Andrew Dahm
MSIS class of 2016
When I made the decision to attend graduate school at Indiana University I had a few expectations in mind. I viewed these expectations as somewhat straightforward and commonplace among most students going on to higher education. I first and foremost expected to get a high paying job in the city I wanted to live in after graduation. I believed I was going to have to work harder than I ever had before. I definitely expected to not have much of a social life anymore, or at least the one I had become accustomed to during my undergraduate years. Finally, I thoroughly expected to view this degree as a means to generate a higher singling potential to employers. As I am nearing the end of my program, I am realizing that I should have expanded my expectations quite a bit.
Here is what I did not expect to gain from a master’s degree:
- An actual education that I can apply to real life scenarios, instead of classes that have no correlation to the working world
- Improved public speaking skills and confidence in front of employers
- The ability to multi-task at a level only single mothers and quantum computers can appreciate
- Employers trying to sell to and impress me and not just the other way around
- Free time to actually be a human and have friends
- Finally growing up, even though I have tried to convince myself for years that I was already a real adult
- Doing social activities around campus that did not involve a party or Greek life
- Attending more athletic events
- Making friends with professors during and outside of class
- Having fun in general as a student
Yes, the expectations I had before attending my graduate program were mostly correct. I, however, did not expect the experiences I listed above to happen. Graduate School is one of the best decisions I have ever made and especially the best decision I have made involving my future and career. I strongly encourage any student struggling over the decision whether or not to take the Graduate plunge to realize there is a lot more to Graduate School than you’re going to expect.
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