Masters/ PhD candidates out there, how's your life going on as a graduate student?

Do you feel your graduate study is a lonely journey?

Sometimes I kinda feel left out. While most of my friends are busy with their own working life, career, planning to buy properties and getting married, I'm still conducting research and writing my thesis and there's uncertainty I got to face after grad school. It can be overwhelming sometimes.

No need to attend classes is great and it gives me more flexibility.

It's awkward when I'm around with friends cos they tend to talk what's going on with their working life.

Sometimes I just can't help but to feel left out.

I'm not sure about the abundant opportunities ahead of us. Will there be a tenure track position or we might end up having a temporary/unstable job after grad school.

I have friends who pursue post grad as well but some of them left their study halfway. I guess they didn't have the real interested to further study at the 1st place. I also know some of post grad students but we never bring the friendship outside of the uni.

No doubt that making a contribution makes me feel good. But living in a society that measure success in terms of tangible stuff such as properties and monies, I can't help but to feel I don't really achieve anything so far as compared to my other friends. I know we can't compare but as a normal individual, sometimes we might do so. Though, I never regret going to grad school - it's an experience that not all people willing to take.

My field doesn't require me to wear a lab coat or working in a lab

Congratulations.

It demotivates me in some way but not to the point I will quit.

The strength to get through is from your own motivation and a little bit of support from others as well.

Just do it for the sake of "contribution to the society"

At least you got a lab to go.

full research that only need to go to the field to collect data

No. But related to org training and development

That's one of the reason for sure.

My field trip only lasted for several months only. That means the rest of the time spent doing it alone at home, library, etc

And I always try to avoid the questions like what I do currently and when i can grad. It's funny to see other's reaction when I said "I'm not sure when I can grad".

LOL. Similar situation here. Last time my niece took master by coursework a year later than me but grad earlier than me. Uncle and auntie ask me what took me so long to complete my studies. Now I'm so afraid of people asking me that question cos I lazy to explain. People who doesn't understand might think the only reason we grad later than the expected date is because we're a lazy bum.

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Added on April 7, 2012, 5:35 pmyou're taking coursework, research or mixed?

This post has been edited by seanwc101: Apr 7 2012, 10:18 PM

Just tell them you've got straight As.

Best of luck. You gotta modify the topic if you can't secure a grant.

That's true. Gd luck