Going back to grad school - Is it for me?
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When I graduated with a bachelor’s degree, I had no desire to go to graduate school. I had a job lined up for me and saw no reason for a Master’s.
A year after graduation, however, I was chomping at the bit to go back to school. I ended up applying for an MPA (Master of Public Administration) program in the area and am glad I did so.
For me, there were a few different reasons why I wanted to go back. I missed the classroom environment and getting to discuss hot topics with so many thoughtful people from different backgrounds and experiences. I felt more productive and satisfied with my time when I was doing homework and studying. Also, the perks of being a student are great too, with access to the campus facilities, student discounts, and so on.
Grad school isn’t for everyone, however. I certainly don’t think it is necessary for a person to have a Master’s degree or a Ph.D to be successful. My supervisors, who are looked up to by the community, do not have Master’s degrees, and they have so much experience that I still don’t think they need them.
On the other hand, I would emphasize that anyone can go to grad school if they want. I've had classmates who while in school were planning their wedding, starting their own business, and even working full-time while raising young children.
Factors to consider when going to grad school
Because grad school isn't for everyone, there are a few things I would suggest to consider before starting that application:
- Do I WANT to go back? In my opinion, it's almost impossible to go back to school if you really aren't motivated to do so. You have to want it if you are going to commit all of that time and effort for a degree - you don't just get a degree in a snap (or maybe if it's that easy, then it's not that great of a degree program anyway).
- Do I have the funds to go back? Some quality graduate programs are very reasonably priced. Others not so much. However, financial aid still exists for grad school. I got a scholarship from my community foundation. Some companies also have education reimbursement programs that will reimburse you up to a certain amount for tuition, books, and supplies.
- Will a Master's or Ph.D help advance me at my workplace? In the long run? I work for the government, and these days, you don't get raises if you earn a graduate degree. However, it can help you if you're applying for another position, even an internal position. I think that having the dedication to earn another degree can signal something to an employer. Remember that different Master's programs can mean different things; some are more theoretical and some may be more hands-on and practical (i.e. my MPA program was very theoretical, but my partner's computer engineering program was very practical and he learned a lot of things that he used at work).
- Do I want to try something different? Maybe that fruit science degree didn't quite do what you were hoping it would while you were an undergrad. But maybe now you're interested in teaching... and that's okay! Go for that credential and you'll still be very qualified and desirable. Many employers focus on the Master's more than undergrad. If you choose to go to a prestigious institution for grad school, employers may allow that to overshadow a less-prestigious college that you attended as an undergrad.
- Do I have what I need for a grad school application? There were a few questions that I had when I started my application, such as, "Who will I ask for a recommendation letter?" I thought about my professors, project supervisors, and employers and ended up getting what I needed. I also didn't need to take the GRE, GMAT, etc., which was nice, but don't let those standardized tests stop you from applying for the program (unless you REALLY don't feel like studying for it, in which case maybe it's not time for grad school yet...).
- Do I have the time for grad school? As I stated before, I've seen lots of superpeople who had no problem with grad school. For me, I found that I had less time to do other things in which I was interested, and when I finished my grad school classes, I realized how much time I could have to hang out with friends, continue my foreign-language studies, scrapbook, etc.
Thinking about graduate school?
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Additional Resources
- Best Graduate Schools | Top Graduate Programs | US News Education
Find the best graduate program for you using the US News Best Graduate Schools rankings. - Graduate Degree Programs | Princeton Review
Get a free graduate school admissions advice and find the best graduate degree programs that match your educational goals. - Colleges.com - U. Magazine
Colleges.com offers a free college search, scholarships, college rankings, online education, financial aid and other education resource tools for students and adult education. In addition, U. publishes U. Magazine a prominent college lifestyle magazi - Considering Graduate School? Answer These Questions First
Deciding whether to attend graduate school and earn an advanced degree is a major life decision. Before you do decide, answer these five questions. - What Is a Master's Degree Worth? - NYTimes.com
The pros and cons of putting faith -- and money -- in a graduate education.
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Outstanding tips. Well presented and a great guide for determining if one is geared for continuing on with a Grad School education. Gives me a lot to consider. Thanks for putting it all down on the page for us to easily bookmark!
Up and awesome.
Cheers~
K9
@Flora-- I love the thought of HubPages allowing you to be a student of online publishing!
