For most career fields, a graduate degree will enable you to be more competitive in the job market, earn a high salary, and access more professional opportunities. However, depending on your experience level, it may or may not be necessary to obtain a degree directly after graduation. As you're debating whether to enter grad school right away or take a gap year, here are 4 questions to consider.
1. Are you passionate about the career that you want to pursue?
Graduate school is tough and requires a lot of your time and energy. However, all those sacrifices are worth it if you are passionate about what you will be learning. If you are, then going to graduate school right away will give you the opportunity to pursue your passion sooner. If you're not sure, then taking a gap year will give you more time to explore your passions and see if the career is a good fit.
2. Are you a strong applicant for the graduate program that you are considering?
Most graduate programs are competitive and require stellar grades, recommendations, and standardize test scores. If you're a strong applicant, then deciding which graduate school to attend should be more of a concern then whether you should go. If not, don't let grades discourage you. A gap year is a great way to boost your application by giving you more time to volunteer, intern, retake standardize tests, research, and gain valuable work experience.
3. Are you burnt out from your undergraduate years?
Many students, who are graduating from undergrad, have been in school non-stop since their first day of Kindergarten. With that being said, it is important to self-reflect and assess whether or not the summer is enough time to mentally recharge before graduate school. If you answered yes, figure out what is causing your burn out so you can modify your behavior. For example, when I was an undergraduate, I was involved in a lot of extra-curricula activities while working part time, which made me to feel overwhelmed. Therefore, when I decided to go to grad school, I knew that my participation level had to decrease so that I could focus more energy towards my studies.
4. Can you afford the graduate program that you want to attend?
You won't know the answer for this until after you applied, gone through the financial aid process, and reviewed scholarship opportunities. However, the cost of graduate school may require that you to take out credit based loans (Direct PLUS for Grad Students, Private Loans, etc.) to cover your tuition, fees, and living expenses. If you cannot afford to attend the graduate program, taking a gap year will give you the opportunity to put yourself in a better financial position. For example, you could participate in programs, like AmeriCorps programs (City Year, Teach For America, etc.) or Fellowships, that can provide you with money towards your educational expenses; You would have time to apply for more scholarships or research graduate assistantships; Or you can live with your parents and work to save more money and/or potentially build your credit.
If you answered YES to all of the questions, except question 3, then grad school might be a good choice. I went to graduate school right after college and I'm happy that I did. My Master's degree has made me more competitive in the job market and I don't have to worry about having the educational credentials for a promotion. On the contrary, if you answered NO to most of the questions, except question 3, then taking time off may be in your best interests. When I was in my Master's program, the people who did not go straight from undergrad, had so many enriching experiences to relate to what we were learning. I also have a few friends in the business and education fields, who went to grad school for little or no cost, because tuition was part of their work benefits package.
Deciding when to attend graduate school is a difficult choice because there are advantages and disadvantages to both options. However, through self-reflecting and planning you'll be able to make the best choice for you and your current situation. Feel free to comment below with any questions that you have and be sure to check back for more posts under the Post Grad Prep section.
Blogger Comment
Facebook Comment