<p>Or is anyone else slightly disturbed by the number of people on this board who are not yet in undergrad and already have their heart set on a SPECIFIC graduate program??</p>
<p>The reality that a graduate degree is necessary sinks in. I don't feel repulsed by the posts. I see this as a reality check.</p>
<p>Sure, a graduate degree is important in this job market, but 1) it's simply not that critical which grad program you go to (there are a variety of good programs in any field), 2) your interests may change in 4 years of undergrad 3) the profs you're interested in at X grad program may not even be there in 4 years!! I'm just afraid these kids are digging themselves into a hole of "OMG IF I DON'T GO TO YALE I'LL DIE!!!" when they really need to be worrying about doing well in undergrad!</p>
<p>I fully agree. Social life and happiness matters a lot in college, not whether or not the college <em>might</em> get you into a top grad school 4 years down the road.</p>
<p>It's strange, but I'm not too disturbed. People plan ahead obsessively, and often not realistically. I remember some of my Grand Life Plans from back in the day.</p>