Following a national trend, Boston University graduate students do not often flunk out, but some choose to leave the program early, officials said.
“There are many places where the student can decide that he or she will not complete the program,” W. Jeffrey Hughes, associate dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, said of the GRS curriculum. “Pursuing a graduate degree is more difficult, and the pressure makes it is just so easy to change your mind half way through.”
Graduate students are more likely to withdraw and receive a “W” before earning an “F,” according to a New York Times article published Friday.
About 200 to 250 students enroll each year as doctoral candidates, and about 180 to 200 complete the program, Hughes said.
“Graduate education in law and medicine and research is completely different,” Hughes said.
Josh Cooper, associate director for Student Affairs at BU Law, said law students often have full scholarships or a number of loans that encourage them to stick with the program.
“I think when students know when they have loans on the line, I think they have a different determination,” Cooper said. “[Graduate students] tend to work really hard; it’s what they want.”
Violet Chang, a student in the six-year Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said she and her peers are motivated to do well in graduate school because by the end of the program the students are highly goal-oriented.
“At the beginning we graduate newbies wanted to find our way, but quickly we learn to be extremely serious about our program,” Chang said.
Although she is on a full scholarship, Chang said the money has not made a difference in her level of effort.
“It’s all about the mental aspect of wanting to achieve your goal in life,” she said. “It’s the last leg of the race from school to your career. Essentially, once you graduate, you’re out there, and you’re a professional. All strings cut loose.”
College of Communication graduate student Jordan Petersen said although graduate school has been difficult, students choose to continue their education and are more self-motivated than undergraduates typically are.
“The relationship you have with your professors is much closer [in graduate school],” Petersen said. “You have their support.”
Petersen said professors in his program are less interested in failing students.
“With a graduate degree, when you start something, I can assure you that most graduate students plan on finishing,” he said.
Being successful might be more than simply being a graduate student, Petersen said, as financial factors can come into play.
“A student with a full ride will feel like the school is lucky to have them,” Petersen said. “A student with loans is carrying out the money on their own; the student with the full ride doesn’t have that hanging over their head.”
Yian Chang, a School of Social Work graduate student, said staying on top of grades depends upon a student’s motivation.
“I think that in my program the students really want to learn, and the inner motivation is really important,” Chang said.
However, Chang said it has been a struggle to get good grades.
“As an international student, I find it very difficult,” Chang said. “I know some people, not personally, who have dropped out because mastering the program is hard.”
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