Pros of Day-to-Day Life as a Grad Student

See also: Cons of Day-to-Day Life as a Grad Student

Grad school is hard but can also be an incredibly freeing experience. With lots of upsides, there is certainly a reason many people choose to go. Your day to day life is very important and should not be taken lightly. Don’t be the person who goes through life always saying “Well, I’ll be happier after I...”, because it is far too easy to go through life looking towards the future and hating the present. Grad school presents a great opportunity for your to shape your own present and your own future. So, know what you want and then design your grad school experience around that. Your day-to-day experiences will constitute much of what makes you happy, so put some thought into what you want!

1. Freedom to make your own schedule and deadlines

Many folks in a normal 9-5 job can’t stand the monotony of living on someone else’s schedule. In grad school, you get the chance to be self-motivating. Although you will certainly have deadlines, they are often much more fluid and under your control. Unless you have a micromanaging PI, there probably won’t be a boss checking on you frequently. You can come and go as you please, work from home, work remotely (more travel opportunities). Some people do their best work late at night, others operate best on a strict 9-5 schedule. Some people like to work on weekends. In grad school, much of your work is incredibly independent and you get the opportunity to figure out what works best for you. 

That being said, there will still be deadlines. In most programs or labs there is kind of an unspoken rule that you are there 9-5 in case someone needs you for something. However, if you are not there, it is not really a problem. It is important to figure out what the expectations are that you work well under, and seek those out in a grad program that works best for you.

Reason this could be a con for some: Graduate school requires a good bit of self-discipline to be able to be productive for long periods of time with no one checking in on you. This is a skill that you can and will learn, but it is easier for some than for others. If you are someone who needs constant supervision, be sure to note that when looking for labs and programs to apply to. 

2. Highly independent work

Fitting right in with the freedom to make your own schedule, the work that you are doing is your work. You will refer to it as “My Research” and you will have complete ownership over it. This can be extremely rewarding. In the “real world” in a “real job” you are responsible for your day to day work, but someone else has ownership over it. You don’t get to see the fruits of your labor as directly as in grad school. That being said, it is hard work; but, it is a great privilege to be able to work independently. 

Reason this could be a con for some: It can be quite stressful to be always in charge of your own work. Sometimes it is nice to not have to have ownership over every detail of our work. This is something appealing about a more “normal job:” the ability to leave work at work

3. University Resources

Being a student does have some perks. As a grad student you will continue to have access to all of the resources that an established university offers. You’ll have access to the library system where you can access equipment rentals, primary literature, personal reading, and study rooms all for free. Universities often offer free or discounted gym memberships with access to excellent workout equipment, sporting areas (courts, pools, fields, rock walls, etc), and a carefree intramural sports system. You’ll have access to clubs just as you did in undergrad where you can associated with like-minded people. You’ll get the opportunity to go to lots of interesting seminars and talks outside of your field. Universities often offer independent transportation services like buses and discounted metro cards. On campus health resources for physical and mental health are often completely free for students! There are tons of perks to being involved with a university, and you’ll have access to all of these as a grad student.

Reason this could be a con for some: Sometimes being involved with a university can feel like a micro-universe. It is easy to get sucked in and feel trapped even though there is a whole wide world out there. Universities are safe and secure, and not everyone likes that feeling. Consider getting involved outside of your university to keep yourself grounded!

4. Continue to Learn

I consider it a great privilege to be able to continue to learn. It is part of what makes us human, and the pursuit of knowledge is admirable. Graduate students spend every day learning new things and bettering themselves, their communities, and the world. You will continue to learn new skills and develop skills you already had. This is something a conventional job often fails to offer. Companies hire you for the skillset you already have. They hire you to do a specific job. And, after a few months or years or decades of doing that same job, it can get very monotonous and boring. Graduate school offers an alternative to that lifestyle, or at least a way to delay it.

Reason this could be a con for some: I didn’t say that learning was easy. You might be the kind of person who wants to go about their routine, make their paycheck, and live their life outside of work, and that is okay too. Know yourself and what you want.  

