Difficulties in Graduate School: The Gap Between Expectations and Reality

Expectations Before Enrollment

• Enrolled in a graduate program different from undergraduate major
• Prompt responses from the professor and visits to the lab
• Learned about analytical equipment beforehand

Reality After Enrollment

First Year

• First two semesters set as a learning period
• Assisting seniors' experiments while learning
• Started new experiments from the second semester

Difficulties Begin

• Seniors' experiments were physically demanding, sometimes requiring all-nighters
• Struggled with introducing new equipment and troubleshooting
• Scolded for lack of communication with the professor

Creating a Conference Poster

• Criticized when creating a poster for the first time
• Issues with microscope images pointed out, leading to doubts

Turning Point in the Third Semester

• Instructed to start independent research from the winter break
• Pointed out the lack of basic knowledge and suggested to only complete the master's program

Current Situation

• Struggling to collect data for the thesis
• Lost trust from the professor
• Instructed to leave the lab from August

Future Prospects

• Aiming for employment before graduation
• Balancing thesis writing and job search

This experience shows that graduate school life does not always go as expected. It became an opportunity to learn the importance of communication and how to cope when faced with difficulties.