How does graduate school differ from undergrad?
Is it a lot harder? Is the type of work/thinking/testing different? I'm an undergraduate student double majoring in Finance and Accounting and I'm planning on going back to school for an MBA/MS Taxation. The only problem is I don't know what to expect. I have decent grades, but I'll be working full time when attending grad school... and studying for the CPA exam too. Can someone with experience tell me what to expect? **Oh, I got a 650 on the Princeton Review's pre-GMAT test. (In case that may give you an idea of how much I would have to put into my studies) I'm planning on attending the University of Pittsburgh's business school.
Public Comments
- Grad school is quite different from undergrad. I was a stellar undergrad and did well on the GREs but grad school kicked butt. There are a lot of reasons for this, including an irrational reading list and expectation of performance, and the constant questioning of self that arises as a result of the first reason(s). As long as you're really motivated to finish you will. But you will face numerous challenges on your path - know that and know that you can overcome them and you will.
- In the MBA area, you'll notice that the program involves considerably more of a team work approach rather than individual (although certainly, you will take exams individually). But you do a lot of group projects and they all tend to be 'realistic' type projects; that is you go out into the community to take on tasks rather than do fictional cases. As such, you are really getting your hands dirty with firms that could be dealing with millions of dollars. So with that, less emphasis on exams. With exams, usually more applied topics rather than typical multiple choice 'memorize till you pass out' type of exams that you get as an undergrad. The whole point of course, is to get yourself networked to your classmates and community. Because that's where the true value of the MBA comes from.
