- Is grad school right for me, and for my career direction?
- Should I go now or later?
- What kind of program should I pursue?
The best way to make these decisions (and do try to think of them as three separate decisions) is to ask yourself a series of questions, and be honest with yourself about the answers. Going to graduate school is a big commitment of time, money, and effort. We urge you to take your time and really think about the “why, when, and what” of the graduate school decision, before you think about the “where.”
Before you read further, right now, take a few moments and write a paragraph (just for yourself) about why you want to go to grad school. Be as honest as possible. Then read and think about the questions below, and re-write your paragraph incorporating any new thoughts or insights.
- What are my short-term and long-term career goals?
- Is graduate school a necessary pre-requisite for achieving my goals? How do I know the answer to this question?
- Do I have the academic or career interest, enthusiasm, motivation, and coursework to persist in and succeed in a graduate program?
- Am I prepared to do the extensive research, coursework, and writing for an academic program at the graduate level?
- Am I motivated by a desire to postpone my entrance into “the real world?”
- Do I have the financial resources available to me at this time to cover the costs of graduate school? [A later section will look at financing considerations.]
- Will the time and money spent on a graduate program ultimately translate into the greater career mobility and financial rewards to which I aspire?
- Are there alternative educational programs that would assist me in attaining my goals, e.g., technical training, specific courses, professional seminars, practical hands-on experience?
- Do I have the grades and/or personal experience to get into the kind of program that interests me?
- Do I believe that “everybody” goes to grad school?
The answers to these questions might lead you to affirm your strong desire to go to grad school immediately upon college graduation, or they might lead you to consider taking a different route and working for a few years before you go.
Remember that once you begin working, you will learn a great deal more about the realities of any given field as well as about yourself. You might discover a particular aspect of your field you hadn’t really thought about before, or you might even find a whole new area of career interest. The extra time will give you an opportunity to re-focus and choose a program that is right for you. You might even be a more attractive candidate to top schools if you bring some years of work experience with you as a student.
On the other hand there are some people, and some career paths, for which direct entry into a graduate program makes a great deal of sense. You get continuity of learning, an earlier entry into a professional field (for example, law), and you don’t have to give up a professional salary that you have become used to. (Although you might be able to go to school part-time, and perhaps your employer will pay for some or all of your tuition.)
If, after reading this section, you would like to talk the decision
over with someone, please feel free to call our office at 617-353-3590
and make an appointment with a counselor.
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