Playlist: So You're Panicking About Graduate School

Posted byAli

on August 14, 2012

Perhaps you are taking the GRE tomorrow. Perhaps you're starting school in two weeks. Perhaps you're 20 pages into your dissertation with a bajillion more to go. I sympathize with all of you. I fall into the first category, but that doesn't mean I don't understand the heart-thudding, insomnia-inducing, gut-splitting panic that we all go through in the name of academia, regardless of what stage we're in. This play list perfectly expresses the arc of emotion I feel every time I start saying, "HOLY FUCK I WILL FLIP BURGERS AT MCDONALD'S THIS WILL BE MY FUTURE FOREVER I JUST KNOW IT." From songs that validate the panic to songs to soothe it to confidence boosters, I hope it applies to all your hysteria-causing school situations. And remember, you will do fine. We're on The Edge of Glory and we're Ready To Go.

STREAM THE PLAYLIST HERE

I Wish I Could Go Back to College - Original Broadway Cast, Avenue Q
I'm Shakin' - Rooney
Panic - Sublime With Rome
Panic - The Smiths
Do The Panic - Phantom Planet
Don't Panic - Coldplay
Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie
Be Ok (Acoustic) - Ingrid Michaelson
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - The Beatles
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga
Ready To Go [Get Me Out Of My Mind] - Panic! At the Disco

So You're Panicking About Graduate School from Autostraddle on 8tracks Radio.

Tell me your favorite stressed-out tracks below!

Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone on the team will make it for you.

49 responses to “Playlist: So You're Panicking About Graduate School”

magpiecalling
August 14, 2012 at 1:11 pm Permalink Reply

You forgot the ULTIMATE grad student song–John K Samson’s When I Write My Master’s Thesis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S5UpGx6470

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1. Gillian (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I’ve never heard this before but I love John K. I’ll always have a soft spot for The Weakerthans.
  
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Gwyn (member)
August 14, 2012 at 1:14 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I think this was just the kick in the butt I needed to tackle the other 800 million pages of my GRE prep book and sign up for the dang test. Playlist going on repeat.

Good luck tomorrow! Just act like EVERY section on the test is the one that doesn’t count and you’ll be fine (side note: why am I paying lots of money to be a guinea pig and take extra test? NOT COOL.).

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Franchesca (member)
August 14, 2012 at 1:23 pm Permalink Reply Report user

“HOLY FUCK I WILL FLIP BURGERS AT MCDONALD’S THIS WILL BE MY FUTURE FOREVER I JUST KNOW IT.”
This is how I feel about taking the GRE next semester! To keep calm and write on I listen to The Garden by Mirah. It has nothing to do with being calm but it is a strong song, and it takes strength to take a big scary test that will decide your future.

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Rachel (member)
August 14, 2012 at 1:35 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I start grad school in 2 weeks! Ahhhhhh! Thank you, Ali!

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Anna
August 14, 2012 at 1:41 pm Permalink Reply

so I’m moving tomorrow and will be starting classes in roughly two weeks. Even though I’ve been killing myself for years and years to achieve this I’ve done nothing but panic over it for about a month and a half. This is going to become the soundtrack of my life, I can tell.

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Blue
August 14, 2012 at 1:49 pm Permalink Reply

How did you know? Headed into year two and 16 hours a week of field work.

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Marika (member)
August 14, 2012 at 1:50 pm Permalink Reply Report user

The GRE is easy peasy. No big.

I need a ‘when one member of your committee thinks you’re an extreme failure but the rest think you’re fine but that one is super influential so you can’t piss her off’ playlist.

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1. anarcorpitos (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 2:48 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I know too many friends in grad school how are in need of this exact playlist you’re talking about. Boo to jerky committee members!
  
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2. Sara (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 2:48 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Marika, if you find that playlist let me know! I have a committee meeting coming up and I totally have “that guy” as one of my committee members
  Eek…
  
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3. djcapelis (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 11:28 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  That right there is why I have a spare member on my committee. Keeps them all in line knowing that any one of them could be expendable.
  
  ‘Cept my advisor. It’d probably be considered bad form to kick him off my committee.
  
  (Also I picked a bunch of people who liked me. I figure I might as well play that game on easy mode, neh?)
  
