Graduate Education vs. Undergraduate Education

You are here because you made the decision to pursue a graduate degree, to take a deep dive into a subject that you care deeply about and want to explore. It will be an exciting, challenging, at times frustrating, but ultimately rewarding journey. And, for 99.99% of you, it will be different from your undergraduate experience. Here are a few differences you might find between graduate and undergraduate education.

There is no fluff!

This will be both the challenging part and the rewarding part. Graduate education will likely be more intense than any academic experience you have had so far. Broad general education requirements and easy courses you can coast through are a thing of the past. Instead, you will focus on your field of study in depth. This doesn’t mean that your studies can’t or won’t be multidisciplinary. In fact, we hope that you are able to reach out to those in related, but different, areas to bring a diversity of perspectives to your scholarship.

 

You are What You Study (0:50 seconds)

 

Learning What you Want to Learn (0:31 seconds)

You are the driver!

As a graduate student, you are in charge of your education and therefore your experience at Penn State. You are expected to stay on top of requirements, policies, deadlines, assignments, etc. Use your time wisely and impose your own structure and deadlines. Be conscious of how long it takes to get your work done. Organize your calendar in advance and be open to changing your habits and routines to make the most of your time.

 

Breaking Your Goals into Pieces (0:31 seconds)

It’s time to go all in!

Expectations for graduate students are high not only in academics, but also in professionalism inside and outside the classroom, ethical behavior, and engagement with your discipline and the Penn State community. But always remember, you are here because we have full confidence that you can meet our expectations and succeed.

Share your ideas!

As a graduate student, faculty will expect you to function as an intellectual colleague. You will work closely with professors, and they will count on you to contribute your thoughts and ideas during classes, meetings, seminars, workshops, and/or lab times. Develop good communication habits. Take the time to ask your faculty members questions and be honest about your concerns.