/r/GradSchool

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Discussion forum for current, past, and future students of any discipline completing post-graduate studies - taught or research.

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  • Welcome to /r/GradSchool!

    Discussion forum for current, past, and future students of any discipline completing post-graduate studies - taught or research.

    Rules

    • 1. No NSFW content.
    • 2. No reposts.
    • 3. No memes or pictures of text.
    • 4. Posts, comments, and replies must foster reasonable discussion.
    • 5. No editorialized link titles.
    • 6. No political posts.
    • 7. No belittlement of other users for any reason. (Eg: political opinions, race, sex, academic affiliation, etc.)
    • 8. No irrelevant surveys or advertising.
    • 9. Follow Reddiquette: http://www.reddit.com/wiki/reddiquette

    Read These Before Posting

    Educational Status Flairs

    Users may add their own flair to indicate their educational status, e.g. PhD*, Philosophy.

    The format should take the general form of Degree, Specialisation. An asterisk (*) after the degree denotes active candidacy or study.

    Users who do not follow the general form may have their flair privileges removed.

    Other Resources

    /r/GradSchool

    875,595 Subscribers

    1

    Need an article from Oxford Academic!

    I need an article from Oxford Academic but my institution doesnt have access. Can anyone get this article for me with their access?

    Forgiveness and the Ego: Why Hypo-egoic States Foster Forgiveness and Prosocial Responses

    https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199328079.013.17

    0 Comments
    2025/02/02
    03:11 UTC

    1

    Masters and phd Funding/Tuition Questions!

    Hello!

    I have been trying to understand the funding aspect and my standing in graduate admission into either a masters or phd since I am an international student studying domestically.

    1. I have seen on here and online that if you are qualified, and receive a fellowship, generally a university will be more likely to accept you because now you have your own funding for research. This only applies at the Phd level because certain/most masters programs are considered 'cash cows' for the university. Is this how it truly is, and does receiving a scholarship beforehand work just as well as a fellowship if you want to pursue a masters (as in it would certainly help you)?
    2. Will being in a Masters programs that is highly ranked in my field look better if I to move apply to a phd? (I am asking this because a lot of students do NIH post-baccs/enter industry/just immediately apply to phd programs, instead of doing a masters).
    3. As an international student studying domestically, am I considered the same as US students or as international students when applying?

    If anyone could clarify these for me, I would be extremely grateful! Thank you so much in advance!

    1 Comment
    2025/02/02
    02:29 UTC

    0

    Grad school Professor

    I have a question, I’m in my first quarter of Grad school, are all Grad school Professors assholes and rude and he’ll!!?

    5 Comments
    2025/02/02
    01:30 UTC

    3

    What are your biggest pain points you encountered while studying engineering (or other subjects)? Finishing an assignment to help people study complex subjects better.

    Hi all! So I have a project from my software design class that asks me to build something that has 50 daily active users. I want to actually build something useful instead of having my friends pose as active users. So I'm here to understand what are the pain points you encounter while studying (so maybe i can figure out a personalized solution and help you!). Thank you in advance for telling me!!

    1 Comment
    2025/02/02
    00:52 UTC

    1

    Application form requiring "sex assigned at birth"?

    0 Comments
    2025/02/01
    23:29 UTC

    3

    Rant/vent - Really disappointed in my program (or at least teacher)?

    I think all I'm hoping for is some perspective, empathy, support... So I'm a social work masters student doing a distance delivery program. The focus of study (healthcare) is one of my main interests, it fits my work/life needs well, and the program is accommodating for disability students. Its a course/placement, not thesis program. However I'm not sure if it's just the teacher ive been stuck with the last 2 classes or the program itself but I'm extremely disappointed because:

    1. We get no feedback on how to improve assignments. The comments on our assignments are maybe 3 notes that say "clarity" and no elaboration or explanation of what is at all unclear, nothing about the content/topic/argument/etc, and I'm left with absolutely no idea how to improve on anything. It also appears like we're all getting basically the same marks regardless of what we hand in.

    2. The assignments are a lot of just reviewing and reflecting on each other's work, and reflective grading ourselves of "how their assignments changed our thinking or how our thinking has changed from beginning of the course"?! Not actually digging in to formulate papers, indepth projects, presentations, etc...

    3. Super unclear expectations of assignments - we have a FB group and its constantly asking questions of each other to see if we're understanding things the same. When we ask the prof she gives us one answer, then tells us later that we did it wrong, or changes her expectations last minute.

