So I realized that these posts have become very lengthy... I am going to try to not blab so much and get to the point! This post is provided by Epinions.com
Graduate school can help give you a competitive advantage in the workforce. If you get a chance to go, seize it! You may not get the chance again.
For most students, the next step is to find a good job. But for others, there’s another important decision to make: whether or not to attend graduate school. But is graduate school really worth the trouble? Does the selection of colleges make a difference? What can be expected in graduate school? Is it much different from undergraduate education? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of attaining an advanced degree.
Deciding Where to Go:
If you are considering attending grad school, the first thing you need to do is to find a college that has a reputable program, in your chosen field of study. This might require moving to another city or state. Just because your undergraduate university had a great program in your selected major, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the graduate program will also be a solid, accredited program. You might very well end up having to relocate to another state, to get the best education for your dollar.
Once you have chosen a school to attend, you then must prepare for taking the graduate admission test (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.) Another important consideration is whether or not you want to remain in your undergraduate field of study, or move on to something different. If you switch your course of study, you will have to take several more classes.
What Can I Expect in Graduate School:
For the most part, grad school is better. First of all, students seem to be more focused and more interested in the subject matter. At the undergraduate level, you are forced to take many “general education” requirements, whether you like the classes or not. But in graduate school, your courses are all concentrated in your field of study, so there is less chance that a class will bore you, and less chance that you will lose interest. Every class you take has relevance to your selected course of study.
Is Graduate School Really Necessary?:
Before you decide to enroll in grad school, ask yourself a few questions. Do you really need to attend graduate school? Is it important enough to invest the time and money to complete the degree? Will it make a significant difference in your chosen career?
Depending on your field of study, obtaining a master’s degree can make a difference in your career. Those who have undergraduate degrees in fields like psychology, pre- med, biology, etc., can give themselves a competitive advantage with an advanced degree. In other fields, like computer science, the job market is such that an advanced degree isn’t that critical. Also, if you want to teach, at the college level, you will greatly improve your chances for getting hired with a master’s degree.
Another way that a graduate degree can be helpful is that it can give you a much- needed boast, to overcome circumstances beyond your control and help you to compete in the job market. As most people know, the main reason that people get good jobs is based on who they know, not what they know. I was talking one day, to a person in my company’s human resources department and he admitted to me that the way to get places in the company is to have the right connections. “Without any high- ranking friends or family to help you”, he told me, “you’re best bet is to get more schooling, to help even the playing field”. In other words, if your dad is the company CEO, there’s really no need to get an advanced degree. The high- paying jobs will come to you with minimal effort. But without any family or friends in high places, a master’s degree can help to make conditions a little more equal.
If you decide to work and go to grad school part- time, then it’s a good idea to find out if your company has a tuition reimbursement plan. Most of them do, and this can greatly reduce the cost of your schooling, and possibly even make it free.
Graduate school links:
UA Grad School
GRE information
Grad Schools.com
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