Comments on: 5 Myths That Cause College Students Unnecessary Stress

By: anon

anon — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:42:02 +0000

Hi Study Hacks,
I like this article a lot. As a current student studying at a prestigious university filled with over-achievers, I am constantly faced with discussions of these myths.

Most people follow them so as to be “better safe than sorry,” which is a pity. I’m glad someone as credentialed as you can come out and speak to their falsity.

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:50:29 +0000

I asume you followed this logic and look at you, I mean you have your own blog.

I did follow this logic, and in addition to “having my own blog,” I also got into the CS PhD program at MIT. While there I watched many graduate school admissions cycles, and talked with professors on the admissions committees about who they accepted and why.

Put another way, I do know a little something about what I write about here.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:42:39 +0000

Boy, I can’t believe how that Grad Student just embarassed himself. Not knowing proper protocol for a blog such as this. Such a fool for trying to discredit your provided evidence when you yourself (and anyone who knows anything about blogs) already knew it wasn’t legitimate evidence at all. I am currently an undergraduate heading toward medical school but after reading this article (blog?? whatever) I really just would rather do it your way. Worry about the here and now when I have the here and now right? Grad/Med schools don’t care so why should I? I assume you followed this logic and look at you, I mean you have your own blog. I wouldn’t mind lowering my sights a little from medical school and just relax and get myself a blog. Excellent advice

PS I believe you that this advice would work for english majors but seriously??

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:53:29 +0000

her links just link to other articles on the same website

First time on a blog?

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:52:06 +0000

Course load matters a lot when applying to grad school. If you think these tips sound like a short-cut, its because they are, and they are totally wrong. I’ve assisted in my admissions office and they take into account course-load and x. curriculars a lot.

Serious, PhD granting graduate programs do not have admissions offices. Nor do they care much about your extracurriculars or try to figure out whether you took an unusual number of courses. The admissions decisions are made by professors in the department. You need to have done very well in your major and proven that you have the capability of handling research.

By: Grad Student

Grad Student — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:45:30 +0000

Edit to ^, her links just link to other articles on the same website, not to any actual studies; which doesn’t surprise me.

If you want to support suposedly ‘academic’ ideas, please link to real studies or papers! Don’t just link in a circular way to yourself and claim you are finding the truth!! This is false all the way around, and its painful to see.

GRAD SCHOOLS 100% TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT CLASSES YOU TOOK. DON’T BELIEVE THIS.

By: Grad Student

Grad Student — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:42:55 +0000

This whole page is so fully wrong for so many grad. programs its almost inappropriate to have it on the internet.

Course load matters a lot when applying to grad school. If you think these tips sound like a short-cut, its because they are, and they are totally wrong. I’ve assisted in my admissions office and they take into account course-load and x. curriculars a lot. Please ignore this if you are serious about applying to grad school.

By: jenny

jenny — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:35:14 +0000

Has anyone heard of UniversityJunction.com?

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:53:55 +0000

As previously stated, some of these “myths” are actually true for technical majors. Your major does actually matter in majors like engineering and architecture, etc. My major (Architectural Engineering) requires an average of 17 credit hours per semester (if you didn’t arrive with credits already) in order to graduate. Even so, I started out with 19 credit hours from AP tests and community college transfer credits and I’m still taking 16-17 credit hours per semester. It all just depends on your major. I would agree that grades don’t matter as much as one might think, but you still have to actually learn the stuff if you want to pass the FE, become a PE, or just keep a job in the real world in general. My advice is to join professional societies like ASCE, ASME, IEEE, etc. or become involved in a student organization that will teach you some kind of leadership or interpersonal skill, as this will be the important part in an interview. Don’t have your life planned out, but have a general idea of what you want to be doing after graduation, as this will help you focus your ambitions throughout college.

By: Study Hacks

Study Hacks — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:14:35 +0000

I’m glad this generating real debate. I’ve always felt that the comments section is where the real advice is wrung out.

To answer a few of the concerns from above, let me offer some clarifications:

Myth #2: I stand by the fact that adding, in addition to your major courses, the hardest possible elective courses does not help. A med school admissions committee will look at your G.P.A., and how you did in the required pre-med courses. Whether or not your stacked in extra hard courses outside of your major is not going to make a big difference.

Myth #3: I’m not saying do “no” extracurriculars. But following a high school model of doing as many as possible doesn’t offer any worthwhile benefit. Find something that interests you, take it somewhere innovative. Don’t stack up 10 club memberships.