Fantastic Hub, chocked full of good points and questions to ask oneself;beneficial to both traditional and non-traditional students. I fall into the latter category, and at this stage and age continuing on toward the Master's immediately, is par for the course in the short term. Because of the Major I have decided upon - International Studies with an emphasis in Peace Studies the PhD must follow, to put me in a better position to work globally.I do plan to take about 3 months hiatus between each phase, to regroup and mentally prepare. Thanks for the Hub
Thank you all for your comments and for sharing your unique experiences!
First of all, congratulations on attaining your own advanced degree. As a public school teacher/administrator, going on to grad school was just about mandatory and I'm glad it was. I earned a M.Ed in school administration and it opened many doors. Your hub offers some terrific guidelines for anyone considering going back to school. A very helpful hub. Voted up and useful.
Great advice!
Thank you Husky and DailyMessenger!
You Betcha!
Been there and done that! Glad I did.. see my profile... Congratulations!
No Master's Degree No Phd no interest.
I definitely don't want to go back to grad school, but I appreciate the Hub! I think a lot of people just go on to grad school by default, so it's great that you've shared these important factors to consider... I wish that everyone HAD to really think about these things before committing to more school!
This is all very good advice. A couple of years ago I was considering going to graduate school, and although I had the motivation I figured our family couldn't handle the expense since our two children were about to head off to college themselves. A friend of ours, father of 3 with a job in pharmaceuticals that requires a lot of traveling, just earned his MBA after completing an online program for a couple of years. If there's a will, there's a way. Congratulations!
I loved school but never had the chance to go to High School or university. So good for your to go on.
It took me 7 years of night classes and I loved every grad school class. I agree that a big consideration should be will it help one's career. What I loved about grad school was that I was learning things in my career and it allowed me to focus exactly on a particular set of classes in Instructional Design and Technology.
Thanks for your great tips and hub. :-)
School is still important in modern society. Thank you for your sharing.
Useful hub for anybody thinking of graduate school. The video backs up the text very well.
Thank you all for your comments and feedback!
Great hub!
I'm at a point in my life where I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, even though I graduated from college 11 years ago. For that reason, I am holding off on grad school but that could always change down the road.
The list of things to consider that you compiled is very thorough. I think I will bookmark this one in case I ever get the urge to return to the classroom.
I'm thinking about going back to Grad School. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us.
I am in the process of working with a few friends who need help with Grad school essays. The application is a long and complex process, which is really important is plan for. Thanks for this Hub - its well-written and takes a lot of situations into consideration.
Slappy, thanks for sharing your perspective - anyone can go to grad school, years after getting and undergrad degree if you want. Thank you all for your comments!
I have a BA and i recently went back to school & the market bottomed out. No jobs still. It is eye opening to go back to college. I say this because i have 2 kids, a house to maintain, 2 pets, and everyone else's schedule to consider. I had a ton of homework. I burned out. Now I am just hubbing. I did get fabulous grades...but its hard balancing everything. Good luck!
Alphagirl, thanks so much for sharing your story. It may be hard to stop once you've started, but sometimes you have to think about the bottom line, and if the benefits don't outweigh the negatives, then it's time to move on.
I too love to go to school and enjoy the classroom conversations or should I say debates. What a place to learn. Great Hub. If the money were there I would be back in school without a hitch.
Incredibly insightful! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Bachelor degree is the most important for the carrier. A high school graduate makes around 20K in a year while a bachelor degree holder makes around 50K but who finishes masters make around 60K, so it raises but not that much.Phd is for your personal, so that you can use Dr. before your name.
Source: my Macroeconomics class.
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This was an interesting article, I am considering going back to graduate school within the next year, so I am trying to digest (or at least ingest) as much information and ideas on the topic as I can. I completed part of a grad degree immediately following undergrad, but when I realised I had no interest in the subject, I left. I think that past experience is making this foray into grad school even more nerve racking!
ElleBee, I did the same thing! Don't worry, take your time and you'll find something of interest to you.
FloraBreenRobison 9 months ago
I have a BA in Psychology (Major) and English (Minor). Certainly, if I wanted to pursue a degree in Psychology, most careers would require at least a Masters and for me to continually update my courses as Sciences are always advancing. I used Psychology as a compliment to my English. Originally, my major and Minor were switched, but with burn out I made the decision to make English my Minor instead. I do not have the funds to go to Graduate school. However, there are always shorter programs that involve updating your skills. I see my time here on Hubpages as being a student to the subject of online publishing.