Is Grad School Right for You?

In the fall of 2021, 3.2 million students attended graduate programs* for a multitude of reasons, such as the need for an advanced degree to work in their intended field or to increase their options and opportunities. Between going to school online or in person, students have a plethora of options when considering if grad school is right for them. So, if you’re looking to climb the ladder in your current role, or considering a career change, deciding which graduate program for you is essential.

In considering your options, ask yourself the following questions.

This is important to consider while you’re still in undergrad. If you’re planning on pursuing a research-based degree, program recruiters will want to see that you have some research experience going in. Be sure to talk with your professors to see how you can incorporate lab work or research projects into your undergraduate studies to strengthen your application.

If you’re pursuing a non-research-based degree, internships are going to be essential to standing out on an application. Any field-related experience outside of the classroom will bode well for you in the eyes of admissions committees. Many MBA programs require applicants to have at least two years of full-time work experience before enrolling.

Talk to your boss or HR rep at work to find out how a graduate degree could will help you advance your career and whether the company will pay a portion of your continuing education efforts. Many companies do this through a tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance program, and it’s a huge perk you should take advantage of if it’s available to you.

Discuss with your employer whether obtaining a master’s or Ph.D. will lead to a salary increase. You want to make sure that going back to school is worth the time, effort and cost.

If you have to pay for this degree or take out loans, you want to make sure you don’t borrow more than you’ll end up making.

Investigate options for financing your education. Employer tuition assistance, scholarships, or financial aid can help finance your higher ed goals.

This is a personal question that only you and your family can answer. It’s important to communicate the demands that pursuing a degree will require, including time you expect to send in the classroom, completing homework, studying for exams, and working on group projects or research assignments. These conversations may help you determine whether you’re better off going full time or part time and may provide you with alternate ideas you hadn’t thought of yourself.

* National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372#College-enrollment.