No matter the profession, students who earn a bachelor’s degree face an immediate, important question: do I enter the workforce or do I stay in school and earn my master’s degree? Graduate school has its advantages. In many professions, earning a higher degree means making more money and having a better chance at promotion.
For many, it’s a difficult question to answer. But they should not feel as if they are alone in this. It’s a tough decision no matter who you are, and it’s not an easy one to answer.
There are several questions to ask that can help you focus your thinking and hopefully help you make the best decision possible.
Why Do You Want To Go?
Before making the decision to enter grad school – and dedicating the time and energy needed to complete a degree – ask yourself: is this something I really need to do to achieve my career goals? This requires you to define those career goals and make decisions based on reaching them, not based on what others are telling you that you should do.
Do You Need A Second Degree?
Some occupations – business administration among them – really reward those who attain a master’s degree, which can open the door to the highest ranks of a company. Other occupations, for example journalism and communications, do not always reward those who achieve a higher degree with much more money or a chance for promotion.
Can You Afford to Attend Grad School?
This is the biggest question for many. While it’s possible to take loans out and continue your education, is that something you truly want to do? Will it take decades of your life to repay the loans? Will the money you make with a master’s offset the increased debt payments? Money is often the most difficult of all issues to resolve, but it is one that absolutely must be dealt with in an honest, straightforward manner.
Have a Clear Focus on Your Field of Study
If you can afford school and believe a higher degree will further your career, then you need to determine the exact area of study you wish to enter. It’s a field you must feel comfortable studying as well as subject matter with which you will not grow bored.
What Are My Prospects After Graduation?
Before starting school, check with professors and people within the industry that you want to work in and find out whether a graduate degree is necessary to achieve your career goals. In addition to the professions where a master’s is basically a have-to-get (law, medicine and, as mentioned before, business for those who want to go into management), a graduate degree can also be the next step toward earning a doctorate, which opens the door to jobs in academia.
However, it should be noted that jobs in academia are hard to land. As reported in U.S. News and World Report, Indiana University professor Fabio Rojas called the job hunt process for potential professors “harrowing” and wrote there is no guarantee for anyone who finishes their doctorate to get a job as a professor.
Options for Graduate School
If you decide to pursue a graduate degree, your path to earning a degree can take many different courses. If you decide early enough, you can enter a 5-year degree program where you’ll earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. There are traditional on-campus and a growing number of online courses, as well as full or part-time programs.
In most majors, colleges are becoming increasingly willing to tailor programs to fit students’ needs. Online programs, in particular, allow students to attend classes when it’s most convenient for them, fitting school around work and family schedules.
