Dear Graduate Students of the world,

 

It Get’s Better.

 

I hope you forgive me for stealing a phrase, but I feel like it fits pretty well here.  As a recovering graduate student I feel like I have a few words to impart whether they’re worth their merit.  Forgive me, an advanced degree gives me an inflated ego.  Truly, life will be different now, you will continually ask the question when someone tells you a fact, that you want to see the facts or research on that.  Often you will dismiss it if unless it’s a primary source.

.

It’s likely going to be difficult to transition back to normal life outside of academia.  You might even find yourself working in academia because it just feel more comfortable.  I know I did.  It’s like a half-way house for us recovering graduate students.  Some will find their way out, but recidivism rates are higher than ever and most people find their way back one way or another. It will be difficult, but understand one thing:

.

It gets better.

.

In the real world there isn’t professors to please, or late night papers to finish.  There’s just you, your life and your job (hopefully, this job market is just horrendous).  Citations aren’t commonplace and your future supervisors likely won’t expect you to grade any papers.  I’m not quite the perfect example, but I think that life has gotten better.  I now don’t have to ward off questions about a thesis or ask people how the outside world feels.

.

People talk fondly about their time in college, grad students talk fondly about what they’re going to do once grad school is over.  Don’t fret, don’t worry friends, colleagues and future professionals…

.

It gets better.

 

However, if it doesn’t get better there’s always a PhD or another degree.

 

-A Recovering Grad Student