Hello peeps and creeps, bros and hoes. As I slave away at my summer internship while boppin around DC experiencing my hot girl summer with my city boy, I realized I have been receiving about fittylevenmillion questions on my Grad School journey. I figured I haven't written in a while, so why not give my totally unbiased, completely professional opinion on di journey of the Grad School process. Here it go:
The why/why not: Okay so the first thing many people say to me when they realize I am in Grad School is that they are considering going back to school as well. I generally follow up with something along the likes of “well what program?” and I am generally given a similar answer which is “girl I do not know, I am just tired of the real world and need something new.” Now do not get me wrong I feel you sis but I do have a few tips on if someone should actually make this choice, because it is not to be taken lightly.
- If you can get reimbursed by your company, then GO. A lot of my friends have cool fancy jobs that have wonderful benefits. One of the great benefits companies have been offering recently is tuition reimbursement. This is an EXCELLENT benefit because as the description states... you will get your tuition reimbursed. Which means SCHOOL IS FREE BIH. If I could get my school paid off for free you would catch me in a cement sculpture program if I could, imma do whatever just to say I did it because why the hell not? But in reality, especially if you think you might be leaving that company in a few years, DO IT. Do it do it do it because then when you leave company A, you can go to company B like I now have this extra degree and therefore you better pay my ass an extra 20,000 a year simply for the finesse alone. Please and Thank you.
- If you can get a raise from your career that you will be in long term DO IT. I am focusing this one more on the MBA potentials, the Masters of Education bad bishes, and the Public Health field. If you are working in corporate, especially Finance, HR, or accounting, OR you are a teacher trying to move up to that Principal job, OR a 9-5 worker in the health sector trying to own a hospital one day? The investment is worth it. Even if you do not have a full scholarship these types of career bumps tend to be much easier with more education and sometimes more education is necessary to move on up. If you know where you are going with your career already and know exactly how school will help that upward mobility I say go for it sis.
- DO IT if you will get tuition covered in full. This point is more for my Doctorate babies. Most people who start to get PhDs do not finish the programs, and that road is long, hard, and musty. You should for sure KNOW without a doubt you want to go on that journey if you decide on it. BUT this is where the being financed comes in. If for any reason you decide to quit you are already covered. If you pay in full or even party and then dip, you have debt and no degree. Not worth it. Try to wait to commit to a PhD program until you know you want to go and have the school sending you that monthly check like a sugar daddy. If not you might be crying to Auntie Sally Mae forever.
- DO NOT do it if you are bored and want something new. My program is fun as hell and I will get more into that later, but it is exhausting, draining, and I have mental breakdowns thrice a week that I cancel out with alcohol intake and fried foods. Please please please do research on what makes sense for your field of interest before you waste your money, time, and sanity. There are a lot of Masters and Phd completers who are broke and sad y'all, the title and general praise is not worf alla dat.
The How: So you said eff this bih I am going with or without her support and decided to stress yourself out anyway, well this is how you do it:
- First, decide on your schools and programs. So you know you want to go and have a general idea of the degree, the first step is already done! But WHERE should you apply? You need to see exactly what you want/need out of a program. For example for certain programs like MBA/Law school ranking is really important. But for others like Med School, since you are going to be there so long and work so hard regardless, it might be best to focus on the experience students have said they have had there or if the programs are pass/fail. For my journey I knew I wanted an MBA program without a Calculus requirement, one that accepted the GRE (cuz the GMAT would just not work for me), had an international component, small cohort sizes, a non competitive student environment, and...was in a state I could see myself in. That is how I ended up at Tulane. On the opposite end some of my friends work for big companies that are very well known and need a Wharton or Harvard Business School MBA to even be taken seriously. So this is why you must do your research. Know what program will give you the best experience for you.
- Take the pre-program test. For most programs you will at the minimum need a GRE score or GMAT score. Others like Law and Med school have a specialized pre-application test. For some other programs if your GPA was high in undergrad or you took certain classes you can get the pre-test waived which is a good look. So again, make sure you know exactly what to expect before you waste your time and money. The tests are expensive and if you are anything like me you will have to take them a few times before you have the score you desire so make sure your money is saved and ready to be spent. Especially if you consider taking classes to prepare you for those exams.
