So, you’re thinking about going to graduate school… are you ready?
Graduate school can be a rewarding experience that may contribute to your personal and professional growth. But, before making the decision to enter a graduate program, it is important to consider your motivation.
Be sure that you’ve planned carefully and it makes sense for your own career development. For some people graduate school may seem like the best option to avoid the stress of job searching in a challenging market or it feels like what “should” come next . Choosing graduate school in haste may lead to debt, lost time, and further confusion about career options. So, before jumping into a program, take some time to consider: is graduate school really the right decision for you? Talking to a career counselor can help.
Once you are certain about taking that next step towards graduate school, here are some tips for the process.
Think about your short-term and long-term career goals. Consider your priorities, resources, and timeline for starting a graduate program. Do you want to go straight to graduate school or work for a year or two to gain experience? Think about how graduate school will fit into your current life. Everyone’s situation is unique.
Use online resources to start your search and gather information on graduate programs and the process of choosing and applying.
Network! Start with your professors, advisors, and friends in your field. They can provide great insight and recommend strong programs that match your interests.
Explore all of the factors that may influence your decision. View the schools’ websites to see available programs and special opportunities, size, location, and tuition costs. Attend virtual and in-person sessions and events hosted by the schools you are interested in. Reach out to the admissions department at your schools of interest to get connected to current students, alumni, and faculty in your program of interest. Learn about the college’s facilities and funding, student retention, career outcomes, and other things that are important to you.
Collecting key data points for each school keeps you on track and helps you to compare programs. Staying organized can help you with this. A grad school application spreadsheet is one option that where you can include the components of the application and other factors that are important to you. (application due date, cost, admission requirements, application requirements, etc.)
Trust your decision-making skills. Consider the way that you’ve successfully made decisions in the past. You may make a pro and con list, talk things out with friends and family, use your gut feeling—your decision-making style is individual to you.
