Hi guys!

So it has almost been a week since I started my online Master of Arts in Communication program at Arizona State University, my dream school, and I am absolutely loving it!

This is so much better than when I got my undergraduate degree because I can study something I actually enjoy and love the whole time instead of taking all of those damn general education requirements. I will be done in May 2022. It’s only 10 classes, so 2 classes per semester, 1 class a session. ASU is divided into 7 1/2 week A and B sessions and not where you can go “straight through” the whole semester.

I broke down some pros and cons of what it’s like being a graduate student. If you are considering becoming one, this might help!

Pros

1. I learn something new every day. I wake up in the morning (or after work depending on the day) feeling excited to dive into my studies and either read, watch a video, post or comment on a discussion post, or research and write a paper. That’s all grad school is, lol!

2. I can set my own schedule/routine. That’s the beauty of being an online student: you can study as much and for how long you want as long as you meet the deadline. I am a work ahead of deadline kind of girl, so I am very far ahead at the moment!

3. I feel accomplished. I know that by the time I am done with this degree that I am going to feel successful and proud. It’s only a 1 1/2 year program and I know it is going to pay off in the long run.

I also have a strong support system of family, friends and two ASU Online Facebook groups where my classmates and I discuss the syllabus, assignments and professors and give each other positive feedback.

Cons

1. My brain hurts. I found that on my second day of being a grad student, my brain started to hurt…badly. I don’t know if it’s because I’m using it to think too much (I know that sounds silly, but it’s true) or if I am staring at the computer screen for too long, but it made me tired fast.

So obviously I have my cup (or 2) of coffee in the morning and take breaks, but I also find myself getting to bed a bit earlier than usual so that I can feel more refreshed to go into it the next day.

2. Online communication can break down. It’s sometimes frustrating to navigate on an online platform because it’s not consistent.

For example, there was a module where I had to take a quiz for one of the assessments, but not upload a document. So I took the quiz and got an A. Then when I went to the grades section, it says I had to upload a document, whereas it should’ve originally said that in the module section and the instructions.

Sometimes the wording in an assignment instruction can also be interpreted differently, which is what has happened to me. It’s nothing major but just minor details. I have also had to read the instructions over and over to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

If you do have a question for the professor or a classmate, it’s not like being in class, raising your hand and getting an immediate answer. You post the question and then you have to wait until he or she reads it and comments back.

3. Adios freelance work. This is the top thing that I find a con. Even though most of my freelance work dried up because of COVID-19, the master’s degree replaced all of the freelance work.

I have had a couple people reach out asking me to help with some media work, but I had to turn it down so I could get more into a routine with this whole grad school thing. I am still hoping to find a better balance in the coming months.

That’s it! If you are considering graduate school and have any questions about it, let me know! 🙂