I am new here to the forum and I am a 24 year old graduate student in Psychology. I was wondering if there was anyone here that is in graduate school or planning on being in graduate school.

i am 23 year old student of medicine :). whats up?

HI!! What kind of medicine are you studying?? What year are you in?? Where do you go to school?? This is 21 questions! I am taking classes part-time for my masters and then hopefully for my doctorate.

Hi folks - I'm in grad school (MBA) & am near the end of the program (did quite a few psych subjects too). I did all my study part time.

what kind of medicine? ummmm... medicine proper, the kind you take after you graduate a 4 year pre-med course :). that how it's done here in the philippines anyway. i could tell you the name of my school but you prolly heard of the name of the school, it's a boring full of boring classmates.

soooo.. mandy... how bout u, where are you from? how was valentines day? i know its 5 days late but happy valentines day!

32yo MBA student here (Go Trojans! :))

My doctor said that if ADD is going to appear on your grade sheet, it would do so in grad school. I'm starting to believe him :confused: :confused: :eek:

Hey Mandz1129!. I am a 29 yr old grad student in two masters programs: Masters of Divinity and Masters of Counseling. i am also in the process of taking my MCATs and applying to med school.

MM

I would like to get my MS in clinical dietetics some day....a lot of work....so I admire all of you in graduate school.....:)

I am 7 hours from a MS in Exercise Physiology and currently 2.5 semesters into a Master of Physical Therapy program.

Oh yeah, I'm 30 and just got dx'd (officially) today.

Physical Therapy?? 88ssp?? That's great....I was with some PT students during my first few years as an undergrad majoring in Nutrition....We took the biology and chemistry together.....I know your program is hard....GOOD FOR YOU for being almost done....:)

Yeah, it is now that my lack of focus and propensity to procrasinate is beginning to get the best of me. I will get by, though.

Hey Everyone! I'm new to the forums and as I mentioned before, I'm a part-time graduate student for my MA in clinical adult psychology. I'm really having a difficult time with stats right now, and I'm pretty frustrated. Its mainly that I am working two jobs and I hardly have time to study.
I was wondering what kinds of problems that graduate students have concerning life and studies?? I know that its different in undergrad. I bacially have been looking for a group of people who I can discuss my difficulties and coping strategies with.
Anyone have any imput??
~AMANDA~:)

problem # 1: Forget the word life! Their is no such thing! It is only a fairytale that people who aren't in grad school talk about!

Problem #2: You will ALWAYS have more work than time! ALWAYS!

have fun!

MM


Seriously. Good idea finding a group. Just remember that it is a time commitment as well and most of the time you have little to no time available.

P.S. Joan. Don't give in to the darkside! aka: Persute of a Masters

Originally posted by Mandz1129
Hey Everyone! I'm new to the forums and as I mentioned before, I'm a part-time graduate student for my MA in clinical adult psychology. I'm really having a difficult time with stats right now, and I'm pretty frustrated. Its mainly that I am working two jobs and I hardly have time to study.
I was wondering what kinds of problems that graduate students have concerning life and studies?? I know that its different in undergrad. I bacially have been looking for a group of people who I can discuss my difficulties and coping strategies with.
Anyone have any imput??
~AMANDA~:)

Originally posted by SObearCAL
32yo MBA student here (Go Trojans! :))

My doctor said that if ADD is going to appear on your grade sheet, it would do so in grad school. I'm starting to believe him :confused: :confused: :eek:

I totally agree. I had few problems in grade school, high school, and generally did well (A's and B's averages) in undergrad. Although I did struggle in some classes I wouldn't expect, and dropped a few classes...also I scored rather low on my Verbal SAT and GRE (while scoring VERY high in Math)...but it wasn't until I began falling behind in my graduate classes and struggling just to stay afloat, and did some research on ADD/ADHD, that I suspected I had ADD.