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Christina (member)
August 14, 2012 at 1:58 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I’m not panicking about grad school yet, but this playlist is also relevant to my “moving to LA in 12 days to start grad school next month” panicking! Thaaaank you.

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1. Meghan (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 11:51 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Woo! Welcome, neighbor! You coming to A-Camp?
  
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Amanda (member)
August 14, 2012 at 2:07 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I wish I had this playlist while I was still in Grad School. Now I need a Job Hunting with a Masters Playlist :p

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1. anglepoise (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 2:10 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Amen. I need the ‘HOLY HELL I JUST FINISHED GRAD SCHOOL AND I STILL FEEL LIKE MY FUTURE LIES IN BURGER FLIPPING!’ playlist.
  
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Monika
August 14, 2012 at 2:13 pm Permalink Reply

Garbage – The trick is to keep breathing
The Smiths – A rush and a Push and the land is ours
Elsiane – Mend (to fix, to repair)
Queens of the stone age – Go with the flow
The Smiths – Please please please let me get what I want
Dandy Warhols – I am a scientist :p

I have some exams in 3 weeks and I’m feeling super lazy. Good luck, ladies

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1. giles (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 7:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I think I’m in love..
  
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alison (member)
August 14, 2012 at 3:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Ali, from another Ali, I cannot decide if I’m gonna go to grad school because I panicked too hard. WHERE IS THAT PLAYLIST, PRETTY LADY? WHERE?!?!?!!)#)*(#

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Lone Wolf (member)
August 14, 2012 at 3:22 pm Permalink Reply Report user

How the frick frack did you know I’m starting my PhD next month? Always so damn relevant AS. What kind of sorcery is this?!

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Tia (member)
August 14, 2012 at 3:33 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I move this weekend and start law school in a few weeks. Stressing because I still have a ton of stuff to finish.

Most of this playlist was made in 2011 when I was getting motivated to take the LSAT:

Eminem – Lose Yourself
Justin Bieber feat Jaden Smith – Never Say Never
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
Rebecca Black – My Moment
Bon Jovi – It’s My Life
R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
The Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive
Miley Cyrus – The Climb
Sleigh Bells – Riot Rhythm
Mariah Carey – Hero
Robots in Disguise – Turn it Up
Eminem feat. Nate Dogg – Till I Collapse
Europe – The Final Countdown

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1. Ali (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 3:56 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Bahahahaha. I love “I Believe I Can Fly” in this context.
  
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  1. Tia (member)
    August 14, 2012 at 4:14 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Indeed, but maybe this would have been a better order:
    “It’s My Life”
    “I Believe I Can Fly”
    “The Climb”
    “Staying Alive”
    “Till I Collapse”
    
    The Bee Gees and Eminem belong together.
    
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Samantha (member)
August 14, 2012 at 3:34 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I’m the second thing, about a month away from starting grad school… D: Yesterday I started singing Queen’s “I’m Going Slightly Mad” very quietly and creeped myself out.

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Jo
August 14, 2012 at 3:40 pm Permalink Reply

Two weeks until I start my phd. I really want to create a “Graduate Straddlers” group on Facebook, but at&t sucks so I won’t have internet at my new apartment for another week and I can’t figure out how to do it on my phone. Anyone else wanna step up?

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1. djcapelis (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 11:30 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I think groups may be dead until THE NEW WEBSITE happens so .
  
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  1. djcapelis (member)
    August 14, 2012 at 11:32 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    That was supposed to say “insert reminder to go donate to the indiegogo campaign here”, but the website decided that it didn’t like that text and stripped it.
    
    So there’s another reason right there to support the new website project.
    
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Lani
August 14, 2012 at 4:50 pm Permalink Reply

Argghhh, so relevant to my interests. Going to grad school in Canada, so didn’t have to take the GRE, but I’m still quaking in my (vegan docmarten) boots! What if I’m the youngest and the dumbest? What if I’m not cool enough for the big city queers? How will I stay organized and on top of my game after all those undergraduate years of gay sex, drugs, and rock n roll? You know?

