The Princeton Review
For many people, going to graduate school is a great move. It can deliver a vital intellectual wake-up call or start you on the path to a new, more satisfying career. It can even increase your earning power (once you pay off those student loans, of course).
But attending graduate school can also be a mistake. If you don't know why you're going, or don't have the focus to succeed once you're there, grad school can leave you with a whole lot of debt — and not much else. Make sure that you're choosing a program because it makes sense within a larger plan and not simply because you're frustrated with your current job or unsure of the next step.
Here are some questions to consider as you make your choice.
Do I know what I want to study?
You don't need to know the exact topic of your dissertation or master's thesis before you apply, but you should have a clear sense of your field of interest.
The more specific you can get about your interests, the stronger your application will be. If you're considering earning your masters degree in communications, it will help to pinpoint a particular interest such as broadcast journalism; if you're applying for a PhD in English, try to identify a focus such as 19th-century American literature. If you don't yet have a clear sense of what you would like to concentrate on, take some time to meditate on the topic and hold off on applications until you feel confident about your choice.
What are my prospects after grad school?
Though you may not want to start thinking already about what comes after grad school (getting there in the first place seems stressful enough), this question could prove the most crucial when deciding whether or not to return to school. Research your chosen area and contact professors or other knowledgeable advisors about what you'll actually be able to do with your degree after graduation.
Some fields are a no-brainer: Law, business and medical schools attract so many applicants because they provide solid promises of careers after graduation. The PhD track often leads to a career in academia (though academic jobs are growing increasingly few and far between in proportion to the number of doctoral candidates). Other fields provide less career certainty: An MFA in fiction writing or a master's degree in art history promises to be intellectually enriching but may offer limited practical returns.
Should I panic if I've been out of school for several years?
No way. Many programs appreciate candidates who have taken some time to put their careers in perspective–and might even prefer them. If you're nervous about getting back into the academic swing of things, take a deep breath. Before you know it, you'll be highlighting and note–taking like a pro. If you are really nervous, you can ease your transition by taking a class or two as a non–matriculated student in your field of study before heading back to the classroom full–time as a degree–seeking student.
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