Right now, spring break is in full swing for many college students across the nation. While freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are likely spending their days at the beach, graduating seniors are stressing over two scenarios: whether to enter the workforce or dive right into grad school. As it turns out, many college students have recently opted to continue their education versus getting a job. According to a 2015 study, first-time graduate school enrollment shot up 3.5 percentâthe biggest annual increase since the Great Recession.
With the fluctuating job market and increasing demand for top talent, going straight into a graduate program seems like a no-brainer. But what if youâd be better off spending that time gaining valuable work experience instead? Itâs important to consider your chosen career path, long-term goals, and current obligations when weighing your decision.
Going to grad school makes sense if…
Your chosen career path requires an advanced degree.
Pursuing a career in law, psychology or the medical field? If so, youâll likely need to go straight into a graduate programâand even further for some fields. Speak with professionals or professors in your chosen industry and, if needed, consult your academic advisor about your chosen programâs requirements. Some career paths actually require you to work a few years in the field before starting a grad program, so itâs important to double check.
You donât have many obligations outside of school.
If youâre young and single with no kids, in a stable financial situation and certain about the two-to-seven-year commitment, congrats! Youâre an excellent contender for graduate school. Many graduate students tend to be on the younger sideâsay, their late twentiesâbecause people within that age bracket tend to have fewer responsibilities. Thereâs honestly just no better time in your life to attend graduate school.
Youâre certain the return on investment is worth it.
Graduate programs certainly donât come cheap, and itâs important to really consider whether youâre getting your money and timeâs worth by completing the program. If the cost of tuition for two years is $100,000 total, how long will it take for you to earn that money back? Youâll also be spending yet another few years in the classroom with a much heavier course load than what youâre used to in your undergrad studiesânot including your thesis. Would that time be better served working for a few years instead?
You should hold off on going to grad school if…
You have no idea what to do after graduation.
This is perhaps the worst reason to decide to continue on to grad school. Not only are you wasting money, time and resources, youâre potentially showing future employers that you donât have a solid sense of direction when it comes to your career goals. Attending graduate school simply cannot be done âon the flyâ either. In order to succeed, you need to be able to envision the end goal after completing your degree.
You want to increase your marketability.
You read that right. Some employers view getting a grad degree directly after your undergrad as a detriment. Sure, youâll have that pretty piece of paper and entitlement to earn more money. But if an employer has the choice between hiring someone cheaper with a few yearsâ experience under their belt, versus someone who expects to earn more with less work experience, take a wild guess at which candidate theyâll choose.
You canât afford it.
If youâre looking to take out loans or ask your parents for assistance, take a step back for a second. Do you really want to put yourself in more debt? Finding yourself in this situation isnât ideal, but this should be a big sign that a graduate program isnât in the cards just yet. Get a job first and start saving some money. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to find an employer whoâd be willing to reimburse your tuition for a graduate program down the road!
When it comes down to it, thereâs no ârightâ path for anyone to take when it comes to making this decision. Itâs all about assessing your career goals, aspirations, personal situation and willingness to commit to whichever decision you make.