    I think there's courses are reused from year to year as there's credit to who developed the course and its not the prof.. however I'm losing motivation and care to engage because 1) i feel lost, 2) I feel dumb and don't know how to improve, 3) I know i won't get feedback on topic/logic/argument or genuine engagement from assignments anyway... i have a 15% assignment due Monday and i haven't even started because its a dumb reflective one - 8 pages, I work tomorrow and Monday so no time - I just don't care tbh. Watch me have to do all nighters bc pressure is the only motivating factor right now.

    I was so excited for this, and 3 courses in i know it could just be that I've been stuck with a crappy burnt out teacher. I feel like the assignments wouldn't be different with a different prof, but maybe the feedback and clarity would be.

    I'm losing so much motivation and desire to do assignments and reading. I feel like it's a useless exercise that isn't even respected or taken serious. The only one time I did get a comment other than "clarity" was blatantly disrespectful and offensive and apparently copy and pasted to everyone elses also.

    I love the readings and scope of the content, but the actual experience is making me wish I hadn't accepted the program and had accepted the clinical program offer I got instead. My placement starts this spring in a clinical setting with an awesome agency so that's a saving grace. I had a horrible BSW experience and was really hopeful this would be better, was excited to get back to school after a few years away, but I'm just so frustrated.

    4 Comments
    2025/02/01
    22:24 UTC

    1

    Should i put incomplete Americorps service on my application?

    In 2020 i did an Americorps position that was a year long measured in 1700 hours (or something like that.) The job and covid and everything severely tanked my mental health, so i finished out the year, however i fell about 50 hours short of actually completing the program.

    Now i’m applying to an MPH program and im not sure if i should list this under work experience. On one hand, through this job I gained a lotttt of skills and experience that relate to the MPH program, but on the other hand I don’t want it to look like im in the habit of quitting things early.

    Should I list it and just not mention that i didn’t technically complete it? Not list it at all? Or list it but be upfront about the situation?

    2 Comments
    2025/02/01
    21:24 UTC

    2

    Got into Baruch College MHC

    Is it worth applying to any of these programs now that I’m accepted into Baruch College’s Mental Health Counseling (MHC) program? I’m debating if it’s worth the application fee just to get into a similar program as the one I’m already accepted into!

    PACE MS Mental Health Counseling CUNY CCNY MA Mental Health Counseling CUNY Baruch College MA Mental Health Counseling NYU MA Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness Touro MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling

    1 Comment
    2025/02/01
    21:02 UTC

    1

    Advice on Reaching out to Graduate Programs

    Hey Reddit! I'm currently in my third year as a medievalist history student attempting to enter academia. I'm about to send out some tentative emails to different programs and professors. Any advice on reaching out, and how to best gauge a program is right for me/worth applying to?

    1 Comment
    2025/02/01
    20:16 UTC

    7

    Does anyone else’s professor allow AI?

    Hi, everyone! I’m currently in my second semester of my MSW program. For my human behavior in the macro evironment class, our current assignment was to write up an ethical-based dilemma that a social worker can face, allowing us to us ChatGPT. I was wanting to know other’s opinions of if this route is our new normal and with the progression of AI tools, is this good for us long-term?

    9 Comments
    2025/02/01
    19:43 UTC

    2

    How long does it take to hear back?

    Just curious about how long I should expect to wait before hearing back about my application? I just submitted today and want to manage my expectations. So excited!

    I applied to UIC's MPH program. Will the notice come via mail or just in SOPHAS? Thanks everyone!

    5 Comments
    2025/02/01
    19:04 UTC

    0

    Where can I find information on unionization, union participation, average stipend, and minimum stipend at AAU public and to a lesser extent private institutions.

    Trying to create some infographics for my schools union to help demonstrate the importance of unionization to improving graduate student stipends in peer institutions. Was wondering what sorts of easily scrapable and reliable repositories of this kind of information exist?

    3 Comments
    2025/02/01
    16:42 UTC

    1

    do you have to leave your current school to apply to a new one

    I am in my first semester at University A. It's fine but not as good as I hoped. It's also expensive. I have a different program in mind that only starts in the Fall. It's a better value and cheaper. I am considering switching. The application deadline is in April 1st. I don't want withdraw and leave early in case I don't get in, this one is okay but I would rather do the other one.

    Do I have to leave my current program to apply for University B? Or is it fine to apply and see if I get in?

