<p>I'm wondering what exactly the difference is between the undergrad and the graduate experience at a university. Is it true that grad students are less active and less connected to the university? </p>
<p>I'm just wondering because I have this image in my head that undergrads are just studying a little and partying as well while grad students are only in the library and just not enjoying university. </p>
<p>In case the university matters, I'll be attending ut Austin probably.</p>
<p>I’m sure if you’re a graduate student and you want to attend parties, you can. I think most graduate students who have also gone through the same school as an undergrad, or at least a similar school, will likely be sick of the party life and be focused on more adult things. Student life just doesn’t appeal to them anymore. I’m sure that’s not true for some people, however.</p>
<p>Also, some graduate programs are very intense and some grad students probably don’t have time to go out partying. More of them also have jobs, etc., even full-time jobs because they are living on their own. They are just more like adults and are more interested in adult-type things.</p>
<p>As a grad student you’re expected to work 40+ hour weeks (some labs the expectations start considerably higher). Your first year or two you’re loaded down with full schedules roughly equivalent to your weeder years in undergrad, and there’s really not as much time to do as many activities as you did in undergrad. By the time you finish with classes you’re going to be working on your research, and that should really take up a huge chunk of your time. If you TA, there goes at least a day a week you’d rather be spending on research.</p>
<p>That said, you still have enough time to join a club or two, but I know now that I’ve been in grad school a few years I have significantly less free time than I did as an undergrad. I help run an IM softball team in the summer, and I try to take one “fun” class a semester, but generally my only free time in on weekends.</p>
<p>A lot of people also tend to be in more committed relationships in grad school, often times people get married or have kids before they finish. Having a stable relationship can certainly suck you away from other things you’d do on your own since you need to be sure there’s time to spend with your partner.</p>