This trend toward the non-academic is not just happening in the humanities. According to an article in the American Psychology Association's Monitor on Psychology, 50% of students who have earned their PhDs in engineering or the sciences get jobs outside of academia. There are still job opportunities inside the ivy gates as well, but many students find it reassuring to know that their career paths are wider than they might have imagined when they enrolled.

3. I've Discovered that I Hate Teaching

Many graduate students work as teaching assistants as part of their financial aid packages. It's normal to idealize the teaching assistant/student relationship. You may not plan to just teach your students--you expect perhaps to be a mentor and a friend. The reality, however, rarely mirrors new teachers' fantasies. Graduate students are routinely assigned to teach required introductory courses which often contain some of the least-engaged students on campus. If you thought you would love teaching but now shiver when you consider the thirty pairs of distrustful freshmen eyes glowering up at you each morning, remember that you will not be teaching introductory courses forever. As you continue your academic career, you will get the chance to work with more advanced students who share your passion for the course material.

If you dislike teaching so much that you would consider leaving your graduate program in order to avoid it, try investigating other funding options. Maybe a favorite professor is looking for a research or lab assistant, or perhaps your department is home to an academic journal that needs graduate student assistants. These options can allow you to both further your career and keep your financial aid.

4. My Classmates Are All Smarter and Better-Prepared

It can be easy to find yourself intimidated by peers who seem much more accomplished than you, especially if you are a new graduate student. Just remember that most graduate schools admit only a small portion of applicants. According to a 2006 study by the Council of Graduate Schools only 58% of applications to master's degree programs and just 25% of PhD applications were accepted. Simply gaining admission to one of these graduate programs proves that you can compete amongst your peers. It is important to bear in mind that many of your fellow graduate students have completed several years of work at your school already. Their experience shows in the polish of their comments in class, their stellar publication records, and their impressive research projects. Being surrounded by very accomplished peers is actually a blessing: they will bring out the best in you, just as you will bring out the best in them.

In fall of 2006 there were nearly 1.6 million graduate students studying in the United States according to the Council of Graduate Schools. With so many students seeking out graduate study it is inevitable that some students will find that graduate school is not for them and will exit their programs before graduation. Before you join them consider the hard work you have done and the rewards you have reaped so far. More likely than not, you will decide that spending another few years to complete your degree is worthwhile."

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