Making the Transition from Undergrad to Grad School

As the summer slowly approached, I finished my last final paper, went to my last class of the year, and realized that I had finished my first year of graduate school. Four quarters of papers, midterms, presentations, and finals had all come and gone, leading up to this moment. Realizing that I only had one more year left before graduation, I felt amazed at how quickly time passes and how a year of life can help you grow up and change so deeply. A small, yet remarkable milestone that feels worthy of reflection and celebration. 

In the months since I started grad school, I have received questions from friends and family about my own application process, how I chose the school I wanted to attend, and how I made the transition from undergrad to grad school. Deciding to go to grad school is a big step and an important decision that requires a lot of consideration. I found that sharing my own story offered friends some guidance and help, so I wanted to share some of those tips. 

My story with grad school starts while I was in college. At the start of my college career, I knew that I wanted to go to grad school. Going into college as a Psychology major, I knew that a program, such as eventually attaining my Ph.D. in child psychology, would help me achieve the career goals I had. As I spent more time in my classes, engaging with my professors, and working on research, I became more solidified in my decision in continuing my education post-grad. I loved the learning opportunities that the university provided me, and I wanted to keep going. But as I kept taking different classes, I realized that public health policy was the path I wanted to pursue. I know, a bit of a jump from being a child psychologist. 

During the spring before my graduate school application cycle would start, COVID-19 had just hit the United States. With every convention of normalcy stripped away from our lives, political upheaval, and a public health crisis, I began to evaluate how I could use my strengths to serve others, and make a meaningful difference. I spent time thinking about all my experiences and came to a few conclusions. 

The first realization I had was that over time I had unknowingly cultivated a huge interest in health and wellness. My interest ranged from figuring out the perfect green juice recipe to how social determinants impact an individual’s long-term health outcomes. The second conclusion I came to was that I was passionate about writing. I loved how writing could transform the world around me, and communicate in a meaningful way. The third conclusion was that I wanted to be an agent of change with whatever work I chose to do. I wanted to be a part of the solution, and center my work around that. The combination of these three factors drove my desire to pursue a new path. My mentors, professors, and family were all extremely supportive, which affirmed that it was the calling I had been looking for. 

After my decision to pursue public health policy in graduate school, I decided I would spend that summer preparing my applications and send them through in the fall of my senior year of college. I started researching programs that had my specific program and areas of interest. While doing so, I scheduled informational interviews with admissions officers to learn more about program requirements, application deadlines, research opportunities, and faculty within the programs. After doing my research, I was able to compile a list of schools that I wanted to apply to. I would say one of my biggest takeaways in this process was only applying to schools at which I could see myself, where I could see myself enjoying the curriculum, having meaningful research opportunities, and space to grow. Along with this, I considered location, cost, affordability, and what my day-to-day would look like in this program. Grad school applications are a tedious process, so I only wanted to spend time on applications of schools I felt passionate about attending. 

After writing my essays, collecting my transcripts, and getting my letters of recommendation, I submitted all my applications in the Fall of my senior year of undergrad. After submitting, I played a bit of the waiting game since it would be a while until I heard back from schools. Generally, grad schools will release decisions in the new year of the application cycle, around January or February. However, if they have a later deadline, then decisions may be released later into the Spring. I would say that this is the period where I saw myself and my peers get the most stressed. It can be difficult not knowing and wondering what if? I found peace during this time in knowing that I had done everything in my power to submit applications I was proud of. My mantra was that “what’s meant to be will find its way.”

In the New Year, I started hearing back from schools. This was such an exciting time because it felt like all of my hard work was paying off. As I started to receive my decisions, I heard both yes and no. It can feel like a whirlwind of emotions, because there are likely more rejections than there are acceptances, and once you receive all your decisions, you will have to quickly shift focus to make the choice of where to attend. There are important things to consider in a decision such as finances, job prospects post-grad, course curriculum, and so much more. I found that it was helpful to speak with program directors, the financial aid office, and current students within the program. I also thought about the schools from a personal perspective, reflecting on if I could see myself moving and potentially staying in a new city for 2-3 years.

I knew that I wanted to move out of California for grad school and attend a program that would help me learn new skills and challenge me. I valued the growth that would come with a move like this, and the experiences that it would bring. The support and encouragement from my loved ones also helped me make my decision in moving across the country. I reminded myself that it was just important to keep the faith in yourself and take the leap. At the end of the day, so much of a new experience boils down to what you make of it, rather than the actual place itself. 

At the end of that Summer, I traded my West Coast roots for a new adventure on the East Coast. I moved to Maryland in August, and shortly after, started my first term of grad school. The first few weeks of school felt overwhelming and so different from my time as an undergrad. Grad school moved at a quicker pace, and the rigor of assignments and coursework felt like nothing I had experienced before. In moments of doubt, I reminded myself that I had a toolkit of study habits, time management skills, and experiences that would help me get to where I needed to be. 

The transition from undergrad to grad school can feel very difficult. Grad school feels like a full-time job and is more serious than undergrad. You are in a space where you are taking classes, working within your field of interest, and figuring out your career path. Something else I found, is that as a graduate student, I am also a woman in my 20s navigating the world, including my own sense of identity, relationships, friendships, and my mental and emotional well-being. I think it is important to remind yourself of all these things as you go through grad school. You are a human being, and you should treat yourself as you would a friend. There will be challenges and failures, but also, triumphs, and meaningful experiences that will shape you into who you are. 

So, with one year done, and another to go, this would be my takeaway; do your best, keep an open mind, and know that all the ups and downs are shaping you into the best version of yourself. Good luck to anyone who is embarking on the application process this fall, and feel free to reach out to me who has any questions.