Decoding the Graduate Student Meme: A Humorous Reflection of Academic Life
Enrolling in graduate school often begins with high hopes and ambitious goals. Individuals envision expanding their knowledge, developing new skills, and contributing to their chosen fields. However, the reality of graduate studies can be challenging, leading many students to re-evaluate their initial expectations. When the pressures of graduate school become overwhelming, humor, particularly in the form of memes, can offer a much-needed source of relief and camaraderie. These memes capture the unique struggles and triumphs of graduate student life, providing a lighthearted way to cope with the demands of academia.
The Allure and Agony of Grad School
The initial excitement of acceptance into graduate school and the anticipation of a new academic chapter can be invigorating. Similarly, the successful completion of the program brings a sense of accomplishment and relief. However, the journey itself is often characterized by countless hours of hard work, sleepless nights, and intense pressure to meet academic goals. The common saying that grad school is "fun before and after, rarely during" encapsulates this sentiment perfectly.
Despite the challenges, many individuals choose to pursue graduate studies. Unlike college students who primarily focus on absorbing existing information, graduate students engage in research and contribute to the creation of new knowledge. Furthermore, certain professions and occupations require candidates to hold a graduate degree. As one source notes, "For individuals who are convinced and determined that this is what they want to do, not only is graduate school a good choice, it's a necessary choice for them to pursue."
Choosing the Right Path: School and Specialization
Once the decision to attend graduate school is made, selecting the right program and institution becomes crucial. The factors influencing this choice vary depending on the individual, but a survey by a student loan provider revealed that the school's quality and the convenience of its location are primary considerations. Roughly 86% of respondents based their decision on these factors, emphasizing the importance of the school's prestige, academic program, and flexible coursework.
The top graduate schools vary by field. According to U.S. News & World Report rankings, leading business schools include the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Pennsylvania. For medical education, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Pennsylvania are highly regarded. In law, Stanford University, Yale University, and the University of Chicago are consistently ranked among the best.
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For students open to relocation, the United States and the United Kingdom are home to many of the world's top universities. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 lists the University of Oxford (UK), Stanford University (US), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), Harvard University (US), and the University of Cambridge (UK) as the top five institutions globally.
Historically, men and women have tended to pursue different graduate degrees. A report from roughly 15 years ago indicated that the most popular master's degrees for men were Business Administration and Management (22.3%), followed by Electrical, Electronics and Communication Engineering (2.8%), and Education Leadership and Administration (2.7%), Business and Commerce (2.5%), and Education (2.2%). For women, Business Administration (11.4%) was also the top choice, followed by Education (5.1%), Social Work (4.2%), Elementary Education (3.8%), and Curriculum and Instruction (3.6%). More recently, between 2010 and 2020, the top five subjects for master's degrees remained consistent: business, education, health, computer and information sciences, and public administration/social services. In the 2020/21 school year, over 200,000 students earned a master's degree in business. At the doctoral level, common fields of study include health, law, education, engineering, and biological or biomedical sciences.
The Rise of Grad School Memes
The number of graduate students has been steadily increasing over the past four decades, from approximately 81,500 in 1985 to over 138,500 in 2020. This growth has likely contributed to the popularity of online communities where students can share relatable memes and find support. Groups like "Grad School Memes With Relatable Themes," which boasts nearly 180,000 members, provide a virtual space for students to connect, commiserate, and find humor in their shared experiences.
Case Study: The "Grad School Memes" Phenomenon at UW
Shane Linden, a student at the University of Wisconsin (UW), launched the "Grad School Memes" page in May 2017 to procrastinate during finals. The page quickly evolved into a platform for sharing campus humor, celebrating both the struggles (e.g., failing tests, crowded buses) and triumphs (e.g., celebrity visits) of daily life at UW.
Linden described the group as an ongoing conversation, with moderators taking a hands-off approach and allowing the community to govern itself. The topics covered were diverse, ranging from organic chemistry and campus wildlife to the best and worst bathrooms and even the proper way to eat pelmeni.
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Linden noted that the meme page offered something unique compared to previous generations of campus humor: "I don’t think anything has been as egalitarian as the page. There is no barrier to entry at all." The openness of the forum allowed humor to evolve rapidly as members commented on and repurposed posts. Students also used the page to debate serious issues, such as changes to the dining plan and political diversity on campus.
Linden himself used the page to advocate for a Culver's restaurant on State Street. Although he didn't secure a commitment for a campus eatery, the experience led to a job opportunity at a public relations company in San Francisco. He attributed his success to the storytelling skills he developed through managing the meme page.
Linden expressed hope that the page would become a lasting institution, similar to the student newspaper, passed down through generations of students.
Decoding the Humor: A Look at Meme Culture
Memes have become a ubiquitous part of internet culture, often eliciting laughter and resonating with our innermost thoughts and reactions. Samira Rajabi, a lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication, explores the relationship between internet memes and society in her course, COMM 384: Memes, Media, and Meaning.
Rajabi argues that memes function based on a logic that extends beyond mere images. They can spread and be reappropriated to resonate with a wide audience. Students in her course critically examine the ideas and commentary embedded in memes, situating them within broader media systems.
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The course examines memes within the context of the social world, recognizing that online content is interconnected with various aspects of society, including the economy and politics. Rajabi also explores the connection between memes and trauma, arguing that individuals may use digital media to rebuild their assumptions about life after experiencing trauma.
Examples of Relatable Grad School Memes
One popular meme depicts a hand drowning in water, labeled "Grad students with rapidly dwindling financial + professional prospects." A second hand, representing "Universities with multi-billion-dollar endowments," reaches out, but instead of pulling the drowning hand to safety, it offers a high-five. This meme captures the frustration and anxiety many graduate students feel regarding their financial situation and the perceived lack of support from their institutions.
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