I went through 6 weeks or so of testing...and sure enough, there were many signs of ADD (also I have GAD, generalized anxiety, which complicates things further) and I was officially diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability that affects my ability to read and process verbal and auditory information--which now that I think about it, is why I have had such a miserable time in jobs where all the instructions are oral. I lose 90% of what is said! Same goes with college lectures...luckily I am smart enough to have gotten through most of school...but when I hit grad school, it was like running into a brick wall, considering the difficulty of the material (I am a meteorology student, which involves long math and physics problems) and I have just felt blown away.

Due to my ADD I've lost my tuition waiver which means I have to pay my own tuition out of pocket, and also I'm also fighting to get finished with my thesis within the next month when my assistantship expires.

Man if I had known I had ADD I would have either not gone to grad school, or else made sure I had the necessary accomodations right from the start. I'll be very happy to get a Master's and get on with my life. :uhh:

Originally posted by Mandz1129
I am new here to the forum and I am a 24 year old graduate student in Psychology. I was wondering if there was anyone here that is in graduate school or planning on being in graduate school.
:D I have respect for you to go through that.:)

My NT sister did Pyschology for her A levels(college certificate)and degree.
It is ridiculous that they teach maths as well in the degree,she struggled a bit with the amount of work they had to do.She then went on to do a councilling course as she couldn't afford to do a masters,she's still on the course now.no one was prepared to take her on with just the a level and degree in pyschology despite many top grade GCSEs as well,but now has a job at a home for mentally disabled people,she takes them out shopping and stuff,her kinda job. :D
It's not what would be expected with all the education she did but she likes it.
It's not just non NTs getting a rough deal it seems.:D

Originally posted by Natedogg

I totally agree. I had few problems in grade school, high school, and generally did well (A's and B's averages) in undergrad. Although I did struggle in some classes I wouldn't expect, and dropped a few classes...also I scored rather low on my Verbal SAT and GRE (while scoring VERY high in Math)...but it wasn't until I began falling behind in my graduate classes and struggling just to stay afloat, and did some research on ADD/ADHD, that I suspected I had ADD.


I am exactly the same way! I am 25 years old and in grad school too. grade school, high school, and even undergrad weren't too much of a problem for me. (In grade school, the teachers said I wasn't 'challenged' enough and that's why I couldn't sit still. I was always the first one to finish the test!)
Well in grad school things are a lot less structured, there's a ton more reading to do (which I am terrible at... I jump all over the place, even a stray ink mark on the page distracts me... imagine reading scientific papers will all kinds of references just begging me to leave my place on the page and go look them up), and there's not really a set schedule as to when I need to be here and when I can leave.

I would show up to work and try so hard to get stuff done, but every little noise or email or ink spot would distract me. I found I couldn't sit through the longer, more technical talks where the professors lectured off of power point rather than writing on the board. (It's a lot easier for me to pay attention when the teacher is writing on the board because I was taking notes too... kept me busy I guess). I would have to excuse myself during almost every class just to get out of the room and move around. The teachers must think I have a bladder infection of something!

well finally I went to the doctor because I realized that my lack of focus and distractibility wasn't just at school. I've always been fidgety, ancy, whatever you want to call it. I hate going to the movies because I can't sit there the whole time. After jumping through some hoops.. from the doctor to the office of students with disabilites(I felt so out of place there... people in wheelchairs, blind folks, students with much more sever problems like dyslexia, etc.), and finally to a shrink who prescribed some concerta and suggested some ways to help me get my act together.
I've only been on medicine for a few weeks but so far it seems to be helping me a lot. I can actually sit still at my desk and work most of the day. After lunch I'll sit down to work and before I know it it's 6pm and I haven't gotten up once!

I'm happy to see that there are others out there like me who only found out about their ADD in grad school. It's a real challenge, but I think with the proper help and support everything will be ok.

bye!

