On Graduate School

Graduate School.
There is no better way to increase your value as a coporate employee than attending graduate school. There is NO OTHER WAY to become a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, lawyer, or college professor, than graduate school. Lastly, there is no better way to increase your debt to the government and the beautfiful miss Fannie Mae than graduate school. Its a serious endeavor, seriously. So, here is my advice to those of you who plan to go to graduate school (in hopes that you do not make the same mistakes I did):
1. Take it seriously. Don't make the decision the same way you did for your undergraduate institution. "I got in. My homie is going too. I'm there bro!"
2. The campus is nice. SO WHAT. Check out what is really going to matter, the LIBRARY, and other research facilities where you will and should be spending most of your time.
3. Talk with the students in your prospective program, and find out how many people graduate within the supposed 2 years or however long it takes to complete your program. How many who start finish? Do they finish on time or are they working on their thesis for 3 years? Are the professors committed to helping you with your thesis? These are key questions. (The grad rate in my progam is about 10%. Had I known that before I came here....)
4. Take the GRE Test or whatever test you need, early, and probably twice. A good score doesn't seem to help that much, but a bad score can hurt, get it? Just take it, get a decent score, and do not be intimidated by any high-profile programs. Apply to them all, if you're interested.
5. Prepare to go through an undergrad withdrawal period. On your new campus as a grad student, you will feel like an old man/lady. You will miss them good times in undergrad, kickin it with your respective "crew", like a family, always having people around. Grad school seems to be much more lonely, at least in most cases.
6. Be prepared to see competitive attitudes even from your professors. Its not always like that, but in some programs you will find a few who find you and your great potential as a threat.
7. Be prepared to be broke for another 2 or 3 years. You will be flat broke, rockin the same shoes you wore in undergrad, no fresh haircuts, none of that, while your friends from undergrad are making bank at whatever company, driving new cars, staying in hooked up apartments in the city, kickin it every weekend. You may be salty about that, but don't worry. They are just as jealous of you because you are pursuing your dream going to grad school and all that.

I don't want to sound like I made a mistake in coming to Howard University. Everything happens for a reason, and I was drawn here for some reason. Things are working out for me in other ways, but I have definitely been disappointed with the my program. That's life. Learn to adjust and make the best of whatever situation, or you probably won't get too far.
PEACE!