- Visit the schools/stalk the internet to learn everything you can. Me and my sister are both professional stalkers so in looking into our programs (MBA and Med School) we both found and talked too or read stories from as many people as possible who did those programs. I refused to go somewhere that the students did not look happy and well fed. Also as a black, it was important to me that I knew how the other POC students felt there. I still am only one of three black people in my program, but I am having the time of my life. However, I have many friends outside of my program to vent too when my classmates rap a little too happily to Niggas in Paris. So as a POC we have to take an extra couple of precautions to make sure we are making the right decision.
The What: The What is here as a reminder to again DO YOUR RESEARCH. Every schools’ version of a program is different even in the same field. I have a few med school and dental school friends who literally are planning their transitions to being full time strippers while their counterparts at other schools are living their best DOCKTAH lives. Do not just go anywhere you get in, make sure the program is what you want. It seems like MBA, Med school, MPH, MHA, Masters of Education, Law School, etc, tend to be the most popular programs the people in my circle are getting into and those without technical trades (like those who are considering teaching at a University level) are going the PhD route. I am happy to say most of these people tend to survive and finish. However, if you are someone interested in an MFA for example (Masters of Fine Arts) or you are going the artsy route for theatre or into a program for Directing and Production etc, you might end up leaving at some point for your big break if it comes. I say this just to say its okay to start something and realize another opportunity is better or its not right for you. Especially if you have a scholarship and will not loose money. At my school, all the law students who realize being a lawyer is not very fun end up doing a double masters and end up getting their MBA as well so they have options post-grad. This is popular with Med Students as well who are considering their own practice. So if this is something you are interested in, make sure your prospective schools offer dual programs.
The Who : You...duh! So now you made it to grad school and you are nervous af, have imposters syndrome, and your new cohort of people (who do not look like you) keep commenting on your long acrylic nails (which you actually shortened for grad school but still make you stand out) and you feel like you will never succeed, or make friends, or survive in this city filled roaches and raunchiness.
...Okay maybe that is just me but you CAN DO IT. A year into grad school and I am at peace with my decision. I have amazing friends, my grades are great (after really struggling first semester and crying to my professors like every week) and my nails are still fly and the center of attention in class when I tap tap away at my keyboard. Here are some simple tips to get you through it:
- Make friends with, become family with, and do as much as possible with your cohort. Let me tell you all something. I truly might not have made it through this year without my crazy ass classmates. I struggle so much with asking for help, but they gave it to me with open arms when they sensed I needed it and expected nothing in return. When I said I should drop out they literally threatened to kidnap me from whatever city I ran off to and tape me to the classroom chairs. My finance friends patiently walked my slow ass through math problems I had avoided for years, and my law friends uplifted me when I killed my presentations (y'all know I can talk my ass off). They forced me out of the house when all I wanted to do was take a depression nap. And we literally survived several road trips and an international 3 week trip to Europe called “Apocalypse: Norovirus edition” together. My cohort is so close we spend damn near every waking moment together and have seen each other at our worst and best. I am so looking forward to reuniting with them at the end of the summer! I knew I needed a program with a small cohort for this reason and it was the best decision for me. If you have a small intimate cohort, trust me, make friends. Plus, you never know what those connections can lead too!
- Have hobbies and friends outside of your program. Grad-Schooling can be exhausting. You need an outlet to take your mind off of it at times. My law school friends and my MBA crowd tend to resort to partying our heads off on the weekends, however, I would encourage a wholesome hobby. I like to attend the movies by myself when I need a change of scenery and my sister decided to pick up an instrument to learn something outside of disease from time to time. I have several friends in different Grad programs who I can just hang with when I need a break from my classmates whom I love but who also drive me insane (I also hang out with a bunch of high energy boys which does not help my sanity at all). Also if you can GET A PUPPY. My close friend in my program is going to in a month or so and I CAYNOT WAIT TO BE AN AUNTIEEEE. Puppy cuddles fix all problems!
Anyway that is it for now… since most of my readers know me, feel free to hit me up if you have any personal questions. I kept this pretty PG for the old heads but things can get crazy. And leave a comment if you desire!
Good luck leveling up my Children!