badcommentary
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I’m not sure if I’m using this meme right. I wasn’t a good student in undergrad. Not by a long shot. At one point I flunked out and it wasn’t until then I took my education seriously and went back a semester later and finished. After a few years of working really hard and moving locations across the country in a field I like and see a future in I got into my top graduate program and I still don’t feel like I’m where I need to be and I’m just hoping I have what it takes to do this. Big first world problem I know but I hope this feeling of not being good enough doesn’t last. #impostersyndrome #notagain
thealvii
2.0 in undergrad. 4.0 in grad school. Turns out they dont count your undergrad grades in your grad school GPA.
StickyKiwi
Congratudolences, @OP. I hope it's for a field you love. Grad school was one of the worst decisions of my life.
badpetrock
You got this. Im finishing up my MS after working for a few years. Itll difficult but worth it. The struggle bus does actually move.
MaybeIwasOutOfTown
You're doin great. One thing at a time. Good luck!
badcommentary
Will do! Thank you
FCFiM
Everyone gets impostor syndrome. Eventually (could be years later) you'll start talking and realize you know what you are talking about
FCFiM
or maybe you won't. And that's ok too.
imainlinemaplesyrup
I was an awful undergrad but found a career I like and went back for a masters. It’s been brutal but worth it. I’ve learned so much...
imainlinemaplesyrup
and I’m glad I went back. You aren’t alone, none of us know what we’re doing. I agree with some other comments, take time for you and....
imainlinemaplesyrup
learn to say no a lot. It’s an endurance race, you’ll have to take care of yourself. Hit me up if you ever need to chat. Good luck!
AmishBarn420RaiseIt
Grad school was a motherfucker. I went from being top of every class to being AVERAGE, because grad school was full of people just like me
AmishBarn420RaiseIt
and all I could do was watch everyone else excel, because I had never had to learn how to work hard before
AmishBarn420RaiseIt
If you _already_ know how to work hard, you're golden
LSKG
STEM Grad student graduate here... bad advice I got and listened to that made my life hell for 5 years. (cont)
LSKG
go to a small school with a good program(not enough funding, not enough options, most of the profs are not good enough to go somewhere good)
badcommentary
This is all very helpful. A lot of people I talk to seem to romanticize grad school and just accept a lot of things as “just part of it”
LSKG
everyone works 80 hour weeks in grad school and if you dont we are punishing you. (sort of true, you will [1]
LSKG
have 80 hour weeks but not EVERY WEEK and if they try to keep you at that pace go to the department head. reality is its more like 60 hours)
LSKG
dont worry about how the prof treats you the first couple months its just a hazing ritual to see if you are up to it. (THIS IS A LIE! [1]
LSKG
GO immediately to the department head and report them the longer you wait the less they will believe you.) [end]
LSKG
dont worry about the profs standing or background just make sure the research is what you want to do. ( NO! get [1]
LSKG
a prof with tenure, even if its not something you idealize research wise, you are a walking slave otherwise working [2]
LSKG
for a person that is to new to know what they are doing as a leader typically otherwise) [end]
ActionPotentials
Just finished my PhD. Here are a few things I learned: 1) Success as a grad student is much more about persistence than "brilliance."
ActionPotentials
2) You must make time for your mental health. Or else. 3) Learn how to tell people "no." 4) Everyone has imposter syndrome. Part of
ActionPotentials
this level of education is coming to understand how little we actually know. What you're feeling is totally normal.
badcommentary
PhD sounds tough. I’m glad you made it through and finished! Thanks for all the advice. The more I get the better.
yoozernaiym
Also PhD (aerospace)... persistence is indeed key, and downtime is also really important. It's good to touch on each task early with its (1)
yoozernaiym
relax/destress. (btw my GPAs were roughly 2,3,4 in HS/undergrad/grad) (3)
yoozernaiym
deadline in mind, and then at least have it simmering in the back of your mind while you tackle the highest priority tasks or just (2)
TheUglyGuy
Getting into grad school isn't the challenge - it's making it out the far end.
badcommentary
17 month long haul.
TheUglyGuy
That it is. I started and had to actually get a job then never went back.
badcommentary
Do you ever want to go back?
TheUglyGuy
Did for a while, then changed career paths, now too close to retirement.