I think you hit the nail on the head regarding graduate students feeling disconnected. I completed my undergrad at UR in 1998 and had a wonderful experience. I entered the workforce and, three years later, returned to school to do a master’s degree at another university.
Upon arrival, I was craving the same experiences I had as an undergraduate. They were not to be had. But I don’t think it’s completely a university’s fault.
You see, graduate school feels like being stuck in the middle. You’re not an undergrad, yet you’re not in the true workforce. You’re a little bit older, so your interests may have changed. And for the most part, graduate students don’t live on campus. I believe close ties in college are often formed in the dorms.
On the flip side, many graduate students will probably balk at living in a dorm unless it’s financially appealing. I don’t think a university is to blame for this disconnectedness. I think the “academic puberty” that graduate school can be results in an “awkward stage.” It is what it is.
-Marci SeamplesClass of 1998