Hi
I'm a 25 year old medical student. I just got my concerta prescription today and will start tomorrow, well maybe. I have to go to class tommorrow and I am debating if it is a good idea to start tommorrow. Anyway, if anyone has any advice please feel free to drop some knowledge and advice.
t

Natedogg, I can sympathize with you! I did okay through college because you have time to "dittle through the studying." It was okay to read a little here and there. But when I got to professional school, my grades sank. Such a load and I could never sit in class and retain anything (I was always really good at teaching myself afterwards). So I decided I might have a problem. I thought everyone had problems sitting and listening in class--but appearently that isn't the case. Then I got diagnosed with ADHD. I got all A's on my last couple exams since my medication switch (I was started on Strattera, worked a little, but recently was switched to Concerta). All I can say is.....I knew I wasn't stupid!!! I had gotten to the point that I stopped bothering to really study because it wouldn't help anyway. Sometimes I wonder if being on medication is "cheating" in a way--I always thought that if I sat and told myself to concentrate I could....but then all I could remember from what I had just read was....concentrate, concentrate.... The medication also has helped with testing anxiety, could not think to save my life on an exam. All rational thinking left the moment I read the first question. The concerta has also managed to help me out with that a little too.

Taj
You might get an upset stomach, so take it with food, but you should be okay in class. I am in veterinary school and Concerta has been wonderful. Having little time to study such a massive load, it really helps to be able to concentrate on studying and listening in class. This is the first time in my life that I have been able to listen to an entire lectures all day!!
One thing I noticed is that I need more sleep on concerta. It really lets you know when you have "overdone" it. I get really bad headaches. Oh, and if you are a coffee drinker, you probably won't need it anymore (even if you want it). I suggest massive amounts of water. GOOD LUCK!!!

I'm a grad student. I'm getting my Master's in Counseling Psychology too. I really like it but it is very difficult to catch up with readings and assignments. I take for ever to go through the whole process of writing down my thoughts, ideas, views, then organizing the information, figuring out what goes in what not. It is difficult to take things out that I think are interesting or that I feel sound very nice even if they are not necessary. I take a very long time to do the final polishing. I'm a scary compulsive perfectionist. When I am in a hurry to do something, I don't really go faster I just go round and round in my head or I correct things compulsivelyand counterproductively. For me there is no such thing as hurrying up. This only means "chase after your tail faster". I always feel I could do a better job with all my assigments, if I just did not take forever to think and do things. Time for me goes extremely slow. I notice the difference because other people finish organizing and writing papers in 4X's less time then I do. I have to wonder every five minutes to get spurts of creativity to continue doing my work. I can work with various things at the same time but it will take me just as long and I will continue adding more tasks for myself. I process things very slowly. I'm not dumb, I'm just slow and at times it is hard for me to get the big picture. I live somewhere else it seems. WHen people talk to me I make guesses and respond things I imagine I was asked. I have been wrong many times. It is embarrassing. I got to go. I can't think very well right now. Ideas and thoughts float in my mind in no particular order. It's weird. Some times I wish I knew if I'm smart or if I'm dumb becasue I just can't decide and I continue to give myself evidence of both.

Originally posted by Celia
I'm a grad student. I'm getting my Master's in Counseling Psychology too. I really like it but it is very difficult to catch up with readings and assignments. I take for ever to go through the whole process of writing down my thoughts, ideas, views, then organizing the information, figuring out what goes in what not. It is difficult to take things out that I think are interesting or that I feel sound very nice even if they are not necessary. I take a very long time to do the final polishing. I'm a scary compulsive perfectionist. When I am in a hurry to do something, I don't really go faster I just go round and round in my head or I correct things compulsivelyand counterproductively. For me there is no such thing as hurrying up. This only means "chase after your tail faster". I always feel I could do a better job with all my assigments, if I just did not take forever to think and do things. Time for me goes extremely slow. I notice the difference because other people finish organizing and writing papers in 4X's less time then I do. I have to wonder every five minutes to get spurts of creativity to continue doing my work. I can work with various things at the same time but it will take me just as long and I will continue adding more tasks for myself. I process things very slowly. I'm not dumb, I'm just slow and at times it is hard for me to get the big picture........


