perplex students. Grad school is the same as “Graduate School” for students who must have got an undergraduate degree and seek advancement on it.
On the contrary, could a graduate degree also mean a master’s degree, Ph.D. or an advanced degree you need after college?
In this article, I will give you detail information on what Grad school is, How to get into the school, and much more unique information about it.
What is Grad School?
Grad school is not a school per se; it is an advancement in the degree you got from College. On the other hand, it’s an advanced qualification in a specific area of study.
Although its different among schools and across various disciplines, the endpoint is to become more specialized and focused on the skill you already have.
For instance, if you got a bachelor’s degree in Computer science, the Grad school will help you to pick a specific field in computer science e.g Programming and specialize in that degree.
The fantastic benefit of this advanced degree is that it sets up apart from your peers and make you more professional in the skill you have to offer.
Read this: Capstone Project? Full details
How to Grad school Different from College?
Admission Requirement:
The admission requirement for college is not challenging. It requires a series of exams like the SAT and others, which you should pass as someone who went through High school.
Even the admission questions are not too challenging. On the other hand, the Grad school exam requires advanced skills in critical thinking and communication skills to get admitted into it.
Most times your grades do not talk during the admission process, but the recommendations and your professional way of interacting will gain you admission.
With a minimum GPA of 3.0, although most schools have a higher number, you still need to pass through various exams at each stage of studies to finally excel in grad school.
Style of Education:
While in college, you have little or no requirement of teamwork, in grad school, the majority of what you will be doing is with your team or partners.
Unlike in college, where you have about 6 or 7 courses to take per semester, the advanced school provides about three courses that require more time and attention than the entire time you spend on the college courses.
The program allows you to engage in other academic activities like seminars and conferences that will help you connect with like minds and learn more from.
Part of your assessment could come from the seminar coupled with thousands of pages that you need to read per semester.
Read on: Undergraduate vs Graduate? Big Difference
Campus Experience:
The experience in college is different from that of Grad school. Unlike in college where you will have more time for friends and enjoyment, grad school makes you see school as the number one priority, nothing more nothing less. On the other hand, just like there are leadership positions for college, there exist the ones for grad school.
The funny thing is that students in an advanced degree tend to be focused on their education with little attention to extracurricular activities.
Types of Graduate Degree:
There are three major types of degrees you find in advanced programs. These degrees includes:
- Master of Arts,
- Master of Science,
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Arts:
The Master of Arts short as MA program is a degree got from humanities and social science disciplines. The duration of the program varies depending on factors like the program studied in school and if the student has prior knowledge of the program.
Normally, the program lasts for 1-2 years for a full-time student while for some disciplines, it may take longer.
Master of Science:
The Master of science short as MS program is a degree got for scientific and quantitative disciplines. The duration of the program varies depending on factors like the program studied in school, and if the student has prior knowledge of the program.
Normally, this grad school program lasts for 1-2 years for a full-time student while for some disciplines, it may take longer.
Doctor of Philosophy:
Doctor of Philosophy short as a Ph.D. is the highest degree that a student can get in a specific field of study. Ph.D. accommodates a student for academic-related works in a specific field of study. It also creates a teaching proposition for universities and some colleges.
The unique thing about a Ph.D. is that you need a prerequisite knowledge (undergraduate degree) from the college you went to because what Ph.D. does, is to give you the highest qualification you need for that field that you studied in school.
PH.D is divide in three sections:
- preliminary coursework: This includes research and more of coursework.
- written exam
- oral exam
The duration of a Ph.D. is about three years and above depending on if you have a master’s degree. The duration also depends on how long it takes you to complete your coursework and if you have a master’s degree in that specified field.
Read on: What is EOP?
Major Benefits of Grad School:
To set yourself apart:
The grad school program sets you apart from the rest. For instance, if you go for a job that requires a minimum of a master’s degree and you’ve got only a college degree, you might not be deemed fit for that job.
Thus an advanced degree will make you different from the crowd as someone who went the extra mile to get full knowledge of the course that you studied.
To increase your Salary:
A degree in mathematics will get you an average salary to lecture in a university as a junior lecturer. But a master’s degree in mathematics, will set you apart and increase your salary by 25% coupled with upgrading your position as a lecturer.
On the other hand, a Ph.D. in mathematics will boost your salary by over 90% and gain you the role of the co-ordinator of mathematics in your school.
Respect and Recognition:
The Ph.D. as the most advanced degree in a given academic discipline will gain you respect and recognition as a bright and unique student in that field.
Each department seeks a Ph.D. student in their government because it brings about recognition and respect to the department as a whole.
Major Set-Backs of Grad School:
High Cost of Education:
Funding for a grad school degree is too expensive. That is why a few persons enroll in these programs. Even the few that engage in these programs seek scholarships or do an extra job to pay the tuition fees.
Lack of Jobs:
Getting a degree is not an easy process same as getting a job. The labor market is saturated with people that are unique in skills and are up and doing. So, if you want to be set apart in what you do, you need to be unique in theory and practice.
There is a saying that “Some people graduated into a job that never existed”, in a situation in which you are in this context, how will you cope?
Final tips:
Grad school exposes you to like minds and people who are just like you. In the advanced degree, you will meet people who are already doing well in their field, and get to learn and connect with them.
Although it’s not going to be easy, but its worth the time.
Awesome one, I hope this answered your question.
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