Grad students must readjust

By Whitney Elliott

For the Daily

Getting used to the ins and outs of the University isn't something that seems like a typical problem for graduate students, but some new graduate students have felt lost in the shuffle this fall.

"Coming to the University is like you're a tadpole and they just drop you in a huge tank of water," said Pete Paulos, a first-year graduate student in the Taubman School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

At an age when students already have spent four years as an undergraduate making friends and contacts, first-year graduate students at the University must start again from ground zero.

Because parties, residence hall life and student organizations through the Office of New Student Programs are primarily aimed at undergraduates, graduate students said their interaction is often limited to people in their fields of study.

After completing his undergraduate work at the University of Utah, Paulos said he has met people in his classes but is only starting to build his social circle here.

"Age is always there in the back of my mind," he said. "Walking to class I see these kids who are just starting their college careers, but I feel like here I'm just as new and unknown as they are."

Jayne London, program representative of the Rackham School of Graduate Studies administration, gives great importance to social interactions in a graduate student's life.

"Grad students can be here for a long time in a very competitive atmosphere," London said. "Social outlets and integration between graduate students in different fields can greatly decrease stress levels and the possibility of a grad student leaving his or her program of study."

About four years ago a group of graduate students began "Social Grads," a group that brings together those new to the University who want to meet other new students in a relaxed environment.

Physics graduate student research assistant David Chin, who received a master's degree at Oregon State University, has been involved with Social Grads for two years.

"We provide lightly structured, low-stress events as an alternative to the bar scene for people to communicate with other grads who they wouldn't see on a daily basis," Chin said. On Saturday, the group held its second annual Fall Kickoff Picnic at Island Park.

Chin said the event, which was open to graduate students and their families, attracted nearly 400 to the site.

The group is sponsored by the Rackham administration and Rackham Student Government.

"Icebreaker" events are planned throughout the year for graduate students to meet each other and realize they aren't the only ones who don't fit the typical student profile.

Students can visit the group's Website at www.umich.edu/~socgrads to find out more about upcoming events like coffee hours, which will begin next month, and ice skating outings.