What To Consider Before Deciding To Go To Graduate School
People go to graduate school for a number of reasons. Before you apply, you should think seriously about what your goals and expectations are. Graduate school is a major investment of time and money, so before you commit either of these precious resources, you should be clear about what you are getting into, and what you're going to get out of it.
Graduate School As A Route To Personal Fulfillment
Some people return to school for advanced degrees because there is something they've always wanted to know more about, you might seek to feed a passion that began in undergrad perhaps, or maybe you are finally going to chase your lifelong dream of immersing yourself in one of the arts, be it writing, painting, sculpture, theater, etc. If you are seeking an advanced degree out of a passion for the subject matter you'll be investigating in your graduate program, the most important thing for you to do is to make sure that you have sufficient time to devote to your pursuits.
Graduate School As A Route To Financial Enrichment and Career Advancement
You may also seek to pursue your passion to the extent that you'll be financially rewarded down the road from it. If this is the category you fall into, you should be realistic about what the opportunities are in your field once you've been awarded your degree. For example, one should not undertake a graduate degree in filmmaking with the idea that it will get you a job as a director. If you are pursuing an advanced degree in the arts, make sure that the investment of time and money is going to be worth it for you in and of them.
On the other hand, there are other fields where an advanced degree will certainly lead to greater job prospects, and perhaps this is the reason you're considering going back to school. If you are in a field where a bachelor's degree alone will prevent you from advancing in your career, graduate school, even if it isn't a passion for you, might be a very smart decision -- especially if you can get someone else to pay for it.
Consideration #2: Can You Get Someone Else To Pay For Graduate School?
Check with your employer or your human resources department. Many companies are happy to invest in the intellectual capital of their employees, and you might be able to take a class or two a semester with tuition remission, where you pay for a class up front and your employer reimburses you upon successful completion of your class. If you work for a university or college, you might be able to take a class each semester for free.
Related Tags: online degree programs, campus degree programs, online degrees, career learning center
Elizabeth Saas is a feature writer for CareersandEducation.com. Review more of her work and read about using a Career Learning Center and explore her thoughts on Online Degree Programs and Online Colleges.
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