Deciding If Graduate School Is Right For You
Deciding on whether or not to attend graduate school is a decision that requires careful thought. There are several questions you can ask yourself to assist you in this process.
1. Do I really love the field enough to obtain an advanced degree?
Take some time to investigate your field of interest before applying. Talk to alumni or professors in the field and read resources on the subject. You will need to be enthusiastic about your field of interest to keep up with demands of graduate life.
2. Is an advanced degree required to enter a particular profession or obtain a certain level within the field?
Some careers in medicine, law , psychology and education require an advanced degree. For others, a graduate degree can enhance your earning power in an occupation and can influence how far and fast you will advance in your field.
3. Do I have the financial resources to cover the cost of graduate school?
There are a number of different ways people fund graduate studies. Saving money for a few years or obtaining loans, grants, fellowships and assistantships are a few options. You may even find certain foundations that provide funding for graduate school.
4. Am I burned out academically? Do I need to take some time off? Do I have the motivation to stay in school for one to seven more years?
Some people find that taking some time off to "discover themselves" and/or gain work experience helps to develop more clearly defined goals. They also find that they have a better perspective on life the energy to invest themselves in their education. Some graduate schools strongly prefer students with some prior work experience in the field.
5. Am I going to graduate school for the right reasons? Are you postponing some challenging decisions by going to graduate school?
Some students want to continue school because they don't feel ready to meet the demands of 'real life' or are not clear on what career to pursue. Graduate school is a large commitment of time, energy and money. You would do best to take time to evaluate your reasons for graduate school before committing to a graduate program.
6. Do I want to go to school full-time or part time?
Going to graduate school full-time allows you to interact more closely with your colleagues in your program. Some programs require you to attend full-time and it may be difficult or not possible to get some types of financial aid without attending full-time. Attending school part-time does allow you to work in the field, earn money and complete your degree during a longer time period. You may even work in an organization that is willing to foot the bill for graduate school.
7. Do I have the personal qualities and skills that are needed to be successful in graduate school?
Although there is no ideal profile for the successful graduate student, there are some qualities that will enhance the likelihood of academic success. Intelligence, initiative, self-discipline, as well as time management skills, focus, and persistence are important. Most graduate programs will assume that you maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. The ability to establish good working relationships with fellow students, faculty and internship mentors is also important.
8. Should I attend right out of undergraduate school, or work a few years?
There are advantages to both choices. If you decide to attend graduate school directly out of college, most likely you will still be in 'studying mode.' Many students find it easier to finance graduate school when there aren't other major financial obligations such as marriage, mortgages, and children. Undergraduate loans can be deferred when attending graduate school, as well. Going to graduate school after a few years of work, as stated above, allows time to earn some money and gain some experience in your field. |
.png "PDAP_E3_Graduate") |
.png "Graduate Application Workshop") |
|
|
|
Be prepared for your admissions interview with
• Online interview prep
• Choose from graduate,
medical, and law school
admissions practice interviews
• Grab a webcam and go!
Visit sbu.interviewstream.com to get started or click here for more information. |
|
.png "SBU Grad Programs") |
|