By: Emmy Petit-Frere, Peer Advisor
As the end of my undergraduate career approaches, I find
myself asking, “Is Grad School Right for Me?” I’m sure I’m not the only one who
has their doubts and fears about rushing into Graduate School. After speaking
with many recent grads, advisors, and reading up on some articles, there were 2
key questions that helped me in deciding whether Graduate School would be right
for me.
Is a graduate degree
a requirement for my desired career industry?
This is an important question. Is it truly necessary for you
to go straight to Grad School for your particular career objectives? If you’re
looking to be a lawyer or doctor, then it’s obvious you will need a Graduate degree to pursue your career objective. If it’s not, then you may not
want to rush into a graduate program. Get some experience in your field,
determine if you like it, and then revisit the idea of Grad School. The
positive of doing this is possibly having your employer pay for your graduate
program, and you’ll have the peace of mind of doing the right thing.
Will grad school be a
financial burden?
It’s time to use some of those economics skills you learned
in Undergrad to determine the cost-benefit analysis of grad school. Find out
the costs of the different Grad programs you are considering. Speak with the institution's financial assistance department; seek out grants, scholarships,
and assistantships. Make sure that this investment you will be making won’t
turn into an unforeseen financial burden.
There are many more questions that can be addressed when
considering Graduate School as an option, but these two seem to be ones most
are concerned with. While Graduate School is a great place to further your
knowledge on your subject of interest, it requires some decision making to
ensure it is the right place for you, given your career objectives.
Still having trouble figuring out if Grad School is right
for you? Swing by Toppel’s, “Is Grad School Right for Me?” information session
on Tuesday, October 15th at 6:30 pm at the Toppel Career Center.
RSVP on HireACane! Look forward to seeing you there!
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