    4 Comments
    2025/02/01
    16:16 UTC

    325

    This girl who uses AI for every response gets most attention from my professor

    I am so annoyed. On our forum board, this girl uses AI for every single response. She uses the hallucinated sources that dont exist. But she gets all the credit and attention from professor when I work so hard. I like how she comments cause it encourages more discussion and she asks follow up questions. Maybe she knows I know what I am doing so I dont need to do more work despite liking it????

    81 Comments
    2025/02/01
    11:40 UTC

    1

    Challenges in Finding a Research Assistant Position

    Hi,

    I’m a first-year MS student, and I’ve been struggling to secure a research assistant position. I’ve tried both cold emailing professors and applying to posted RA positions, but I haven’t had any success so far. I also have prior research experience that is highly relevant to the positions I’ve applied for. Is it typically difficult for MS students to secure RA positions?

    I’m planning to apply to PhD programs this year, but I’m worried about not having secured research experience up to this point. My program is meant to be research-focused, but it doesn’t provide much support in finding thesis advisors, so I’m unsure how to proceed.

    1 Comment
    2025/02/01
    11:26 UTC

    1

    Importance of publications in PhD admissions

    Hi everyone,

    I’m currently in my last semester of an MS in Energy Systems at Northeastern University, and I plan to apply for a PhD in Electrical Engineering with a focus on energy systems and machine learning. I have a solid academic background, including a strong GPA at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and I’m completing my MS on a 100% Fulbright scholarship. Additionally, I have two years of work experience in the energy sector. I’ve worked as a graduate research assistant in two labs at Northeastern, gaining valuable research experience. However, I don’t have any publications yet. My question is: How important are publications when applying for a PhD program at top universities? The schools I’m considering have strong research groups in my area of interest, including Columbia, NYU, UMich, Georgia Tech, Stanford, UC Davis, and ASU

    4 Comments
    2025/02/01
    08:35 UTC

    72

    Is it normal to travel alone with PI & need advice

    Hi! i’m a new graduate student & my PI invited me to go to a conference this year with him. Is it normal to do this? I am a young women who is not comfortable around men (past stuff), so it’s been eating me alive for the past 2 months. I can’t just dump on him that i’m not uncomfortable bc I didn’t bring it up and i’m already registered. the thing that’s also making me nervous is i don’t think he registered for the conference and/or hotel like I did. is this normal and i’m just freaking out about it?

    33 Comments
    2025/02/01
    07:55 UTC

    0

    What's the best way to publish your master's thesis

    I already finished presenting my master's thesis in a Research Colloquium and passed the Oral Defense with very good grades, currently revising my manuscript for final submission and I'm done with my degree.

    I wish to publish my thesis in an international journal. Aside from it may look good in CV, there is additional points that will get me higher chance for Latin honour on my graduation which is like around 5 months from now.

    My thesis adviser suggested to look for conferences and present it there and attract editors to get my thesis published. Which makes sense as I will get more feedback for my paper. And also aim for awards if ever.

    I wish to target those international conferences abroad with more publication opportunity but I am not that enthusiastic to travel abroad which involves time and money.

    Luckily, I just got accepted in a local research conference nearby, to be held this month. I don't have problem financially but I just don't feel good as the registration fee is quite hefty for me. And I heard most conferences typically have high acceptance as they can earn from it. So I see it more likely as business. Though there's networking opportunity and I can gather more info in the academic industry. Now the thing is there's only one international journal publication in partner with this event. And there's quote "a chance to get invited to submit in a publication". Which gives me anxiety that I may present but not get chosen and efforts may be futile plus my target timeline for extra points before graduation may get compromised. The conference is on 3rd week of feb and if I submit on late February I may only have 3 or 4 months to wait if my paper is accepted or rejected. I'm not sure if there's a higher chance if you meet with the editor during the conference. I'm in the business and management BTW. My topic is about digitalization, sustainability, specifically technology adoption in supply chain management.

    Now there's another option to go submit directly to a reputable international journal online, go thru the peer review process and wait (with some elements of luck too). I looked into the journals of cited articles in my thesis. This way I can ensure it is legit plus checking into scopus and stuff like that. (don't want to fall into predatory journals).

    I found a good one which seems to have 3-6months acceptance interval when I reviewed it's past papers similar to my thesis. Now the actual acceptance duration varies on the quality and your paper and how it abides to the standards and guidelines of that publication. I am aware it can be different case. But I think it's a good reference to consider.

