I miss my old life.

[Crankin]

Hang in there. How long is your program, Flybye? Mine is 3 years. I feel like I'm getting a pass this year, because it's just classes. The next 2 years I have to do a 24 hour a week internship and manage to take 3 classes in addition. I am looking at the prospect of giving up 2 summer weekends to take classes to reduce my load for next year. Unfortunately, summer classes at my school are only in the weekend format.
My advisor didn't really get it when I said that I didn't know if I could give up 2 weekends of summer riding!
Are you in any kind of informal support group? I get together with a group of other "older" students once a month for dinner. It's a great stress release. Plus, we are going to continue doing this when we get out in the real world and have our own supervision group. But, that's a looong time away.

[malkin]

And when you have your degree, you may look back fondly on grad school.

If they'd give me health insurance, I'd go back in a minute, but I'd never tell my dad I was working on a third master's degree.

[firenze11]

Oh boy do I know what you mean. I'm at the point where I just can't wait to be done. I've been swamped this semester and a couple of weeks ago I had a mini-burnout/nervous breakdown because of all the stuff I have to get done. I put so much pressure on myself to get perfect grades and get everything right the first time that I just started to feel exhausted. Then, I realized I'm going to grad school because a) I needed to find out if I wanted to do a PhD (NO! at least not until grad school becomes nostalgic)and b) I really love history and learning. That, and I just started taking one assignment at a time. I'll get through it eventually.

I really miss my bike and I really miss weekends/nights in front of the tv and I miss TE and I miss my friends and family. But it's worth it, right?

Good luck to all the grad students!

[sundial]

I miss you too, Flye. I know you are on a mission and it won't be long until you're through.

[Becky]

Eek! I'm taking the GREs on Friday (and should be studying right now) as the first step towards applying to a MPA program. Going part-time year-round (and still working full-time), it will take me 4 years

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts here. It's good to have a realistic view of what I'm potentially getting myself into.

[Miranda]

Oh, it's hard for sure, but just try to keep the end in mind. I worked a lot of hours, was on call 24-7, and 6mos prego with DD (thankfully only kid #1, vs some in the nest already) when I finished my MBA program. STATS class about put me on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I was soooo glad to get through it! The thing is, once you get the degree... you have it *forever*. The program itself feels eternal. But, it's not. (((hugs))) Miranda

[NbyNW]

Back when I was in grad school, it took over my life before I realized what was happening. I really started to second-guess whether it was all worth it.

Hope you can find a little balance in your life this semester!

[shootingstar]

Eek! I'm taking the GREs on Friday (and should be studying right now) as the first step towards applying to a MPA program. Going part-time year-round (and still working full-time), it will take me 4 years

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts here. It's good to have a realistic view of what I'm potentially getting myself into.

It is true, once you have that coveted degree, you have it forever. Just keep that degree paper..it's a legal document.

Dearie did his MBA a few years after completing undergrad in civil engineering. MBA took 7 yrs. of evening part-time courses to complete his MBA. He had daytime, full-time job. He loved it. Yes, it helped alot.

Not sure I want to embark on 3rd university degree studies at this time in life. I've had to supplement my degrees with several courses over the years to keep current and for certain roles.

So glad I completed my Masters ages ago, immediately after undergrad..which undisputedly helped my career over the years.

So my hats off to those going onto their 2nd career/degree change, etc.!

[snapdragen]

Good job "cousin" -- May 8, May 8, May 8

[WindingRoad]

FlyBye hold on, you are almost done! I understand your pain, I'm finishing my masters in biology and starting professional school this fall. Yeah I'm completely insane. This master's program has been wild: I have 15 credit hours of 400 - 600 level biology classes. I have a calendar of just test dates. It's spring break as of today and I'm happy for that but only so I can study and get caught up. So yes I know the neurosis that IS grad school. BUT we will eventually finish and we will be all that much stronger for pushing ourselves to the limit and knowing that we beat it.

I miss 'some' of my old life too but I must say as crazy as my new life may be, it is still a more fulfilling one and I would make the same choices again. I think most of us would. It's all going to be worth it in the end.