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What are your motivations for
attending graduate or professional school? Be honest
with yourself. Do not go to graduate school out of
fear of having no other options. Choose to continue
your education because you are working toward a goal, not looking
for an easy way out.
Graduate
school will probably turn out to be a satisfying and valuable
experience if:
·
You have a clear sense of the career you
want to pursue, and if an advanced degree is the ticket to entry
into that field. College and university teaching
and research, law, medicine, and dentistry are just a few areas
in which education beyond the baccalaureate level is required.
·
You want to
immerse yourself in the study of a particular academic discipline
purely for the love of it, and would never forgive yourself if you
did not at least give it a try. Remember, you will be
spending several years studying and doing research and work in that
academic field.
The
following are not ideal reasons for pursuing an advanced
degree:
-
You haven't decided what kind
of career you want to pursue and regard the campus as a
sheltered place to "find yourself."
This view can present a real problem at the graduate level
where students are expected to have clearly defined interests
leading to an area of specialization.
-
You're getting pressure from
your friends, parents, or professors. Your
interests and motivation in attending graduate school are
what's really important.
-
You're doing it simply to
postpone the inevitable job search. Remember, a
graduate degree is not a guarantee of a job.
-
You think there's nothing you
can do "with a major in…"
Regardless of your major, keep in mind that your undergraduate
education has equipped you with many skills that are highly
valued in the workplace such as research and analysis, critical
thinking, and written and interpersonal communication.
In
deciding whether to pursue an advanced degree, you may wish to
carefully consider some important questions:
-
What do I want to accomplish in
my lifetime?
-
What are my long-term and
short-term professional and personal goals?
-
Is graduate school necessary for
me to achieve these goals?
-
Will the graduate degree enhance
or narrow my employment prospects?
-
Do I need to attend right
away?
-
Will I benefit more by gaining
some practical experience before pursuing a graduate
degree?
-
Do I have the interest and
ability to succeed in a graduate program?
-
By going to graduate school, am I
simply delaying my career planning and decision making?
-
Will the amount of time and money
spent on a program ultimately translate into greater career
mobility and financial possibilities?
-
Am I willing to meet the
extensive research, coursework, and major paper demands of
another academic program?
-
Would continuing education
alternatives, such as extension programs, vocational school,
community college courses, professional seminars, and
workshops, assist in achieving my goals?
-
Am I burned out academically or
anxious to continue with academic work?
-
Do I want to go full-time?
-
Will a master's be enough or
will I need a doctorate?
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