Graduate School or Professional School ... A Journey Forward

As you graduate from an undergraduate program, you have already made significant strides for movement towards your professional career and interests. As you continue throughout life, there are still many other choices to make, including whether or not you should attend graduate or professional school. Only you can decide what additional investments you wish to make and what you wish to get out of your education. Some answers come naturally depending on the career goals you wish to pursue. In other words, some career fields or job opportunities “require” or is a prerequisite for you to pursue advanced studies and obtain a graduate degree. Other careers, however, do not always “require” an advanced degree. You are the only one who can answer what you wish to do and how you want to invest your time and money, especially if you have an interest in career advancement or personal satisfaction.

As you begin your decision-making it will become necessary for you to analyze your motives towards consideration of advanced studies. In addition, it will become important for you to do a thorough self-assessment of your interests, strengths, weaknesses, and goals, as well as spending time researching graduate programs that interest you and that will help you move towards your goals.

Here are some things for you to consider on your decision to attend graduate school:

1. Self-Assessment: analyze your strengths, weaknesses, motivations, values, interests. Consider working with the Center for Career Management or the Counseling, Testing and Career Center to assist you with your career exploration.
2. Review of variety of graduate programs from schools in the United States or Internationally. Research information through Peterson’s Guide to Graduate and Professional Programs. Try to find information on the quality of the program, the faculty, the students, computer resources, library collections, career services, etc. Ask yourself, what do you want to get out of the program? What is the curriculum like? Are there internship/practical work experiences available in the program? What are the minimum requirements for acceptance into a specified program?
3. What do I need to do in my undergraduate program in order to increase my chances of being accepted into a graduate program? Talk with a faculty advisor in your college to gain his or her perspectives on your chances of being accepted.
4. Review financial resources that might be available to you. What are your options for grants, fellowships, or scholarships? Are there any teaching, research, or administrative assistantships available? Are there any loans or college work study, etc. available?
5. What is the college environment or climate like? Is the program accredited and are your chances for employment after graduation better or required if you graduate from an accredited program?
6. What are the admission requirements with regard to testing/scores (LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MAT, MCAT, etc)? Check with the Counseling, Testing and Career Center on specific requirements and fees and opportunities to take tests on campus. Do you have to write an application essay or a personal philosophy statement? Will you need to have an interview prior to being admitted? Do you need letters of recommendation or a vita/resume? Do you need to have relevant work experience prior to admission?
7. Understand all of the application deadlines for graduate and professional school, as well as any deadlines for assistantships. It may be necessary for you to apply 9-12 months in advance so be prepared.

The Benefits of Graduate and Professional School

There are numerous benefits of pursuing advanced studies and they will be different for each person. The self-assessment that you should be doing will help you answer why you feel it is benefit to you. Here are some reasons why people pursue an advanced degree:

• The job market sometimes makes your decision easy, however, always review your career goals and have a realistic plan
• Intellectual curiosity and learning, and the opportunity to study with experts in the field you wish to pursue
• Professional licensing for national and state requirements
• Career or Salary Advancement
• Career Change. Life interests and goals may change; therefore, it may require a graduate or professional degree.
• Monetary benefits and increase in salary in your lifetime
• Specialization in a particular field(s)
• Widens the employment opportunities and options available to you

More Information

• University of Akron Graduate School