A graduate student is studying a degree that is considered higher than the one attained previously. It’s a student who had successfully achieved a bachelor’s degree and is pursuing higher-level education in a specific field.
An average graduate student is aged 33 years, with a few (approximately 20%) being 40 years. A graduate student while still learning is expected to assist in conducting researches or even teaching. It helps the students in acquiring beneficial skills that might be of great use in the future.
This article mostly focuses on everything there is to know about a graduate student. It features graduate school and the admission requirements, graduate education, and gives a detailed differentiation between graduate and undergraduate students.
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Table of Contents
What Do You Need to Know About Graduate School?
A graduate school is a learning institution that grants academic degrees. It comprises of several educational programs that emphasize explicitly on a profession or discipline.
The graduate academic degrees include:
Specialists
A specialist is a basic level in graduate school. It prioritizes students with an urge to obtain additional knowledge in their courses, training, or internship experience.
It is aimed at preparing students for certification that is officially professional and licensing requirements, which include necessary credentials for becoming a qualified teacher.
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Masters
A student takes a maximum of two years to complete a master’s degree. Some masters’ courses will lead a student to a doctorate while others are degrees of a profession, that is, library science or general business administration.
Doctoral
This is the highest degree level, which takes a graduate student 5-7 years. It requires a graduate student to be in a position to come up with researches that are solely independent and fundamental knowledge.
Requirements for admission to a graduate school are the determinants of whether or not you get to be accepted. To be part of a graduate school as a student, you must meet the following essential requirements;
- Passion. The graduate school does not necessarily demand this, but it is vital. You have to be sure that the field you chose is what you want and will not bring you any regrets.
- Transcripts. They must be from your previous undergraduate institution showing that you completed your bachelor’s education.
- Valid test scores. The significance and importance of these depend on the field or program you want to join. The most common test for most admissions is GRE. Test scores such as MCAT and GWAT are required in other areas.
- A resume. It is essential to give a convincing summary of your education, experience in research, publications, employment history (if any), and any other relevant achievements to your desired field or program.
- Personal statement. This acknowledges your strengths and if you have any failures, maybe from your test scores or any other sources, and how you plan on fixing them.
The following should be included in a personal statement:
- Factors that made you apply for the program
- Your inspiration for applying for the program
- Your most significant achievements so far
- Your goals about the application or field you asked for
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What Is the Difference Between a Graduate and an Undergraduate Student?
A student studying to attain a certificate or a bachelor’s degree is considered an undergraduate student. On the other hand, a graduate student has fully completed a bachelor’s degree or a certificate and is pursuing a higher degree.
Unlike an undergraduate student who completes after four years, a graduate takes only two years to complete the degree.
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What Is Featured in Graduate Education?
Since graduate education is a higher learning level beyond certificate and bachelor’s, a graduate student deals with conducting advanced research, studies, and teaching practices. Graduate education provides a graduate student with the following benefits;
- A graduate student is equipped with advanced knowledge in their specific field or program through learning.
- Graduate education helps a graduate student acquire skills vital in the day-to-day lives of professionals such as mathematics writing, problem-solving skills, oral presentation, and knowledge in technology.
Why Become a Graduate Student?
Being a graduate student comes with a handful of benefits. The benefits are the same regardless of the institution you are in. So as long as you are in the field or program that you are passionate about, you will never regret your decision to join the graduate school.
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Here is why you should not hesitate to be a graduate student:
- You will have access to the various helpful students’ benefits, such as grants and loans.
- Skills you will get from graduate education can be used to help you in many different career avenues.
- Having completed graduate education assures an employer of your capabilities and experience; hence your earnings can be increased.
- You are not demanded to spend the whole day in graduate school. This means you can get a job and earn while still learning.
Final Word
This article aims at educating you on whatever it is you wish to know about graduate students. With the knowledge from this article in your mind, graduate school with being a walk in the park.
Everything written here is accurate, carefully researched, and can be validated; it is written to help. All graduate schools are equally effective as they all have a common purpose, that is, to bring out the best in you.
This means that as a graduate student, whatever you do or say will have a positive impact on your audience. You can rest assured that this will always be the case for the rest of your life because of one simple fact; you were once a graduate student.
