Thankful for Grad School: Top 5 Great Things About Being A Grad Student

By Victoria Robertson on November 25, 2015

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Grad school is no breeze; it’s hard work, makes your undergraduate years look like a complete joke and you’re pretty sure you no longer have a life because of it. But grad school isn’t all bad either.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving and the happy, giving mood of the holidays, here are the top five great things about being a graduate student.

1. New friends, new experiences, new everything!

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Beginning all over again can be scary, but at the same time, it’s an absolute gift. Everyone likes having their slate wiped clean, beginning in a new environment with new drive, new goals and a something new to prove (either to yourself or to others).

There’s no better place for any of that than grad school. You can be your own person, do what you want to do and ultimately learn what you want to learn. Grad school is what you make of it, and for those of you that are driven and passionate about your career choice, these new experiences are going to make you a better, and smarter, person.

2. It’s getting you closer to your chosen career path.

Photo Via: http://www.syr.edu

You’re finally taking the classes that you’re going to need! Every class you take from here on out is in some way, shape or form helping you along to your desired career path. You’re no longer taking classes just to fill your schedule; every class you take matters, and though they’re difficult, they’re going to be well worth your effort.

By this point, you’ve learned all the basics, the abstracts and developed a nice base, but now, you’re going beyond that, becoming more skilled and intelligent in your field, and you can feel it happening. In most cases, this is reaffirming your career decisions and that in and of itself is something to be extremely thankful for.

3. You’re continually learning.

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And not just in the classroom either. You’re learning the ins and outs of what it’s like to be a professional. You’re learning how to conduct yourself in the workplace, what you should be looking forward to, what you need to work on, what you’re capable of and what you aren’t.

You know what it feels like to spread yourself too thin and how to juggle a busy schedule. You know what it takes to pass your classes, and you’re doing it. In many ways, you’ve become far more adult in your attitude, as well as in your demeanor. Grad school isn’t some free ride; it’s costing you a lot and you’re going to utilize every ounce of time you have to make sure you’re making the most of it.

4. You’re networking.

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New friends also means new potential networks, especially since most of the friends you make in grad school are going to be advancing in the same career you have chosen. Now, some people might take a competitive edge, but others are going to help you move forward, introducing you to their connections and you’ll do the same for them.

Everyone is looking for success in grad school, and a lot of the time you’re going to find that in each other. Even if you find yourself in competition with another student, you can just use this to make yourself better – to push yourself to get higher grades, or to apply to jobs that you hadn’t thought of before. Competition can even be good, and the more friends you’re making, the more your network in your field is growing, which will be a huge asset in the future.

5. You’re already ahead of the game.

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Not everyone continues on to grad school. For many, this isn’t a financial capability, but for others, it’s just too much work, especially coming out of a four year degree program. But you pushed past that; you knew it was going to be difficult and you perservered anyway. Whether you took a year off, have begun a career and are now continuing your education or if you decided to go straight into grad school from your undergraduate career, you did it. And that’s something to be proud of.

You’re already ahead of the game, and you’re making yourself that much more desirable to employers. Whether you’re in a masters or doctorate program, or you aren’t quite sure what you’re doing yet, you’ve already made a step that many others still haven’t made, which puts you ahead of other candidates in many respects. And that right there is something to be proud of!

Grad school may not be a walk in the park, but you’re loving every second of it anyway!

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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