Yep, Celia, you and I are two peas in a pod. Your statements above are EXACTLY my battles, too. My next quarter begins 6/1/04 (online university for MS in Psych). I'm getting REALLY freaked out.... But I'm also trying to plan ahead.... Unfortunately, my head gets sooo swirly sometimes.... Procrastination is kicking my behind!

smooch

I'm not yet a graduate student, but I'm definitely leaning that way. 3 years through my honours BA, got a solid B+ GPA so far. Aiming for a PhD in History.

And, much to my surprise, I discovered two weeks ago that I'm not just a lazy slacker. Just been diagnosed with ADHD, and in looking back I'm firmly convinced that it was the reason I've had such difficulty with my undergrad. My recent grades aren't bad, but those don't include the ones I abandoned at my last school. 4 years of full-time study, about 2 years worth of credits out of it, and a 1.9 something GPA. And that's including my last year there, when I was busting my hump and pulling mostly Bs.

Haven't undergone clinical tests as yet, so I don't have any treatment plan worked out, or even know if I'll be on medication. Hoping to have it done by fall, and hoping this means I can actually get started on my papers sometime before 2 days before they're due. I used to think I was just a slacker and avoiding the work, but after the last two years of my new school, when I'm more driven than I've ever been for anything, and have had sessions where I would be sitting, doing something useless, and mentally screaming at myself to stop, and unable to actually tear myself away and get to work. Scared me into seeking help, and hopefully it gives me a leg up next year and the years after.

Because I'd really, really like to be able to get myself to start writing those 5000 word papers more than 48 hours before the deadline. Cause heck, if I can pull A-'s and B+'s with that kind of timeframe, I'm sure I can pull them up another notch or two.

30 year-old graduate student in architecture here. thesis looms only a year away and I lack the discipline i need for it, I am sure of this. My insurance will only cover 9 visits for mental health, though, and I've had 2 already and gotten nowhere with it. the whole buggered system seems bent on putting meds in my hand and shoving me out the door. *grumble* :mad:

I'm due to take my GRE exams in October (general and biology subject test) and will start working toward my MS or PhD (depending on which school I go to and what their policy is) next fall. I'm going to get diagnosed and start meds after I take my GRE's because I think starting new meds right before I take those exams will do more to hurt than to help. I'm already really good at taking tests so I don't want to disrupt that process.

I am concerned about grad school, but I think with meds I should be able to do it. My field (evolution and ecology) involves a lot of field research and not so much sitting in classrooms, so it's hard to get bored. I'm also excited enough about the subject matter and adept enough at writing and research that I think I'll do okay. My biggest downfalls are time-management, procrastination, perfectionism, and slow reading (because of distractibility). But I know that it's pointless to blame myself, and that I just need to do whatever I have to in order to make it work.

You guys that are having problems, have you talked to your professors about these issues? I'm sure they'd rather help you succeed than see you struggle and fail. That's what they're there for after all, is to help you. I wish I had known that I wasn't just lazy while I was an undergrad. If I'd realized what the problem was I would definitely have talked to my profs about it.

...after taking ~ 20 some years to finish a BA, I surprised myself by actually managing to finish a 2 year grad degree in 2 years! Although it was touch and go--especially when it came to finishing incomplete papers and such (a classic case of "paralysis of the will") but I (not wanting *too* sound to full of myself) am really proud of this accomplishment. Yay me:)

I am due to start a 2nd program in Sept., and am hoping that the meds and coaching will make a difference in the way I get things done--you know, not being 5 hours away from deadlines or under threat of expulsion! Hopefully I can actually enjoy learning and creating instead of feeling scared and stupid all of the time! It's REALLY good to know that there are others in similar situations who are getting through tough academic programs!

5 years to finish my BA, just finished a masters in physiology and I just started my first year in medical school three weeks ago. After taking meds for four years stopped this past summer and I am hoping to complete my medical education au natural. Needless to say I am scared to death but it hasn't been so bad, we have our first exam block this friday. and of course I am parousing this forum when i should be studying

wow, lots of other med students!! http://www.mr2oc.com/images/xtrasmilies/wavey.gif

I cheated... I applied to a 6-year combined BA/MD program straight out of high school (where I graduated a year early, 2nd in the class a year above me) so I never got to do "real" undergrad. I had to take a few electives (and those were easy), but the first couple years is a lot of clinical rotations and very strenuous science courses. I wasn't diagnosed til after my first semester kicked my sorry ***, but have been doing well - on meds - since. That was almost 2 years ago

-Net

I somehow managed to complete an MS degree.

