Earning a graduate degree may seem daunting, but it is definitely doable
Grace Kilbourn
When I was first accepted as student in the part-time Professional MBA program at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, I felt elated and honored. I was fulfilling a longtime dream of continuing my education. However, I was also quite nervous. I didn’t know anyone going into the program and was unsure if I could handle graduate-level coursework. After the first few weeks of class, I found that I truly was in an environment that would allow me to grow and thrive. Here are five questions I had about the program going in—and five answers that all prospective students should hear:
How will I make friends in grad school?
As an undergraduate student, I made friends in my residence hall or through outside clubs and activities. In the MBA program, I made them through taking classes with the same cohort of individuals. Each of my classmates brings their own unique industry experience and innovative spirit to the program, and I appreciate the way we support one another. We spend time outside of class on group projects and fun bonding activities.
Is it hard to get good grades in grad school?
I thought that it would be challenging to get an A in any of my graduate school courses. I was genuinely worried that I might not pass some of them! However, I found that DU has a plethora of resources to support students. Professors openly offer to help students during office hours, the Writing Center will verify and edit citations for graduate level papers, and the library offers tutoring services. There are assigned tutors and teaching assistants for some of the finance and accounting courses.
How will I balance school with my job and my personal life?
Four hours of class twice a week seemed daunting at first. After a long, eight-hour workday, would I truly be excited to go to class? I found that the answer was yes. In fact, I wish many of my classes could last longer than two hours!
It is important to recognize that MBA students must make changes to their typical schedule; how significant those changes are vary from person to person. The length of time I spend studying and in class is about 21 hours a week—which was less of a burden than I had anticipated. Budgeting my class and study time has kept me on track to succeed academically. How I spend my remaining free time is up to me.
How flexible will my professors be in extenuating circumstances?
Generally, students in the PMBA program are allowed to miss two in-person classes per quarter, as long as they catch up by watching recordings. My professors have always understood if something personal comes up. They have offered extensions to students on assignments during especially busy weeks. When my dog was sick and had to go to the vet and my husband was doing military duty with his Air Force reserve unit, my economics teacher was compassionate and gave a small extension. When I had a dentist appointment and other obligations between my Monday and Wednesday classes, my accounting professor gave me an additional day to complete an assignment.
What is the quarter system? What does it mean for my studies?
The quarter system (which features four, approximately 10-week terms) is different than what many students have experienced before. I recognize that there is a learning curve due to the rapid pace of instruction; I was on the semester system during some of my undergraduate years. However, there are many positives to the quarter system. There is less time to forget material; students tend to study more efficiently; they are typically able to take more classes in a shorter period of time; and there are constant fresh starts and short breaks.
If you’re considering a graduate level program, find a way to get connected to the school. Attend a class to get a feel for the environment, connect with a current graduate student to hear their experience, speak with the admissions team or fill out an inquiry form to learn more. You might surprise yourself!
Grace Kilbourn is a first-year student in the Daniels College of Business, enrolled in the part-time Professional MBA program.
