Going Back to School – the Basics of Getting an Advanced Degree
You spent four grueling years getting your college degree. You swore you’d never set foot in a university again, but now what should you do with your life? You may be struggling to determine your next career move – whether you’re a recent college graduate or you’ve been in the workforce for a couple of years. Grad school may seem like the gleaming light at the end of the tunnel, but is it? Should you really go back to grad school? Ultimately, of course, you must make your own decision. But, before spending your time and hard-earned cash on tedious graduate school applications, thoroughly weigh the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of getting an advanced degree. Ask yourself these basic questions:
- Who should consider graduate school, and why?
- What should I know about the application process?
- When should I apply to grad school?
- Where should I go to school?
- How am I going to pay for graduate school?
Who should consider graduate school, and why?
Getting a graduate degree is not for the faint of heart. A graduate school program requires you to invest a great deal of time, money, and hard work. Your graduate courses will be much tougher than your undergraduate work. Be prepared to spend long hours studying, researching, and writing. You’ll probably spend at least two years getting a master’s degree. Doctorate degrees can take five years or longer to complete. Professional school degrees, such as a juris doctor or a medical doctor degree, usually require three to four years. That doesn’t include any residency requirements or specialization studies.
You’ll be making a big mistake if you pursue graduate school simply because you don’t know what else to do. Going to graduate school is not a plan. It’s really just a stepping stone to help you achieve your long-term goals. Decide what you want to do in the long run before sending out any graduate school applications. This means evaluating your career plans, as well as your personal plans.
Ask yourself whether the blood, sweat, and tears you’ll put into completing an advanced degree will benefit your career goals. Some professional positions, such as college professors, researchers, and doctors, require you to have an advanced degree. Making a career change can be another good reason to go back to school. Getting an advanced degree can also help you get your foot in the door if you’re entering a competitive industry.
Long-term marketability is another valid reason to consider grad school. For example, many entry-level business positions require only a four-year degree. You may need an advanced degree, however, if you want a senior management role down the road. Earning potential is a final factor to think about. According to a recent U.S. Census report, during their working lives, professional degree holders earn an average of $4.4 million, while doctoral degree holders make $3.4 million and master’s degree holders make $2.5 million. Compare that to bachelor degree holders, who are paid an average of $2.1 million, and high school graduates, who bring in about $1.2 million.
What should I know about the application process?
The graduate school admissions process can be intimidating. Plan to spend a couple of days filling out the application and hunting down any required documents. Most schools require you to complete a detailed application. Generally, this means you need to collect your undergraduate transcripts as well as two or three reference letters. You may also need to submit a resume detailing any jobs or volunteer experience you’ve had. Be thorough in filling out your application. It’s your shot at highlighting your skills and achievements for the admissions committee.
You’ll need to write a personal statement as part of your application process. Your statement should concisely reflect your interests and goals. Explain how achieving the degree will help you meet your objectives. Show that you’ve thoroughly researched the degree program by tailoring your statement to fit the school you’re applying to. Above all, your personal statement should demonstrate good writing. Have friends and family read it for continuity and grammar errors. Pay attention to detail and be sure to run a spell check!
Schools will look at your past academic performance during the application process. Don’t despair if you have a low GPA. You can highlight your performance in other ways. For example, mention any committees or extracurricular activities that you participated in. If you received top marks in coursework relevant to the degree program, flag those for the admissions committee. Most applications have a space for you to highlight this information. If not, be sure to include it in your personal statement.
Review your school’s admissions criteria prior to applying and plan accordingly. Most schools require you to take a graduate school test to be considered. Common graduate exams include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). You typically need to take one or more of these exams a year before you apply to graduate school. A variety of services, such as Kaplan or The Princeton Review, offer test preparation courses and study guides.
When should I apply to grad school?
The average age of graduate school students continues to increase. Most are between the ages of 27 and 30. Schools often prefer to accept these students for a variety of reasons. Students in this age range usually have real world experience that can contribute to classroom discussions. They’re often better able to identify their career goals, making it easier for them to select a course of study. Students who did poorly as undergraduates may consider waiting a few years before going to graduate school. Some schools accept students who had low undergraduate grades if they can demonstrate a certain level of work experience and maturity.
