The Bittersweet Experience of Completing Graduate School

They write papers, do homework, and participate in class in the attempt to meet the expectations of their teachers. They base their picture of college off their teachers’ standards and what their peers say. While many high school students have developed accurate expectations regarding the difficulties of college, the study skills acquired in high school may not be enough to ensure success at the collegiate level. High school students are often surrounded by a plethora of stories about the “realities” of college academics. The students base their expectations of college on those stories; however, sometimes the information they receive is conflicting.

Wardle, Elizabeth and Doug Downs. Writing about Writing A College Reader. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's, 2011. 498-519. Print.

Vieira, J. E., & Grantham, S. (2011). University students setting goals in the context of autonomy, self-efficacy and important goal-related task engagement. Educational Psychology , 141-156. Whitaker, L. C. (2000). Decision to Attend Graduate School .

Another reason for stress is the financial strain a person can experience when trying to progress in school. Learning to budget money is one of the most realistic lessons of attending college. This is one more way a student may feel vulnerable. Financial pressure is the number one reason why students drop out. A college student may become distracted with work in order to live comfo... ... middle of paper ... ... distress is providing students with a feeling of control over their education, information about what to expect, and feedback regarding what can be done to improve their performance.

Baltimore, MD: Author. Miller, R. K. (2003, April 1). Finishing the dissertation. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/article/Finishing-the-Dissertation /45136/ Pannapacker, W. (1999, February 19).

Huffingtonpost.com. Huff Post College, n.d. Web 5 Dec. 2013. Ro, Hyun Kyoung, Terenzini Patrick T., Yin, Alexander. “Between-College Effects on Students Reconsidered.” Research in Higher Education 54.3 (2013): 253-82.

In the real world, if you don’t show up for work most of the time, you’re going to be fired. If students get into the habit of not showing up for class with no concrete consequences, what lesson does that teach? One of the most important lessons that students need to learn in college is self-discipline, and by requiring students to come to class, students are given strong incentives to become disciplined (or at least disciplined enough to come to class). A third argument in favor of mandatory attendance is that students generally do much better in class if they show up. In classes where class exercises and activities are a major part of the learning experience–like public speaking, or creative writing, or television production–low attendance may lead quickly to a failing grade.

Going back to school to pursue your Masters degree can involve issues and challenges that may be difficult for one to face. Many people have problems with funding, working a full-time job, and procrastination. These challenges may come off as frightening and cause you to panic, but with every problem there is a solution. Taking the right steps to get through these obstacles can help one attain a peace of mind and successfully succeed in graduate school. Many people going back to school to pursue their Masters degree have one important question.

"Floor Statement: H-1B Visa Reform" United States Senator Dick Durban, Internet Archive, June 5 2007. Web Archive. December 6th 2013. < http://web.archive.org/web/20110106210436/http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=280890> [5] Snyder, Tom. "Degrees earned by foreign graduate students: Fields of study and plans after graduation" National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics, November 1997.

People choose to homeschool for a var... ... middle of paper ... ...s and traditional school graduates. Journal of College Admission, Spring 2004, p17. Klicka, Chris (2002) Socialization: homeschoolers are in the real world. Issue Analysis, Home School Legal Defense Association. Retrieved April 10, 2005 from www.hslda.org.