Here Come the Questions: 25 Things NO Grad Student Wants to Hear

 As the graduate school years go by you will find that you will be hit questions left and right.

Ugh…

At some point, they will start to haunt you like the Thriller MJ taught us about. And while most people mean no harm,  it begins to feel like people are intentionally disrupting your space and happiness as if you’ve failed to meet some sort of internal deadline they set for you. 

If you’re like me, you need to hear no matter how many questions you’re asked, their words don’t define you. Besides, it’s  like I always say, your journey is your own. But for now lets just chuckle and side eye at some of the most commonly said things on this journey called graduate study–

1. So you’re like a medical Doctor?

2. Why does it take so long for you to graduate?

3. When do you graduate?

4. Are you done yet?

5. You must really like school, you can’t stay away.

6. Are you done yet?

7. You have to write how many pages?

8. So what are you going to do with that degree?

9. You don’t really need a doctorate.

10. Why didn’t you get a Ph.D? No one respects an Ed.D (mainly comes from people not getting their Doctorate)

11. You getting a Doctorate? You’re going to be single forever, no man wants a woman who has it all together.

12. That Doctorate is intimidating to men so maybe you shouldn’t bring it up.

13. Are you done yet?

14. So when are you gonna get done?

15. How are you not done? It’s been forever.

16. You’re better than me, I would never.

17. YOU’RE getting your Doctorate degree? Oh wow… (usually said by shocked white people who then follow up with “isn’t affirmative action awesome”? or some other idiotic excuse to make them feel better)

18. I mean it shouldn’t take long to write a book, I can write a book so why is it taking so long for you?

19. You want to get done don’t you?

20. If I were you…

21. You know what you need to do? You need to…

22. You’re done with classes so why aren’t you graduating?

23. I don’t get it.

24. You don’t need it to be successful.

25. So when are you done?

So what do you think about this list? How many of them have you heard already? Do you feel it helps or hinders your process? What would you add to the list? Post your thoughts in the comments below.