A few days ago
Sam

Graduate School Question?

Since I’ve been in school for around a month I feel so stupid compared to the other students. I mean I’m doing the work which I was informed by other students is a waste of my time and have no business being in gradate school if I do the readins and such.

Then I feel completely stupid everytime I e-mail or talk to my professors. Mostly it’s my director who is my program advisor. I feel so stupid to having to e-mail and ask questions. I know I’m not suppost to ask questions and I should know everything but gosh…who else am I to talk to if I had a questions about something related to my field?

Anyone else ever go thru this or have any suggestions?

Top 2 Answers
A few days ago
retants

Favorite Answer

No one expects you to know everything, particularly during your first semester. You may well feel like you don’t know much about your field yet, but that’s why you are in school; to learn more.

It is normal to need to ask your program adviser questions, but take the time to look at your college and graduate college web pages and the catalog before you ask. There is a lot of information available. If you aren’t sure, walk into the graduate school student services office and ask someone there; their job is to help you.

(btw, ignore the other students who are being negative. There can be a lot of competition between students in some fields and that is often where the put-downs come from.)

I am in my 3rd year of classes toward a PhD and I do all the readings.

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A few days ago
eri
Doing the required reading is never a waste of time. If they’re making fun of you, do it at home instead. And don’t worry if you feel stupid now. Either you’ll catch on eventually or decide this wasn’t really what you want to do. Do you like your advisor? Can you ask them about things like this? My first advisor was horrible, but my new one I can talk to about anything. Finding the right advisor is the most important decision you’ll make in grad school.

Stick it out a bit longer. Hopefully things will improve. I felt the same way when I started grad school – and I just passed my qualifier! It can work out, really. Good luck.

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