5. Continue to be challenged

Not only will you continue to learn new things, but you will be constantly challenged. You will be challenged to think in new ways, develop skills you didn’t know existed, and challenge preexisting ideas with your cutting edge research! Your work will be dynamic, not monotonous. You will often do different things, or sometimes many things at the same time! Research often works in waves where you will do one task for a few weeks or months, and then move on to a totally new task full of new challenges. This dynamic lifestyle is something that many people dream of but rarely achieve. In graduate school you will be challenged, and again, it won’t be easy, but you will grow from it. 

Reason this could be a con for some: Similar to number 4, some people don’t want this from their job. If you see your career as merely a means to an end, grad school may not be the best option for you. 

6. Travel!

When I was growing up and even into college, I would constantly hear people say “I don’t know what I want to do, but if I could get paid to travel the world that would be good enough for me.” Well, part of being an academic is meeting other people in your field, traveling to conferences and presenting at meetings. Because many academic fields are highly specialized, there may only be a few people doing similar work- and they may very well be scattered around the world! There is a lot of funding available to help graduate students travel to meet people in their field and present their work both domestically and abroad. On top of that, many graduate students may have a large field component to their work where you will travel to distant and remote locations to collect your data. It is pretty hard to find a real-world job with those kinds of perks!

Reason this could be a con for some: If you have or want to have a family, it can prove difficult to travel often for your research. However, there are resources available to help make this easier if you do not like to or are not able to travel. And, living in an ever-more technologically connected world, you can often opt for video conferencing if you need to!

7. Networking opportunities

Not a lot of people wake up every morning and say “Today, I am going to expand my professional network!” But, nonetheless, networking is an important part of building your career. The age old saying “it’s not what you know but who you know” remains more true today than ever. Building a network of smart hardworking people who can help you down the line is almost built into the grad school process. You will get to know the people in your lab and department very well, both professors and fellow graduate students. On top of that, you will attend conferences where you will share research and meet people from all over the world. Your lab most likely collaborates with labs globally, and you will expand your network. In addition, academics love helping other academics, and your network will not only consist of who you know, but who they all know as well. 

Reason this could be a con for some: If you want to live a solitary existence in the woods with minimal human contact. Otherwise, networking nearly always works in your favor!

8. Everyone likes helping students

“Do you have a student discount?” The benefits of student status resonates even outside of academia. Many industry professionals were once students too. They can relate to your hardships and are often happy to help you! Especially when you can reciprocate with some free labor. Internships both paid and unpaid are much easier to come by as a student, especially as a grad student. Being in grad school means that you had the skillset enough to get into grad school, which already can set you apart in a pool of applicants for a competitive fellowship, internship, or other programs. While you are still in school, even grad school, the societal bar is set much lower for your individual success. It is okay to fail while you are in grad school. It is okay to not be making a lot of money. Because you are still learning and growing. People outside of academia are often happy to help support you in this endeavor.

Reason this could be a con for some: It is certainly a nice feeling to be independent and unreliant in the working world. Especially if you have been out of school for some time, it can be difficult to transition back to student life. 

9. Surrounded by smart people pushing you to be your best

If you want to get better at something, surround yourself with people who are better than you. Going along with #5, being challenged, in graduate school you will be surrounded by people who are more skillful, smarter, better published, more well known, and more experienced than you. Not only will you be surrounded by people who are well versed in your field, but these people will have unique life experiences, hobbies, interests, and contacts to expose you to. This diverse group of individuals with a shared passion for your field is why academia succeeds at pushing the bounds of human knowledge. 

Reason this could be a con for some: Being surrounded by smart people who are well versed in your field is the perfect recipe for Imposter Syndrome. This can be very stressful as you work to catch up to your peers. Don’t worry though! You deserve to be there just as much as anyone else. We even have an article about it: Imposter Syndrome and Why You Really Do Belong.

10. Access to experts in your field

Most of us took this for granted as undergrads. We were surrounded by hundreds of experts in just as many different disciplines, and all we did was drink cheap beer and do a crappy undergraduate research thesis. You won’t make that mistake again in graduate school, as many graduate programs are designed to expose you to the experts in your field. Most programs have seminar classes which will make you push the boundaries of your interests and expose your to a variety of professors. In addition, you’ll be able to collaborate with these people during the course of your research. And, you’ll have access to not only their knowledge and expertise, but also their contacts! F*ck yeah, job prospects.

