With everything going on in the world right now, it can be pretty stressful thinking about where you’re going to be after graduation. Whether you were planning on jumping right into your career, taking a gap year to travel or moving on with additional schooling, a lot of things are uncertain.
So why not take this opportunity to dive into a subject you are more passionate about? Here are a few reasons you might want to consider if you are thinking about applying for grad school!
- A graduates degree will get you noticed in today’s job market! With the COVID-19 pandemic and a job recession, more people than ever are looking for jobs. Attending grad school will give you additional skills and qualities to improve your qualifications for your desired field of employment.
- Building your professional and personal development. Attending graduate school is an opportunity for you to really focus on what you are passionate about, and it is much different than your undergraduate classes. Graduate school allows you to build professional skills that will get you noticed and one step ahead in the job market!
- Make connections. While undergraduate school is about socializing, learning to think critically and last minute cramming in the library, graduate school is much more than this. Attending Graduate school prepares you to make professional connections, and conduct research that you are passionate about. You are not only making connections with your fellow students but also your professors and other faculty members!
- If you are thinking about a career change. It is totally normal to have second thoughts about your major and your current desired career choice. Graduate school is a great way to explore other fields that you are thinking about!
- Get a head start on your career. A lot of people who earn their master’s degree are able to skip over the entry positions and jump right into higher management positions. According to the 2019 Census Report, only 13% of the US population has a master’s degree, giving you a very big advantage!
- Enjoy travel opportunities. With the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of students are unable to study abroad or their programs get cut short. Many graduate programs require or give their students the opportunity to study abroad.
- Bump up your salary potential. According to a study conducted by Northeastern University, a master’s degree can increase your earnings 23%. It is not uncommon for people to see as much as 60-150% increase in their earnings by obtaining an MBA.
- Free tuition. Certain schools might not only waive your tuition but they also might give you a stipend for living expenses in return for taking on work as a research or teaching assistant.
I hope you found these tips helpful and will make your post-graduation plans less stressful!
Written by Haley Mykytka ’22, College of Visual and Performing Arts