| Is Graduate School Right For You? |
| Going to Graduate School is a big decision. Attending Graduate School requires a large amount of time and money. There are some crucial points to consider that might be helpful when making this substantial decision. |
Reasons why Graduate School may be the right choice |
| If you are set in your career path and your job of choice requires post secondary education. Some of these jobs include: lawyer, doctor, professor, investment banker psychologist, etc. |
| If you have a deep interest in furthering your education in a certain area. Remember though that time and money will go into a degree that may not be job specific. Only take this route if you have the financial resources. |
| If earning a Graduate Degree will allow for career advancement or a more lucrative position within your field of interest. |
| Reasons why Graduate School may NOT be the right choice |
| If you are not sure what you want to do with your future and you need a way to avoid committing to a life in the workforce. |
| If you are unsure about what you want to study |
| If you think is "sounds like a good idea", but are not sure why. |
| If you are not sure if you can devote a large amount of time and energy to studying. |
| If you simply want to stay in school longer to avoid "real life". |
Points to think about |
| If you are not sure about a specific career, getting some work experience in the field is the best thing you can do before you spend thousands of dollars on a Graduate Education. You may find that a certain career is not what you expected it to be, or is just not a good fit for you. It is far better to figure that out first! |
| Some programs, typically MBA and Ph.D. programs REQUIRE a number of professional years of experience before entry into a program. Take advantage of these required years in the workforce to think about how to best continue your education within the field. |
| Can you afford to start a Graduate Program right out of college? It may be necessary to work first or look into Grants, Assistantships, Fellowships and or Scholarships. The process of applying for these programs takes time and research. |
| Talk to people who have done it. Take advantage of the information you can gather from people who are in Graduate School or who have completed a program. First hand accounts of experience will answer questions about the nature of a specific program, the amount of time and effort required and when best to start. |
| If you have been highly successful while in your Undergraduate Program and feel you are in an academic "groove", it might be best to continue with your studies right out of college while you are fresh and motivated. |
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| ** Remember that Graduate School is not like Undergraduate where you have the opportunity to "sample" classes, majors and types of disciplines. You have to be sure a program is right for you before you enter it. |