You certainly don’t have to wait to acquire a few years of work experience before applying to graduate school. In fact, going to grad school right after receiving your bachelor’s degree may be beneficial. You probably don’t have a family, house, or other obligations to distract you. You’re still in “student mode,” meaning that your study skills are up to par. You should also go to graduate school right away if your chosen career requires you to have an advanced degree. For example, to be an academic researcher, you’ll need an advanced degree even for an entry-level position.
Where should I go to school?
Determine what type of career you want before deciding which schools to apply to. Your desired career will heavily impact the type of degree you pursue. First, decide whether you want to focus on the academic or non-academic sector. Graduate schools that concentrate on academic subjects, such as the arts and sciences, have a different focus from programs that are non-academic, such as professional degree programs. For example, getting a Ph.D. in comparative literature will put you on the path for pursuing an academic career in teaching or research. A master of business administration, on the other hand, will place you on the road to a career in the business world.
Some common advanced academic degrees are a master of arts (M.A.), master of science (M.S.), master of fine arts (M.F.A.), or a Ph.D. Popular non-academic degrees include a juris doctor (J.D.), master of business administration (M.B.A.), master in teaching (M.T.), doctor of education (Ed.D.), master of social work (M.S.W.), and doctor of medicine (M.D.). You may be able to enroll in a joint degree program, such as the J.D./M.B.A. and M.D./Ph.D, in some graduate or professional schools.
Once you’ve made your degree choice, it’s time to select a school. Countless universities provide excellent graduate programs. Narrowing down which one is right for you can be a daunting task. Fortunately, some good web sites are available to help you make your decision. Grad Schools.com offers a listing of more than 60,000 master’s degree, doctoral degree, professional school, and graduate certificate programs. The site breaks down topics by location (both national and international) as well as by field of study and specific school. It also includes a listing of online graduate schools.
Other goods sources for finding schools include The Princeton Review (check out “Get Into Grad School”) and Graduate Guide. You can review graduate school rankings at U.S. News & World Report’s site.
Obviously, the match between your desired degree and what a school offers will drive your school choice. Also think about the school’s reputation, location, cost, and academic requirements. Other important factors include school size, community, faculty, and career assistance programs. Apply to a minimum of five schools, including two that you’re confident you’ll be accepted into. One or two should be “dream schools,” schools that you would like to go to in a perfect world but aren’t as likely to get into. Apply to one or two schools that fall in between these two categories.
How are you going to pay for graduate school?
Graduate school comes at a price, and financing it can be tough. This is particularly true if you still have undergraduate loans to pay off. You need to factor in tuition costs, which vary greatly among schools, as well as books and equipment fees. Housing, transportation, and other living expenses are also costs to think about. This can all add up quickly!
Taking out student loans is one of the most common ways to pay for graduate school. Federal loans typically offer you superior interest rates and better repayment plans than private loans. You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal loans. Click on the FAFSA site’s FAQ section for a good overview of the federal loans available to you. Check out Gradloans.com for other graduate loan options.
You can also offset school expenses through a grant, assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship. Your school’s financial aid office can help you find out what options are available. Do a little digging on your own, too. Check out Nationally Coveted College Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships & Postdoctor or Scholarsite.com for comprehensive listings of scholarship and grant opportunities.
Some employers will help you pay for your degree. Thoroughly review your employer’s educational benefit policies. Most employers only reimburse for a degree that is work-related, and you’ll be out of luck if you pursue a different career path. Many employers require you to get good grades to be eligible for reimbursement. You can also offset your graduate school tuition or living expenses by taking courses part-time while working. Some schools even offer credit for paid internships.
Take advantage of tax benefits and loan repayment programs during school. The IRS allows you to deduct tuition expenses from your taxes in many cases. Student loan interest payments are also usually tax-deductible. You can claim a maximum credit of $2,000 through the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. More details about the credit are available on the IRS web site.
Figuring out whether to pursue an advanced degree can be a challenge. Take some time to assess whether graduate school is the right fit for you. Doing your homework and having well-defined future goals will make the process of acquiring your degree more positive and rewarding.
By: Charity Delich
12-02-2009
Charity Delich is a professional writer and a practicing attorney. She lives in New York City, where she's working on a master's degree in publishing at New York University.