#Niceproblemstohave

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Panicked alright
August 14, 2012 at 4:51 pm Permalink Reply

The panicking part of this is very relevant to me right now. Found out a couple hours ago that I start my internship (final year of grad school) tomorrow… and I thought I started Monday. I am ready to be done with this grad school and paying tuition shit.

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Angela (member)
August 14, 2012 at 6:00 pm Permalink Reply Report user

HOW DID YOU KNOW?
Reapplying for grad school the second time around isn’t as scary, but it’s definitely equally as stressful.

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danielle
August 14, 2012 at 6:01 pm Permalink Reply

omgosh i love you for this. i’m taking/failing the gre in 9 days. :S

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1. Ali (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 6:39 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  YOU WON’T FAIL! NEITHER WILL I! THERE WILL BE NO FAILING!
  
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Kelley
August 14, 2012 at 6:58 pm Permalink Reply

I literally took the GRE yesterday. Good luck and remember that if the questions are getting harder you’re doing it right!

Also don’t be surprised when they won’t even let you take your Chapstick into the testing room

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1. djcapelis (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 11:33 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Everyone knows chapstick is a performance enhancing drug.
  
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This person
August 14, 2012 at 7:18 pm Permalink Reply

Wonderful! Exactly what I needed for my half hour dinner/check autostraddle break.

I’m done with the GRE but I have quals (prelims) tomorrow and Friday.

Good luck everybody!

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jill (member)
August 14, 2012 at 7:24 pm Permalink Reply Report user

oh wow thank you for this. tonight, this is my “I just flew to Oakland today to try to find a place to live in the next 4 days so I can start grad(ish) school next month and I don’t even know where to begin” playlist.

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1. Creatrix Tiara
  August 16, 2012 at 8:31 pm Permalink Reply
  
  OMG ME TOO. I just moved to Oakland two weeks ago for grad school starting next week. MEEP.
  
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Ann (member)
August 14, 2012 at 7:53 pm Permalink Reply Report user

i took a practice gre, thinking that if i did well enough i’d take it this month

my math score was so abysmal i immediately signed up for a princeton review class

i blame the patriarchy

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fonseca (member)
August 14, 2012 at 8:45 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Going on grad school tours this week; this playlist is much welcome.

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SealIt (member)
August 14, 2012 at 8:59 pm Permalink Reply Report user

All of you thinking of going to grad school:

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1. Sara (member)
  August 14, 2012 at 9:39 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  For all of you already in grad school… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovEghdXC4tE
  
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Alli (member)
August 14, 2012 at 9:06 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Taking the GRE in 6 days & I’m more worried about how often I’m going to be allowed to use the bathroom than the actual exam. Is this normal? (I know this isn’t normal) ((I know I’m panicking))

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Kelley
August 14, 2012 at 9:23 pm Permalink Reply

Don’t worry! You can definitely pee during the ten minute break afte the first two hours

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Vanessa (member)
August 14, 2012 at 10:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user

GOOD LUCK ALI YOU WILL BE GREAT I KNOW IT <3

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cathje (member)
August 15, 2012 at 7:06 am Permalink Reply Report user

This calls for an obligatory link to http://www.phdcomics.com for those of you who make it into grad school!

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1. kris
  August 15, 2012 at 1:38 pm Permalink Reply
  
  ahhh! PhD Comic is the best! the whatshouldwecallgradschool tumblr is also a lot of fun, ahaha.
  
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cavedueller (member)
August 15, 2012 at 4:38 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Good timing! I just got out of grad school orientation, and classes start TOMORROW. Also I can’t yet move into the room I’ll be renting and have been living in a tent for a week.

Yup, totally panicking here.

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Paloma (member)
August 16, 2012 at 12:21 am Permalink Reply Report user

I quit grad school to flip (vegan) burgers. (Or to be more precise, to become a cook.) And I’m still alive. I’ll try and think of songs to accompany this.

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Layla (member)
August 16, 2012 at 2:00 pm Permalink Reply Report user

What about a finishing my dissertation playlist? Sigh. Gotta admit, most of my playlists involve stuff from the ’90s … only thing that makes sitting still for long periods of time bearable is chair-dancing to Hanson.

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Sunny (member)
August 16, 2012 at 4:05 pm Permalink Reply Report user

All the top hits by The Bloodhound Gang. One of my favorites when I’m screwed- Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo

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