Grad School Thoughts...(cont.)

(adapted from http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/guide-students-graduate-school.aspx)

Completing a grad degree has many rewards, as indicated last week. However, there are also many reasons not to go.

Grad school can be...

1. Highly competitive. Graduate programs always have fewer spots than undergraduate programs. There's competition for seats, research positions, grant money, and often as a result, departmental politics.
2. An excuse not to leave school if one is afraid of entering the workforce.
3. A challenge to one's ability to set priorities. 
4. A strain on relationships. You might be offered a grad/research assistant position and free tuition, but your spouse will have to fend for him or herself in a geographical area away from home.
5. Stressful, as grad work can  take 2–7 years of your life. Not everyone finds they can complete an MA  degree in the typical one or two years and a Phd can take many more years. Personal obligations often intrude, or lack of finances makes it difficult. Or your supervisor doesn't like your research.
6. Expensive. Graduate schools can be very expensive. If you are not going to work during your studies, or will not receive an assistant job and waived tuition fees, the cost of your education is going to mount and the debt might push you into accepting any job after graduation, out of necessity.  
7. An obstacle if you appear to be too qualified for a lower level job. During an economic downturn, should you find yourself looking for employment, having an advanced degree can be a problem. You might hear, "sorry, you're overqualified."

Grad School Thoughts...

(Many ideas in this blog are from http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/guide-students-graduate-school.aspx.)

Should I stay in school? 

Should I get another degree? 

What will this cost me? my family?

Should I work for a while? Do I need to have related experience before I apply to a graduate program? 

All of these are excellent and appropriate questions for students (and alums) considering graduate school. Your career advisor can help you consider your concerns; if you are an alum, you are welcome to make an appointment with the Center to speak with a counselor.

Reasons to go to graduate school

1. Greater earning power. This is a common reason why people go to grad school. However, it should not be the only reason, since getting a grad degree is a very serious commitment.
2. Advance your career. Many careers require at least an MA or more even for entry level positions. A graduate degree can open up a wider array of opportunities in such fields as psychology, social work, healthcare.
3. Because you want to. To learn, to think critically, to accept the academic challenge. 
4. Realization of interest. Not everyone realizes during undergraduate school what interests them and graduate work can give you a new beginning, as graduate work does not always need to be connected to your undergraduate studies. For instance, your BA might be in English, but you decide you are interested in an MA in counseling. Many grad programs prefer students to have a varied (and unrelated) background.
5. Career change. If your current career is unrewarding, an advanced degree can help you to transition to another career.
6. Upgrade your education. Your knowledge of your field may be outdated.
7. Work on advanced projects. The computer scientists who delved early into computer graphics set the standards for much of the CGI technology used in movies today.
8. Access to advanced equipment and tools. In a similar vein, entering a graduate program could mean having access to advanced equipment on campus -- such as the astronomy lab, supercomputers, rare books, and even great minds.
9. Higher potential for future promotion. While obtaining a graduate degree does not necessarily always lead to a high-paying job right away, it can open up opportunities for future promotions.
10. Not being stuck behind a desk. If you have the necessary education to qualify for a high-ranking position in your chosen industry, it means that you often have the option of not sitting behind a desk all day.
11. Employer incentives. Some large corporations have funds set aside that will pay partial or full fees for qualified employees.
12. Free tuition. In some cases, grad schools might not only waive your tuition but also give you a stipend for living expenses, in return for taking on the work of a teaching assistant or research assistant.

 More next week...Til then, visit the following website for more graduate school information:

http://www.montclair.edu/CareerServices/undergraduate/gradschool.html