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Hmm... I know sleeveboy is in law school, I know burgundy recently finished up his law school studies, but is anyone else thinking about it? Especially since there's a lot of college students here.
I want to go to grad school to get my PhD in mathematics, did anyone get it in a field like that... you know, not law/med/business/etc. Anything?
Discuss the FUTURE!
Sleeve just graduated as well.
What I do know is that with the economy in recession, now is a good time to continue your education. Although, since I'm not the only one to come to such a radical conclusion, admission is also tougher now.
Yea, I understand. However I do have a few things working for me.
01. I am not graduating for another year and a half. So who knows what can happen.
02. I have not taken the vast majority of my major classes. This is good, because now I know all this and can work extra hard to really get good grades on them, which would really help me out later on.
03. I plan on going to Japan for JET Program. It really can't hurt, I suppose it helps my application (but does it? is grad school applications particular about the "total person" like undergrad?). Even the guys looking at my app doesnt give a fuck about the fact I went to Japan, it still means that I wont enter grad school for probably about three years. Once again, who knows what can happen.
On the minus side, well I have no money, so I dont think I can take Kaplan GRE Test Prep or anything. Unless its vital (did you take anything for your LSATs? Is it), I would probably just study on my own.
I've heard that the GRE isn't that tough.
Anyway, I have quite possibly the worst ratio of work ethic to educational achievement of anyone on earth, and through a month of hitting the books, I raised my LSAT scored from average to 99th percentile on my own. Rent or buy practice test books and attend whatever freebie test course seminars you can find, and you can learn all of Kaplan's techniques for next to nothing. Unless you're a bad test-taker by nature, I wouldn't worry.
I'm doing the ultra-slow track on my Masters in East Asian Studies (I've still got bills to pay and a stomach to feed). Yeah, doing JET can't hurt, since the point of a university is to give you a universal education. Well-rounded is good, especially in a reasonably academic area.
I don't know exactly how the process works down there, but up here entry requirements are heavily weighted towards GPA and, more importantly, letters of recommendation. Seriously, find the highest ranked profs you can in your department and start buying them drinks and sounding really fascinated by math. Ask lots of questions in class so you stand out. And do extra curricular stuff while you're in school - they like to see that you add to the school culture.
Anyway, good luck on eventually getting in, just be prepared for a shitload of work, and then some.
I dont think grad school is an option for me, hell I need to finish my four year degree first heh. After that I don't think I'm going to head back to a classroom anytime soon unless say a company or something pays for all of it. I dont really like the idea of spending my twenties in a classroom anyway, I've got one life and alot of places to see and things to experience. I can only take so much more of daily monotony anyway.
WHile I can see the benefits of it, at this point I just want to finish up my last 2 years and get it over with. More power to those of you that are doing/thinking about it.
I'm probably going to shoot for my MBA in Marketing as soon as I line up a reliable job to help pay for it. Most jobs I've looked at prefer it, so I pretty much have no choice but to get one.
I spent the last year doing an MSc in Environmental Geography researching the effect of climate change on forest health using remote sensing and satelite imagery.
I think Grad school is an excellent experience ... very dynamic. You meet a lot of interesting, passionate people ... students and profs. I had the opportunity to be a TA for several classes and also teach a few large classes as well. I learned a lot in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, I decided to not go back next year due to unforseen circumstances. I was doing a 2 and a half hour commute once or twice a week from Montréal to Ottawa. Possible but not recommended.
Right on StriderKyo ... lots of good advice there! Hanging out with / getting teachers drunk is a good plan. It's important to get to know teachers on a personal level. Getting involved in departmental activities is also important, I think. You could me a math genius but if no one knows who you are, it's hard to get recommendation letters (v. important). Before I decided to go to grad school I met with some of my professors to just discuss grad school and get advice from them ... this made it easier to go back to them and ask for letters of recommendation. I found this really helpful. Also, sending e.mails and arranging meetings with possible supervisors well before application deadlines is also a good idea. Make sure you get a good supervisor because that can break or make you grad school experience.
One last piece of advice, make sure you're very confident in your decision of what to study / where to go. It's a big committment. that was the mistake I made. I would like to go back and continue grad school (hopefully at some point finish my masters and get a phd) but I will make sure next time not to get myself involved in such a big complicated mess. :p
From the perspective of someone who has complete disdain for the normal univeristy experience:
If you aren't having any luck with the bigger programs at your local College University -- the graduate program requirements are too rigid, you can't get in without 52 recommendation letters, your breeding stock isn't very good, etc. -- consider alternative programs.
For instance, Texas A&M offers a very successful distance MBA program. Schools like the Univeristy of Phoenix (which really isn't limited to Phoenix now, they're all over the place) may offer programs as well.
Sure, they aren't going to be the most prestigeous programs out there, but getting an education should be about getting an education, not sucking up to the profs.