Is Graduate School Right For You?

What do you do when you’re unsure about whether or not graduate school is right for you? There are a number of factors -- time and expense perhaps being the two biggest -- which could influence whether or not a graduate degree makes sense for you.

Graduate school is an amazing way to build new skill sets, network with ambitious people who are changing their industry, their country, and possibly even the world, and to acquire knowledge which will help you in your future career. Graduate school can give your resume a serious upgrade – but it’s not necessarily the case that you need to spend so much time and money learning new things and networking with new people just in order to polish your resume.

Before you decide whether or not you’re going to apply for a graduate degree, you should give careful consideration to some of the following questions. Be HONEST with yourself when you think these things through.

Why do I want to go to graduate school?

Different people go to graduate school for different reasons.

Some people want to go to advance within their company or industry, others want to change their career or hop into a new industry. Some of the folks in the latter group feel like graduate school is a great place to get your feet wet in an industry in which they have little, or no experience.

BUT – is it worth it?

If you aren’t sure about the path you’re going to take after you complete graduate school, and that a graduate degree concretely adds value to your future career path, you need to stop and think about why you’re going.

Parental pressure? A bad economy where it’s tough to find jobs? Because you have nothing better to do with your time right now?

These are not necessarily good reasons to go to graduate school.

If however, you see a clear path from your graduate degree to your dream career, if you are applying for personal reasons, to prove to yourself you can cope with the challenge of advanced education, or to become a better, more educated and well-rounded person, you may be thinking along the right track. Admissions committees are typically looking for people with a very clear career and learning objectives so thinking in this way will certainly increase your chances of convincing them to accept you.

Which graduate school is right for me?

Not everyone needs to go to the most famous school; and the question of what school is the best possible fit for you is a highly personal one. Even if you have a strong background and test scores, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the most famous schools are the right place for you.

You must examine the strength of the programs at the schools you’re considering. Some schools are better suited to engineering and technical education, some schools are better suited to venture capital and entrepreneurship, and some have better career services or international study opportunities.

Don’t make the mistake of falling for a sexy brand name if they don’t have a program well-suited to what you want to accomplish in your professional career.

Researching and selecting a school which will help you fulfill your dreams can sometimes feel daunting, but it is critical to take school selection seriously, as it will largely determine the quality of your graduate education experience.

Can I afford it?

This is a serious question, given the ever-rising cost of tuition at institutes of higher education. If you manage to secure admission to your dream school, but are also offered a scholarship from your second or third choice, which is the right school to attend?

You and your family, or anyone else supporting you in your quest for education, must do a practical cost-benefit analysis. Is attending a particular school worth going into debt for? You can always apply for financial aid, but keep in mind that there are rigorous requirements for international students and that not all who apply are awarded financial aid.

Especially in difficult economic times, jobs are hard to come by even if you have a degree from a prestigious graduate school. If you’re willing to take on a certain amount of debt to finance your education, make sure you have a solid plan in place to pay your debt off as soon as possible after graduation.

In conclusion, graduate school isn’t always right for everyone. While you’re considering applying to graduate school, you have to seriously consider your personal and professional motivations, which school is the right fit for you, and how you intend to fund your education. If you would like any extra perspective on graduate school, you are most welcome to reach out to me at david@transcendadmissions.com.