It wasn't easy for me. In retrospect I did my best work (1) while having fairly clear goals and directives (still true), and (2) with a LOT of coffee in me! I'm taking a class now, and since I just started medical treatment, I have the same focusing issues I did in college - I really have no idea how I graduated.

One of my professors always thought I had PhD potential except for my "issues" (I just found out that I had ADD - many years after graduating.)

I'm starting my PhD program in math next fall. I'm still in the application process, but I'm 100% confident I'll get admitted to at least one school.

I'm 23 and just started grad school in sept. I havn't been diagnosed with ADD but i have some of the symptoms and score 'highly probable' on those online tests. Starting grad school has been very overwhelming at times, but i'm told thats normal. For the first couple weeks I felt like everyone else knew what was going on and I was left in the dark trying to figure things out. I was driving someone home one night and she asked me if I'd finished the paper that was due the next day - I had no idea that paper was due and hadn't even looked at it yet, so I was up till 5am that night to do a no-so-great job of it. I think I have all the rest of my due dates on my calender. I've kept up with the reading for the most part, but I have a lot of trouble paying attention during my 3 hour classes (and I'm always the first one out the door at the end). There is a lot of class discussion and I tend to lose my focus if people say more than a few sentences at a time. I went to counseling services at my school last year to get help with focusing in conversations, but it wasnt helpful at all. My advisor told me I need to talk more, so I've got to find a way to keep tuned in to those discussions. I've talked before with someone from the centre for students with disabilities at my school, but the process for screening/diagnosis for ADD seems really long. I'm thinking about going to see a doctor about possible ADD instead. The wierd thing is that I'm going to be leading the seminar for my assessment class when we learn about ADHD. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the manuals for assessing ADD.

It is in fact very comforting to see so many grad students!! I also didn't realize my ADD until grad school, and even then it wasn't until after my masters degree. Until then it was pretty easy for me to "get by" (the typical underachiever! LOL). But as imatotalmess said, things got much rougher once I started my Ph.D. The reading, the distraction, but most importantly, once I finished my coursework, and didn't have someone telling me when things needed to be read, or due, etc., then I ran into a WORLD of trouble.

I've had sporatic success with various medications, and finally seem to have found a happy "medium" taking medications when necessary, and using other techniques to fill in the rest. Graduate school is difficult without ADD, and at times, seemed nearly impossible for me. But I'm at the finishing stretch now! So with due luck, I might make it! :)
Rox



I'm happy to see that there are others out there like me who only found out about their ADD in grad school. It's a real challenge, but I think with the proper help and support everything will be ok.

Hi all. Just stumbled upon this thread. I'm a 29 year old grad student in environmental policy and I'm at my wit's end. I'm having horrible focus/concentration problems and I just skipped class this morning because my Fisheries paper wasn't finished. It was assigned in September. There is no excuse for this!

I have not been formally diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, but my family has suspected it for years and one former co-worker asked me if I thought I might have it. Truth is I DO think I have Adult ADD but, like you folks, I was always an excellent student so I've gotten by thus far. Grad school is a whole different sandbox, though! I have seriously thought about leaving my grad program, but I'm already halfway through and worry that it would be a waste and/or limit my employment opportunities.

I have been in individual therapy since September and I am seeing a doctor at the campus health service this afternoon because I believe I am also dealing with depression and would benefit from medication. Perhaps I should look into formal ADD testing as well...

Hello Fishin ... I can certainly relate to your situation, and like many others on this forum have been through much of what you have. Others may likely agree that a formal ADD diagnosis is a good idea, especially if you want to try using medications (they require a diagnosis).

