text: for those students in graduate school, how is graduate school different from college? what are some advantages and disadvantages of graduate school compared to your undergraduate education? what do you love the most about graduate school? it depends on your field and the caliber of school you're interested in. medical school and law school are very intense from start to finish, whereas non-professional phd or edd programs are not as hard on your hair color (and/or hairline for males). but highly ranked programs will be very competitive and cut-throat in any field.   i'm working towards my phd in economics in a second-tier program. i love graduate school for lots of reasons. for one, my classmates are amped up about learning and researching. as an undergrad, i was in a small minority because i liked school. also, my graduate education will earn me a starting salary 100% higher than what i would have got straight out of undergrad. i get a full tuition waiver and a living stipend in exchange for some mild work, so i won't have to go into debt to get this degree.  the list of disadvantages could be pretty long, too. my friends that got jobs after undergrad are making grownup money, living in grownup houses, getting married, starting families, etc. i won't be able to do that for four years (although some grad students start families while they're still in school). also, i hear that dissertation advisors can be real pains in the a**.   all in all, grad school is right for me. it's up to you to decide if it's right for you, and getting input from other veterans is a good start.