Life as a graduate student

If you have a PhD and(?)/or are currently doing one, what comes to your mind when you read "life as a graduate student"?

Probably: frustration, "why", interesting, amazing, pity, a phase of life ...

Some of these thoughts were running into my mind when an old pal sends me an IM and asks me, how to apply to grad school. He has taken up a job after undergraduate and seems frustrated enough to leave it. It is one of the best job one can get in software in India. He told me why he hates his job and asked me this very question, of "how is life as a graduate student".

As one of my friend says "Ask any undergrad: 'how is life as an undergrad' (especially from iit k). Take his narration, negate every sentence and you get the answer." Is it that bad? Lets see

As an undergrad: You do not attend classes
As a grad: You attend all the classes

As an undergrad: You do not start any project until just before deadline.
As a grad: You start projects just after the projects are announced.

As an undergrad: You do not cook your food.
As a grad: You know the answer here !!

As an undergrad: If you have absolutely no idea about the course about an hour ago from its exam, there is always someone who could teach you out.
As a grad: If you land up in such a situation, you get one more chance to not repeat the situation, when the course is next offered.

As an undergrad: You booze, you shout, you fall somewhere in campus after a party, there would be someone to get you back in your room.
As a grad: You do that outside your home, be sure of cops accompanying you to your next home...

As an undergrad: You do not write anything in project report on your own. "Trust only copy-paste"
As a grad: If you 'trust only copy paste' be sure to get deported anytime, keep your bags packed.

As an undergrad: Cultural festival (antaragni) is what you live for in a year.
As a grad: What culture are we talking about?

With this gloomy picture in mind, I answered to my old pal. But as is said, 'Grad school is more fun than undergrad', I would be soon posting about pros of grad school compared to undergrad. I am working on it.. Yeah its hard .. I know..

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