One of the most common questions asked by prospective students when considering graduate school programs is about the cost. Pursuing a Ph.D. is a daunting prospect, and that’s before you consider what can be a very hefty price tag. From tuition to housing to the cost of being a full-time student for several years, the price of earning a Ph.D. is sobering.

So what’s it really like to be a Ph.D. student? While it’s impossible to fully capture the nuances of years’ worth of graduate study, with all of its trials and tribulations, a quick Google search returns a multitude of Ph.D. memes offering a rich (and funny!) tapestry of perspectives about the graduate experience. But are they true?

Completing a Ph.D. is a huge milestone, and it’s one that deserves to be celebrated. A graduation gift is a great way to recognize a newly-minted graduate’s accomplishments and acknowledge the years’ worth of hard work and commitment that made their achievement possible. But what to give them?

When thinking about pursuing a Ph.D., one of the most pressing questions for many prospective graduate students is about the time commitment. In addition to the intellectual rigor of a Ph.D. program, it also demands a great deal of time.