TestMagic Forums - View Single Post - So, what's the verdict? Now that you're in grad school, how do you feel?

asquare · 01-25-2007, 07:51 PM

Well, I can get things started with this question.

I'm a second year at the University of Michigan. The econ PhD program here has exceeded my expectations; I'm very happy to be here!

That said, the first year was rough. The classes were harder than any coursework I'd had before. Some of the teaching wasn't very good. And most of all, graduate economics (especially the first year core classes) is nothing like the undergraduate classes that I loved and made me decide to get a PhD.

However, I knew these would be issues coming in. I expected them. I'd talked to graduate students, sat in on some courses before I started the PhD, looked through the textbooks and borrowed notes from older students -- basically done everything I could so that I'd have realistic expectations about the PhD program. So while the first year was hard, it wasn't a surprise. That helped a lot.

Second year is tons better. All of that theory I struggled to understand last year is paying off this year. It's great to read journal articles and really understand all the details and the math, to see what assumptions the author made and what would change if they weren't true, and to know that this understanding is the hard-won reward to working my *** off last year.

Also, I really enjoy my field classes and my forays into research. I have a much better sense of what the next several years will be like. I feel prepared for them. I'm developing good relationships with faculty.

I'm still working my *** off, of course. And there are times when it's overwhelming or frustrating or even boring. But in the end, I really like being here. University of Michigan is a really supportive, exciting place to be an econ PhD student. I respect my classmates and professors and they respect me. I'm being challenged and given great opportunities at the same time. It's really worked out well. Really doing the research ahead of time to know what to expect, making sure that I had the best preparation possible, and keeping my overall goals in perspective once I got here have helped me make the best of an already good situation.

01-25-2007, 07:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,388	Well, I can get things started with this question. I'm a second year at the University of Michigan. The econ PhD program here has exceeded my expectations; I'm very happy to be here! That said, the first year was rough. The classes were harder than any coursework I'd had before. Some of the teaching wasn't very good. And most of all, graduate economics (especially the first year core classes) is nothing like the undergraduate classes that I loved and made me decide to get a PhD. However, I knew these would be issues coming in. I expected them. I'd talked to graduate students, sat in on some courses before I started the PhD, looked through the textbooks and borrowed notes from older students -- basically done everything I could so that I'd have realistic expectations about the PhD program. So while the first year was hard, it wasn't a surprise. That helped a lot. Second year is tons better. All of that theory I struggled to understand last year is paying off this year. It's great to read journal articles and really understand all the details and the math, to see what assumptions the author made and what would change if they weren't true, and to know that this understanding is the hard-won reward to working my * off last year. Also, I really enjoy my field classes and my forays into research. I have a much better sense of what the next several years will be like. I feel prepared for them. I'm developing good relationships with faculty. I'm still working my * off, of course. And there are times when it's overwhelming or frustrating or even boring. But in the end, I really like being here. University of Michigan is a really supportive, exciting place to be an econ PhD student. I respect my classmates and professors and they respect me. I'm being challenged and given great opportunities at the same time. It's really worked out well. Really doing the research ahead of time to know what to expect, making sure that I had the best preparation possible, and keeping my overall goals in perspective once I got here have helped me make the best of an already good situation.