Balancing Classes

Practically all graduate programs have coursework requirements – the level of which may vary dramatically between programs. Typically, course requirements are satisfied in the first year or so. In this article, we will discuss balancing classes with other responsibilities as your graduate career heats up.

Research is Usually More Important

This really depends on the kind of graduate program you are in. If you’re in a social sciences program or similar, then it makes sense that you would have to learn a ton of material before you could actually start making progress on research. Paradoxically, this is also true in the hard sciences. However, you’re expected to start on a project with the knowledge you bring from undergrad. As previously mentioned, course requirements can vary significantly between fields or even programs of the same field. For STEM programs, you will generally have to take 5-10 graduate-level classes. As you might expect, these classes will be content-heavy and move quickly. Luckily, the workload in these classes is not as intense as it is in undergrad. However, you are expected to present more and the work is more difficult.

Especially in science, the professors are probably more concerned that you’re getting familiarized in the lab, getting started on a project, and interacting with the other members. Of course, they expect you to do well in your classes, but they don’t expect you to only go to class and study as you did in undergrad. Think of balancing classes in grad school like balancing school with a full-time job. You’re expected to do well at both, but not to completely neglect one in favor of the other.

Study for the Sake of Knowledge, Not Tests

In undergrad, we’re often only studying the material that the professor hints will be on the exams. However, at least in my experience, professors in graduate school are less inclined to lend a helping hand in this regard. All of the midterms that I recently took were free-response. A lot of people like free-response questions, but I could never understand why. Think about it: with a multiple-choice exam, if you do not remember the exact answer to a question, there are four or five options that will help jog your memory to allow you to reach the correct answer if you sort of know the material. You can at least eliminate one or two answers and still guess with a chance of guessing correctly.

However, there is no crutch with free-response exams. If you don’t know something, well, that’s just too bad. There’s nothing to jog your memory. You’re left floating in an open ocean of possible answers. This is exactly the feeling I had on my exams, too. The professors can and will test even the most obscure and unimportant detail that you certainly do not need to know. Nevertheless, it will show up on a five-question exam worth 25% of your grade.

Bottom line: study the material for the sake of knowing it well. Yes, sometimes there is too much to remember, especially when you are balancing three to five classes. The answer is that you’re expected to know everything. As a consequence, it’s a good idea to study a little bit each night. I’m guilty of cramming, and I assure you that it is not a viable strategy when you have to take a tour de force approach and commit as much of the material as possible to memory.

Conclusion

Classes might seem daunting at first, but they really aren’t bad. They’re usually much smaller than undergrad classes too, so there’s an element of intimacy you don’t get in many undergraduate courses. One of my classes had seven people in it. Professors also understand that you have other responsibilities, especially if you are in their group. They do expect you to do well, though. The workload is significantly less in grad classes, but more is expected of you in terms of knowing the material, presenting literature articles, writing research proposals, etc. Of course, you can expect good old fashioned problem sets.

The exams are often challenging since there is so much material that can be tested. Therefore, it is important to develop good study habits even if you don’t need to hand in deliverables each week. Cramming is not a viable strategy. There is just too much information. Good time management skills are essential when it comes to balancing classes with your research and personal life. It’s like balancing a full-time job with school and a personal life tacked on top. Take a look at the article on setting priorities and optimizing your time. Developing these skills early on in graduate school will pave the way for a successful and happy graduate career.

For a related read, check out the article on choosing an advisor.