There are several ways you can handle the challenges of ADD, with and without medications. Working with an ADD coach can definitely help, and often newer coaches can offer their services for very reduced rates (but expect at least $100 or so a month, depending on the extent of service you might want). Getting a coach,, however, would be one of the first things I'd offer to a friend with the same situation. Even before that, however, I would likely tell them that whatever they do, do it very very soon! As soon as a person starts getting bogged down and overwhelmed in graduate school it can be very difficult to get back in -- especially if you're anything like me, and it typically takes longer to accomplish the same as a non-ADDer.
For many ADDers, however, a strong will (which seems hard-wired for so many of us) and a definite drive for the studies you undertake can go a LONG way in giving you the energy you need to get through.

I don't know that I've offered you anything new here, but I also wanted to just give you a nudge of encouragement and so you know that though it is not easy, I think of any individual, an ADDer has the capacity to appreciate their accomplishments all the more, because it can seem so much more difficult for us to get through. For someone with ADD to get to the level of graduate school doesn't seem as difficult as getting THROUGH graduate school. I wish you all the best, and it sounds like you are determined!! Use that determined spirit to find the help you need to get through and I certain you'll accomplish this goal and many more! :)

Warmly,
Rox

I do everything except completing my incompletes. When I do work on them, then for a long time I don't, sometimes I redo the work before I realize I've already done it. Can't stop researching to do the writing.

I know I'm perfectionistic and performance anxiety and want to be an expert before I submit to the field. But these are just papers that are not hard for me to write! I need somebody to lock me up until I do them ... and no internet.

Would you have any helpful advice? After a Master of Divinity I was doing my first semester of Master of English when I went into Major Depressive Disorder and got diagnosed ADHD combined. I'm much better now, but ... I would much rather read and talk to people about ADHD than do my work. Just can't seem to get over this hurdle.

Thanks for anything you can tell me about how you made yourself do the work you had to do. It is past crisis time now. I may not graduate in May after all even though all my courses are finished.

Hi hypertextthinke,
I swear I could have written exaclty what you wrote. Exact same situation. I was todally lost, but was very lucky to have one of the PhD students in the lab rescue me. She is acting as a psuedo-advisor but more of a mentor. My advisors philosophy is "sink or swim and if you don't bring in the grant money your not worth my time". So anyway she started helping me a week ago and I've almost finished a whole chapter!!!!!!:eek:
I have the same problem as you, rewriting doing more research than nesessary. The most positive thing she has done is to sit down and outline my thesis almost paragraph by paragraph. And the big one is we meet every MWF and she is the type you don't **** off. This is extremely helpful because I know I can't BS her. My advise is search out someone like this; someone who is not going to be nice. However she puts across that she knows I have it in me and there are no excuses. :) I finally think I have a grip on this thing.

Doing the research is so much more fun than writing it up!!

Anyway I know you can do it!!! "Baby steps"
AJ
PS I'm a M.S. in Entomology

Tomorrow I am loading all of my books and my laptop and going to a convent retreat center to stay for a few days. There I can sleep, show up for meals, go for a walk, pray, or do my papers. In other words, no distractions, no kids, and maybe I'll take your advice and get a mean nun to crack the whip over me to get me through those papers. I have already done enough research on them and just need to be chained to a desk until they're written.

By the way, this is my second master's. My counselor says I need to learn to write C papers. Huh.

any one here going for forensic science

Wow, lots of ppl here!
I'm soon 26, and in my last semester of my undergrad...
I'm going on to do a program so I can be a Special Education Teacher Assistant.
After that, I want to see if I can get into doing research for Educational Psychology, and then a PhD. in Special Education or something like that.
I love teaching, but I can't stand working in a system that sucks, so doing research to find how to improve the system is going to be a better career choice for me.

I just have a question about how high grades were in order to get into a grad program?
I'm in Vancouver, British COlumbia (Canada), and I think it's going to be REALLY tough for me to get into Educational Psych for a Master's. Hopefully having experience as an Sp Ed. T.A. will help.

M.Ed. in special ed