By Chris Foster, Programs Chair
I know that many college graduates, at some point in their careers, consider going back to school to earn a graduate degree. In my professional life, I work in a university graduate school office, so I’m often interacting with students and applicants from ages 21-70 who are exploring or taking the leap and pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. There are several questions you need to consider before heading back to school.
Are you prepared?
This is a difficult question to answer. Graduate study varies according to the field, but in general you need to be aware that graduate study is drastically different from undergraduate education. One easy analogy is to consider that undergraduate study tells you what you need to know. You learn about details, definitions, dates, and data. In graduate school, there is much less being told what to learn, but rather being pushed to think, theorize, interpret, and research. As an example, in undergraduate history, you may learn the facts surrounding the civil rights movement in the 1960s, but in graduate school, you will likely be asked to interpret the causes, assess the impact, and theorize as to the long-lasting implications and how the movement is continuing today and will continue to evolve in the future. (I admit to stealing this example from a student I met recently.)
Also, be aware that unless you just earned your undergraduate degree last year, it’s likely that the college environment has changed since you were last in school. Do your research into how the classroom experience has changed in recent years.
Is it the right time?
Regardless of how far into your career you find yourself now, this is by far the most important question to ask yourself. First, consider if you are mentally and spiritually ready for this endeavor. If you plan to continue working while studying, are you ready to make the necessary sacrifices to have the proper time to read, study, and write for your graduate coursework? If you are planning to go back full time, are you financially prepared for the sudden change in income and drastic change in your daily life?
Also, be sure to assess how this move will impact the other facets of your life. Going back to graduate school drastically affects your free time, which in turn can have a noticeable impact on your family life, relationships, volunteerism, and/or religious activities. Have honest discussions with your friends and family about these possibilities.
What are your motives?
This is a very important question to consider. Because nearly every graduate school application requires a statement of intent or purpose, being able to articulate why you want to pursue a graduate degree is an essential question to answer early. First, think about the practical reasons: Are you looking to change careers by getting a graduate degree in a different field? Are you wanting to move up in your career ladder? Are you looking to expand you work portfolio? Are you seeking a new challenge?
There are other more practical reasons people choose graduate school, which are very important to be aware of: being unable to find gainful employment and looking to enhance the resume, seeking a higher salary in a current job, finishing the bachelor’s degree and not being ready to enter the workforce, and trying to avoid student loan payments. Any discussion of graduate school motives is incomplete without acknowledging these factors exist. However, do consider the questions in the previous paragraph when writing your statement of purpose.
Approaching the Application
If you’ve considered your preparation, timing, and motives for graduate school and you’re ready to go for it, the next phase is to do your research. Decide on that type of program you want to pursue. While some fields are highly specialized, many graduate degree programs will consider applicants who have a bachelor’s degree in a different field. Find the type of program that you want to pursue, explore and research the institutions which offer it, either online or in person, and learn what the degree requirements are. When you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to approach the application.
Graduate school applications are not easy. They aren’t meant to be. You need to submit transcripts from all your previous college work, obtain letters of recommendation, likely take an admissions exam like the GRE or GMAT, pay a hefty application fee, and write a statement of intent to sell them on you and your potential as a grad student. My truest advice to you is that you should attack those application requirements with gusto. You’ve worked hard to get yourself to this point in life where you’re ready to go back to school and no application should hold you back. One thing that can sour graduate admissions committees on students are those who try to look for loop holes or exceptions to the application requirements. If you’re looking for a short cut or exception before you even arrive on campus, it can make people question your tenacity and persistence.
I hope this article has given you some questions to think about if you’ve been considering graduate school. My email address is bandchris@tbsigma.org and I’m happy to provide any general advice that I can if you have questions that I could answer. Good luck on seizing that ideal!