Is Graduate School Right for You?

If you are considering attending graduate school, you may want to ask yourself a few critical questions revolving around having clarity about going to graduate school.

Know the Why Before the How

Before jumping into graduate school options and calculating the logistics of getting to graduate school, it is important to understand your motivations and be reminded of them during graduate school.

Know your Goals

This brings us to a broader question: Should I enter graduate school straight out of college?

Ask yourself:

Is my motivational level genuinely high enough to pursue graduate school or am I just postponing a decision about what to do next year?
Have I found that I’m not yet tired of the academic world and really do feel ready for the tougher competition graduate school can offer?
Are my career goals set clearly enough that I don’t need the benefit of work experience before hand?
Am I certain I need an advanced degree to begin my career?

Know What Degrees and Options

Once you have an idea of your goals for graduate school, the next question becomes: What degrees or options align with my goals?

Since this requires a bit of research, we have detailed guidelines documented in a separate section:

Research Graduate School Options

Bridge the Outcomes of Graduate School to Your Goals

Once you have an idea of the types of degrees suitable for your next step, the question to address would be: Will this graduate program help me reach my career goals?

Ask yourself:

Have I talked with recent graduates in my field and asked about their job-hunting experiences?
Do I know that I need this graduate degree to get a job in my chosen profession?
Do I have enough information about job prospects in the coming years for people with advanced degrees in my chosen field?
Have I checked with the college’s career office about job prospects of graduates with the degree I’m considering?

Don’t Forget the How

Keep the ‘being well-informed’ train going by thinking about: Can I afford graduate school?

Ask yourself:

Have I realistically computed the total cost of tuition and living expenses for graduate school?
Can I defer my undergraduate loans if I pursue a graduate degree?
Have I checked out the possibility of employer-financed graduate education?
If the only form of financial assistance is work as a teaching or research assistant, am I prepared to assume that responsibility?
Am I willing to continue a student lifestyle?

Here are a few funding opportunities you can check out:

Be Aware of Requirements

Considering you have a good idea about affording graduate school and how your goals align with it, do keep in mind: Do I qualify for admission to graduate school?

Ask yourself:

Will my GPA qualify me for admission to the graduate school of my choice?
Do the programs I am applying to require admissions test scores and are my admission test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.) suitable for the admission standards of a particular school?
Can I satisfy all the educational prerequisites for a specific program?
Can I satisfy a particular school’s work experience prerequisites?
Are my letters of recommendation strong?

Review Your Graduate School Research

The following is a good question to keep in mind throughout the process of applying to graduate schools: Am I sure about the academic program and school I’ve chosen?

Ask yourself:

Have I determined if the degree requires a thesis, foreign language proficiency, comprehensive exams, internship experience, etc.?
Do I know whether the program is research oriented, clinically oriented or professionally oriented?
Do I know whether my field requires a master’s degree or a Ph.D.?

Considering a Gap Year?

Around 40-50% of students take one or more gap years after their undergraduate degree before attending graduate school. If you’re considering a gap year (or two!), read more about it:

Gap Year Guide

Questions?

Make an Appointment with a CNS Career Coach