From Undergrad to Grad (Part 3)

This week we continue our fall series, asking current students who came to graduate school right after they finished their undergraduate experience about their advice for others who may be applying soon.  This week the question we asked was:

How has it felt to transition from undergrad to graduate school?

I felt like the transition was smooth, especially at Pitt. Because of Pitt’s confidence-building curriculum, the first year is primarily coursework and classes.

I was very much in my comfort zone, and a lot of my study skills from undergrad came in handy!

Having coursework made it feel similar to undergrad, but there is much more to balance and the courses are more challenging.

While it is challenging, there are many people available to help guide and support you during this period of transition.

For me, the transition was really smooth. Having just graduated from Pitt for undergrad, I was very familiar with the campus and Pitt in general, so that was one less thing to adjust to when starting classes in the fall.

I knew what worked best for me in regards to taking notes and studying, which definitely was helpful!

The classes are challenging and require more independent learning than I was used to previously, but having that fresh out of school crutch helped facilitate that transition.

Fall Blog Series:

From Undergrad to Grad:

This fall we’re asking some of our second-year students about their experience going to graduate school right after completing their undergraduate degrees. We hope their answers will be helpful for anyone taking the journey towards graduate school.

This week we asked:

Any advice for people who want to apply while they are in school?

I recommend taking a step back and asking yourself if you have enough “real-world” experience that you feel prepared for graduate school and beyond. When I did this, I personally felt like I wanted the opportunity to work full-time in a position that provided me with experience and skills related to genetic counseling before starting graduate school. I made the decision to graduate from undergrad a semester early so I could have that opportunity.

I recommend working on your personal statement over the summer, as well as taking the GRE exam.  Having a draft of your personal statement and just adding revisions in the fall can really save a lot of time. 

If you can, I would also look ahead at what classes you will be taking in the fall and spring of your senior year, and make sure it is manageable to get everything done and attend interviews. Ask well in advance for letters of recommendation and provide deadlines to the individuals who will write the letters. 

Overall, my biggest piece of advice is to get a really great planner and write everything down and set goals and deadlines for yourself!

Start early! There are many letters to write, paperwork to assemble, and tests to take and preparing to apply takes more time than you may think. Also, finding multiple knowledgeable people who can review your application materials is definitely a plus! 

Many schools have professional workshops available through their career services departments that could be very useful!