So you’re thinking about going to graduate school in the United States, but
you don’t know what it’s like. You’ve done some research, heard about graduate school in your
country from your friends and siblings and you’ve decided that it’s not the
best option for you, so you’re exploring other opportunities abroad. Here are a few
differences between American graduate schools and graduate schools in other
countries around the world.
4. Connection to professors. In
the U.S. the professor is available to you. They open their office to students
for questions and help in the class that they teach. Creating a good
relationship with a professor is key to a good letter or recommendation that you will probably need
in the future for either a job or continued study at another institution. Also the professor might have
connections to people in high up places in great companies and may be able to help you secure a job in the future if you do well in their class and have a good relationship
with them. It is not uncommon to go out for coffee or lunch with professors to
discuss your studies, career opportunities or to show interest in the Professor’s work.
5. Time consuming. Studying in the U.S. may consume a lot more of your time
than anywhere else. For example, in the U.K. you may be able to obtain a
graduate degree in a year, while in the United States you may have to study for
two or more years before obtaining a similar degree. Also the amount of
coursework given may be greater in the United States. For example to obtain a
PhD degree somewhere else you may only be required to write a doctoral thesis
while in the U.S. you may still be asked to take traditional classes and exams
and hand in projects on top of writing the thesis, sometimes for as long as 2 years worth of courses. It is generally hard to work while studying in the US - it is an all consuming experience.
To Sum things up, graduate school in the US is different, but it is exciting and engaging and may lead you to interesting directions for your career in academia or in the private sector. Be aware of these differences so you will adapt quickly and make the most of your study abroad experience.
Photo Credits:
Cap - By Krzysztof Szymański (Polski: Moje dziełoEnglish: Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0
"Cappuccino Chiang Mai" by Takeaway - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
"A municipal library, Prague - 8471" by © Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
1. Cost. Graduate school in the U.S. can cost far
more than any other country. Even if you’re able to secure a scholarship or
loan to help finance your studies, which is difficult for international
students because they are generally reserved for American students, there are
other costs that may not be covered, for example living expenses or books
needed for class. Make sure you have the finances to cover the cost of studying
in the U.S. before you apply because many Universities will ask for a document
showing proof that you’re able to finance your studies. Failure to provide this
may cost you the opportunity of studying in the U.S. You will also need to show
proof that you will be able to finance your studies in order to obtain a visa
to study in the United States.
2. Interactivity. Graduate school in the U.S. is
far more interactive than many other places. Students will be expected to
prepare for class ahead of time and will be called on by the teacher to provide
an answer to a question that they should be prepared for. If a student does not
know the answer to a question that should have been prepared, it can be
reflected in the overall grade of the class for that student. Also, students in
the U.S. can respectfully challenge the professor and it will not be looked
down upon. In retrospect, the professor may actually be impressed with the
student and look highly upon that student because of this (assuming the student
did it in a polite manner).
3. Flexibility. In the U.S., choosing a specific
topic to study is far more flexible than many other places. In the U.S. you
choose to specialize once you are already studying in the university whereas in
many other places you may have to chose before. Even once you have chosen the
topic of specialization, you may be able to switch programs if you’re not happy
with the one you’re in. The same goes with writing your thesis or choosing a
specific topic to research. You have flexibility in the topics that you pick
and you are able to switch your topic if you find something more interesting (with
the professor's permission of course).
To Sum things up, graduate school in the US is different, but it is exciting and engaging and may lead you to interesting directions for your career in academia or in the private sector. Be aware of these differences so you will adapt quickly and make the most of your study abroad experience.
Photo Credits:
Cap - By Krzysztof Szymański (Polski: Moje dziełoEnglish: Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0
"Cappuccino Chiang Mai" by Takeaway - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
"A municipal library, Prague - 8471" by © Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