    Now I'm torn if I will gamble to submit directly online in a publication and wait for my paper to get reviewed. Or should I proceed to present on that conference and try my best to attract the editors.

    I know my 5 months acceptance duration may have a low possibility as usually it takes 6months to a year (I heard some even 3 to 5 years). But I'm in social science so it may be possible?

    Note that this is my first time that's why I feel so anxious. I'm trying my best to stop myself from over thinking and just do it and go through it and learn from it if ever.

    Any advice or comment will be appreciated :) Thank you^^

    1 Comment
    2025/02/01
    07:04 UTC

    0

    Could having a small claims public record affect my chances of admission

    I’m plaintiff of course, a towing company damaged my car and refused to pay. So I’m taking them to small claims but I was worried this public record could backfire on my academics. I would hope not but is there any reason grad school will look the other way due to this?

    6 Comments
    2025/02/01
    04:16 UTC

    52

    Is it unprofessional to ask a prof if they sent their reference that’s due in 1 hour? 😭

    I asked a prof for a reference letter for a scholarship. He said he'd be happy to and asked me how to send it. He said to let him know and he'll be ready. I sent him the information on January 20th.

    I never sent a reminder (I know dumb) because I felt like he wouldn't forget but now that it's due in 2 hours I'm panicking that he forgot. There's no way for me to see whether or not he submitted it (it’s via email).

    It’s 10:39pm where I am and it’s due 11:59pm. Should I just hope that he did send it? Should I wait til Monday to confirm since I think the deadline in internal and might be a little flexible (not 100% sure) since I submitted the application and my other reference is done. What would you do? :(

    Edit : He replied saying “He forgot and that he’s on it and “thank you for the reminder”. I wish I did it a few days earlier rather than 11:10pm. Embarrassing. This js everyone’s reminder to send reminders.

    25 Comments
    2025/02/01
    03:42 UTC

    90

    being a TA is like an octopus sucking your time out

    6 hours of teaching a week + 2 hr office hours on wed + 3 hour training for the following week + 1.5 hr doing their assignment for the following week +fielding emails + grading 72 students weekly

    6 hrs of classes a week: field theories mechanics, etc , schedule all bisected by the TA meetings and class sections, studying when i just need to take a nap. im worried that i wont really get anything out of my classes this semester

    19 Comments
    2025/02/01
    02:47 UTC

    24

    My professor: did you read the book?

    I'm taking 3 online courses. Two are going really well, but the third has been a shit storm. The professor was not assigned until the night before the semester started. We did our introductory post and the professor described himself as a "college drop out" who failed college multiple times before finishing his phD. His syllabus has chapters from a completely different book listed and didn't tell us we would need a different book until the second week of class (thankfully both books were listed on the bookstore so I already had both). He also posts lecture videos from a completely different professor who seems to have a stutter or is just a very bad public speaker because half of what this other guy says is unintelligible.

    So here we are at week 3. We are assigned a quiz with 5 multiple choice questions. So far we have had to read chapter 2 and watch about 40 minutes of video lectures, and we have had no other guidance. I did my best reading and interpreting this chapter, spent several days going through it and taking a lot of notes because I had no idea what would be on the quiz, what kind of questions they would be, etc. I took the quiz today and got two of the questions wrong, earning me a depressing 60%.

    The questions were stupid, too. They were grammatically incorrect true or false style and from what I found in the book, they could have been interpreted both ways. I sent him an email explaining how I came to my conclusions and why I thought my answers were also correct. I didn't ask to change my grade or anything, I just wanted to discuss the quiz.

    He responded with about 3 sentences, and in one of them he misspelled "Theoretical." Then asked "did you read the book." with a period and not a question mark.

    How the hell am I supposed to put up with this guy? We're 3 weeks in and I fear if I try to switch classes I will have missed another course's first two assignments, earning me zeros right off the bat (I'm a fully online student so assignments are do every week). I've never in all my years of education had a professor this incommunicable.

    Edit to add: I went to reply to his email just now and his actual words were "did you read." he didn't even say "the book" lmfao. just, did you read.

    28 Comments
    2025/02/01
    01:46 UTC

    0

    Business School - GMAT or GRE?

    Which one did you take?

    GMAT focus mode is new as of 2024 and it doesn’t have a lot of study content available yet. GRE seems like there’s more material online to practice with.

    Seems like most grad schools accept the GRE now so I’m leaning towards that test but wanted to poll everyone else to see what they took.

