After four years of college life, and holding an undergraduate degree, you are faced with a big question: do you find the first real job and start paying off your education - or do you find a graduate program that will take you to another level?
There is no formula. You had an idea about a career path when you started college, and that idea may have changed. And now, after four years, you have to face a checklist again. Fortunately, it is very difficult to make the wrong decision here. You just need to consider your academic and career objectives.
Going Straight to Graduate School
Certain graduate programs are best to enter immediately after finishing an undergraduate degree. These include the more intellectual and academic areas of study. Pre-med majors, for example, usually enroll in medical school immediately following college graduation. If the ultimate goal is to become a doctor, then the quickest way to that goal is to obtain an M.D. degree. In this case, a break between undergraduate matriculation and medical school typically doesn't work.
Getting Some Real World Under Your Belt First
In many cases, working in the real world for a few years is a good idea. In fact, there are some graduate programs that prefer their students have non-academic experience in the field before enrolling. Specifically, those who wish to pursue an M.B.A. may be wise to work in their area of interest for two to four years before going back to school.
There are several advantages to this. First, certain classes in an M.B.A. program will seem much more relevant and informative if you have the kind of real-world experience that helps clarify the lessons and theories being taught. The second advantage is that more and more businesses today will pay for the employee's graduate school fees. Some companies require the employee to promise (in writing) to work for that company for a set number of years after the attainment of the degree in order to ensure that their investment is worthwhile. So from a financial point of view, having an established relationship with a company that is willing to help defray the costs of a graduate education is, literally, priceless.
Deciding That You Have Had Enough School
For many, graduate school is just not the right option. Some fields simply do not call for any sort of advanced degree. This is not a reflection on the merits of those fields; only a reflection of the real-world responsibilities inherent in those areas.
It is important to remember that graduate school will always be there, and that you always have the option to go back if you choose. The most important thing to remember is that there is no shame in not going to graduate school. There are plenty of highly intelligent and successful people enrolled in them, and there are plenty of highly intelligent and successful people not enrolled. The key is to do what is most suited to you, your career, and your goals. You can become a success whatever you decide. Just make an informed, mature decision, and the rest will likely follow.
How to Choose a Graduate School or Program
There are a number of basic factors to look at when you are considering different graduate school programs including:
- Quality and reputation of the school and department
- Quality and reputation of the faculty
- Type of program (format, flexibility, teaching methods)
- Your interests
- Cost
- Location
- Resources/facilities
- Other students
- Outcomes
The list is quite extensive and could actually be longer. While some of the considerations are obvious, there are some you may not have thought of. We will briefly discuss the main points.
Quality and Reputation
Graduate school is different from undergraduate work in that the quality of your program is typically measured more by department than by the overall institution. While being part of a quality institution is still valuable, you want to investigate how the individual departments are viewed by people in the field, how they are rated on academics and research, whether they have well-respected faculty, etc.
Faculty and Your Interests
Faculty is extremely important when pursuing a graduate degree because you typically need to work closely with a particular faculty member, especially if you are earning a Ph.D. Those completing doctoral work will want to investigate the research interests of faculty at different institutions in order to find someone whose research interests match or complement their own.
Type of Program
Depending on your field and whether you are pursuing a Master's degree or a Ph.D., you may have several different types of programs available to you. Many programs are being offered in a distance format today that may allow you to earn your degree without relocating or giving up your current job. Many programs are also designed to allow evening and weekend classes.
Location
On the other hand, if you are considering a more traditional on-campus program, it is important to consider the location. Visit the schools. See what you think of the neighborhood, the housing options, the atmosphere, etc. If you are going to be spending several years there attending school, it is important not to be somewhere where you will feel unsafe or cannot afford the cost of living.
Resources and Facilities
Another important aspect for some programs may be the resources and facilities a school has at its disposal. If you are engaged in a research degree in the liberal arts, you may want the university with the best library. If you are pursuing a Ph.D. in the sciences, you want a state-of-the-art laboratory and equipment at your disposal. Once again, visit the school and investigate what is available to you as a student.
Other Students
While certainly less important than the faculty, the other students in a program can be a factor in how positive your graduate school experience will be. You should talk to current students when visiting schools as well as determining the caliber of students a program generally has. You want people who are like-minded and can both challenge and support you as you pursue your degree.
Outcomes
At the end of the day, you want to know that after you get your degree you will have an opportunity to either work or teach in your desired field. You are pursuing a degree with a purpose, and you want a program that can help you achieve your goals. Get the facts. Find out how long it typically takes people to complete the graduate program you are considering at each school. Find out the placement rates for their graduates. Talk to current and past students to get their impressions. Whether your degree will help you get where you are going should be carefully considered before choosing a school.
How to Afford Graduate School
GradPLUS Loan
Federal GradPLUS Loans are available to credit worthy graduate and professional students who have remaining needs that are not covered by Stafford Loans. ISM automatically puts all GradPLUS loans on an in-school deferment at the first disbursement date. The interest on a GradPLUS loan is the responsibility of the borrower from disbursement through payoff regardless of status.