Reason this could be a con for some: Well, it can be intimidating to go talk to a professor who you’ve never talked to before. Especially if you know that person in relatively famous and accomplished in your field. You’ll want to prove that you are worthy. But don’t worry- they are there to help you succeed and grow!

11. Take classes that you want to take, not that are required by your major

Most graduate programs will have some required courses; maybe a seminar series or a scientific writing class. However, the bulk of your “required credits” will be of your choosing. You can take classes that are most relevant to your interests and your research. This is a major difference between undergrad and graduate school! You can also take classes in other colleges or departments at the university if they are more relevant to your research than what your department offers! This will give you even more exposure to experts doing things that relate to your research. 

Reason this could be a con for some: Some people like the structure of a set required course list. Finding classes to take is not always easy. If this is you, maybe consider a more course-based masters program.

12. Take classes outside your field!

This goes right along with #3, University Resources, you have access to thousands of courses offered by your university. Sure, you may have to prove to your advisor that it is relevant to your research in some way and isn’t a total waste of time. However, most professors are completely fine with letting you take irrelevant courses, as they make you a more happy and well-rounded student! So, don’t be afraid to sign up for that improv class you always wanted to take as an undergrad but never had the time to. Or, perhaps anthropology has always interested you: go sit in on a 100 level intro class! Learn a new language. Learn how to code in the computer science department. Take a philosophy course. Take classes in that law school or business school to gain some marketable skills. Explore your other interests! Learn how to woodwork! There are endless opportunities for expanding your knowledge and skills. Odds are if you are considering grad school, you love to learn- so take advantage of the opportunities provided by your university.

Reason this could be a con for some: If you hate learning and experiencing new things, well good news: you don’t have to take courses if you don’t want to :)

13. A built-in support network of other graduate students

Grad school is hard. Life is hard. Especially when you are young and in a new place. Making friends was much easier in undergrad. You’ve likely had a built in-support system for most of your life in one way or another. But, that becomes much more rare in the adult world. In grad school, you are lucky to be surrounded by other grad students who are going through the same difficulties and struggles that you are. These are smart people who were likely also uprooted to come to grad school, and will be looking for friends too. They will be there to grab a drink after work when you’ve had a hard day. This is extremely important. 

Reason this could be a con for some: Well, if you’re a relatively solitary person, it can be difficult as you’ll be expected to go to social events with your peers. But, when you don’t go- they will understand! People need different kinds of support systems, and that is okay.

14. Live in cool places you wouldn’t otherwise live

This one hits home for me, as I am an avid scuba diver and did my undergraduate studies in south Florida… I never would have imagined living in the pacific northwest. But, now that I’m here, I love it! There are so many opportunities for new adventures and hobbies I never would have pictured myself doing. You’ll likely be working very hard in graduate school, but when you do have free time- it can be an amazing opportunity to explore a part of the world you wouldn’t have gone to otherwise! Take advantage of this time to try new things: discover amazing food places, get into new hobbies, and see life through a different lense.

Reason this could be a con for some: Uprooting your whole life to move to a new place can be challenging, especially if you have a family to bring with you, or you have lived near your extended family for most of your life.  

15. Good (at least decent) healthcare coverage

Most universities offer their graduate students full healthcare coverage packages. This is not the case among all entry-level jobs. And, while I hope you are healthy and stay that way- that isn’t the reality for many people. Healthcare can be extremely expensive and risky if you don’t have coverage, and the security provided by your university’s healthcare plan will make life for you and your dependents a little less stressful. 

Reason this could be a con for some: If you already have healthcare coverage through your parents or a spouse… well, you can either go with the cheaper or better option, or retain both! Not really a con at all.

In conclusion, as with most things on this site, everything is extremely variable. Some students are constantly stressed and on-edge for years while they are in graduate school, while others live pretty wholistic, happy, and laid back lives. Most people are somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, and a lot will depend on the culture of your program, lab, and advisor. Everyone is a little different and it is very important that you find out what the expectations are of your potential program or advisor before deciding. However, these are just some general pros and cons that we can discuss, but it is important to use these as a guideline and not as any kind of absolute truth. Use these articles to guide the kinds of questions you ask and things you look for in your potential graduate program. However, the point of these articles is to see if grad school is the right option for you! The way you structure your life and the way you search for potential graduate school programs are very unique to your needs and priorities!