    0 Comments
    2025/02/01
    01:29 UTC

    3

    I’m worried I won’t be accepted into a graduate program because my focus is a concentration

    Hello! I’m currently studying Linguistics and the German language at my university, and hope to pursue linguistics in grad school. However, my Linguistics program isn’t a major, but rather it’s an Applied Linguistics concentration under the English program.

    I’ve recently been told that a concentration isn’t analogous to a proper degree. The problem is, no universities in my area have a linguistics major, and I can’t afford to go out of state/stay in a dorm. I’m worried that my comparatively inadequate linguistics education would make me ineligible for a grad program. Is this a valid concern?

    I’m the first in my family to even consider grad school, so I’m not sure if there’s something very obvious that I’m missing.

    Thank you very much!

    7 Comments
    2025/01/31
    23:53 UTC

    3

    Can you get into a ml phd program without any publication these days?

    I am currently a MSCS student in the US.

    0 Comments
    2025/01/31
    22:58 UTC

    2

    Commute to school?

    Hey all! I got into a program that’s about 45-55 minutes away (if traffic isn’t bad). It’s a great program, in a major city that I love and it would allow me the opportunity to obtain additional licensing upon graduation that would put me in a slightly higher pay bracket than the other program I’m considering. BUT the other program is only about 10 mins from my house.

    I feel torn. On one hand the alone time during the drive would be kinda nice, on the other hand if traffic sucks I don’t want to risk being late to class or have the commute time take away from study time.

    I’ll only be working part-time during school and have flexibility there, but I’m also a wife and mom, so life is busy. Hubs says I’m crazy for considering the commute. It’s only 3 evenings per week for 2 years. I think I can push through.

    Anyone else commute to grad school classes? What was your experience?

    6 Comments
    2025/01/31
    22:52 UTC

    103

    JUST PASSED MY COMPS!!!!

    Nothing to add, just want to celebrate the fact that I finished and passed my Comprehensive exams and the final two things between me and being ABD is one last course that I'm taking and my prospectus defence!

    5 Comments
    2025/01/31
    22:05 UTC

    5

    Supervisor keeps making changes to my manuscript without telling me

    Hi, I'm two rounds of revisions into a publication where I am first author and I have a dilemma that I would like some advice on.

    My supervisor has been making changes to the paper without my knowledge in between submissions. After I sent my final draft of the manuscript, my supervisor made many changes that I was not aware of, before the initial submission. Similarly, after addressing the first round of reviewer comments, there were more changes that I also wasn't aware of, before the manuscript was sent back to the editor.

    My problem isn't that they made the changes without my knowledge (although it does feel shady) but that the changes don't really follow from the results. I wouldn't say that the changes are fabricated, but more like unfounded claims that isn't substantiated by the data, or by preceding literature. I discovered the changes when I was dealing with the first round of reviewer comments and I corrected them, and acknowledged the corrections in my email to my supervisor.

    For example, in one of these changes, a whole figure was explained away with a single sentence, which didn't follow from the data and also without citations. I corrected this chang, in line with literature precedent, and also added the proper citations. Afterwards, I mentioned this change and others in an email to my supervisor, however they didn't acknowledge my email and reverted my corrections and subsequently sent the manuscript to the editor without my knowledge.

    Now, we're at the second round of revisions and I'm looking at the most recent version and found the corrections I made to have been reverted. I'm worried that if published, this would constitute academic misconduct and that as primary author, I would be held liable for it and it would affect my future career prospects. There is one other professor who is listed as an author, but I'm not sure if he knows about these unmentioned changes, or even if he would care.

    I plan to write an email telling them that I know about the changes and to please let me know in the future about changes that they might make. But I also posted here because I wanted to know if there were any other avenues I could consider. I think it would be great if I had another publication to my name, but I also don't want to be held liable for academic misconduct.

    2 Comments
    2025/01/31
    21:58 UTC

    31

    I submitted

    It took 12 months instead of 6 but a good thesis is a done thesis, and it is done now. If anyone thinks of writing the thesis while working full time - it sucks, would never ever recommend, but it is doable. Good luck to everyone out there still waiting to click that submit button! Off to eat my first proper meal in 36 hours

    0 Comments
    2025/01/31
    20:29 UTC

    73

    Archive your data while you still can

    To those who rely on data sets available on US federal websites, please download and save your data now! Several important datasets have already been scrubbed (eg YRBS) and word on the street (check out the conversations on r/publichealth) is that even more are coming down tonight.

    6 Comments
    2025/01/31
    20:26 UTC

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