Is graduate school for me?

Graduate school is a big commitment of time and money, so don’t apply without asking yourself these questions first: 

• Are you ready to work?
  Even if you’re confident that you want to earn a graduate degree, you may need to work first, and not just for financial reasons. Many programs require or prefer that applicants have valuable work experience before they apply. 
• Have you researched your career options and how a graduate degree might affect them? 
• What are your personal and professional long-term goals? 
• What is motivating your desire to attend graduate school?
• How certain are you that you’ve chosen a career path that is right for you?
  Would a full-time job prior to graduate school help you make sure your decision is a good one? 
• What type of programs are you thinking of applying? What attributes of the program-competitiveness, cost flexibility or geography-are important to you? 
• How do your personal relationships and commitments fir into your grad school plans? 
• Do you need a break from school, or are you prepared-mentally, physically and financially-to earn anther college degree? 
• How do you plan to pay for graduate school? Should you consider working first to save money-and perhaps being able to take advantage of employer tuition plans?

While you’re considering these questions, make an appointment to speak with your academic advisor or speak with a career counselor. Talking about your plans and graduate school ambitions may help you clarify your goals.

With permission: GRAD: Resource Guide. Partnership of the IN Commission of Higher Education, IEDC, and IBJ Media. www.gradind.com.