How should newly admitted grad student prepare for grad school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on how newly admitted graduate students can prepare for graduate school, focusing on academic preparation, expectations, and personal experiences. Participants share insights on study topics, the transition from undergraduate to graduate studies, and practical advice for managing finances and expectations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests studying Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Mechanics independently to strengthen foundational knowledge before starting graduate school.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about what to expect in graduate school, including the nature of initial meetings and the transition from a different academic background.
  • A suggestion is made to consider obtaining a job or internship prior to starting graduate school to help manage finances and provide a clearer focus during studies.
  • A later post humorously notes the passage of time since the original post, implying that the original poster may now be deep into their graduate studies.
  • One participant playfully comments on the revival of the thread, indicating a lighthearted approach to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of uncertainties and expectations regarding graduate school, with no clear consensus on the best preparation methods or what to anticipate in terms of workload and academic challenges.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention varying backgrounds, such as transitioning from chemical engineering to physics, which may influence their expectations and preparation strategies. There is also a lack of specific details on the nature of graduate coursework and the transition process.

Who May Find This Useful

Newly admitted graduate students, individuals considering graduate school, and current graduate students reflecting on their experiences may find this discussion relevant.

mattlorig
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I graduated with a BS in physics last spring, and just finished the whole grad school application process. I now have from Dec. '04 - Sept. '05 to do what I want with my life, and I was thinking about how I should prepare myself to begin graduate school. I would particularly like to hear from current graduate students what the did (or more likely what they wish they had done) to prepare for graduate school Right now, I'm thinking of just studying EM, QM, and Statistical Mechanics on my own. I've only had one semester of each of these courses, and I think many undergraduate programs required two semesters of them.

Also, I'd like to know if graduate students were surprised by anything when they began graduate school...Really heavy course loads? Jump in difficulty from undergrad to grad courses? Any other advice would be welcomed.
 
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you are not the only one in this state of mind.I don't even have an idea of what to expect. Is the first meeting going to be with advisors.will there be any more interviews about our previous experiences or...whatever.My background is even in chemical engineering not that I'm coming from a pure Physics background. I'm in the dark here.Can anyone shed some light on this.Current/past grad students,kindly fill us in.keep us posted.Thnx.
 
See if you can get some kind of job or internship and make some money. Money will be tight in grad school, so it helps if you can save something up for a rainy day. Also, I've noticed that people who have held a real job or two have a better time focusing in grad school, as they seem to have a better idea of why they are there. I have a few friends who have never been exposed to the real world, and they are consistently the most confused and discouraged.
 
Assuming the original poster is still in grad school, he's probably in the middle of working on his dissertation right now. :wink:
 
Damn you, thread necromancy! Foiled again!
 

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