Graduate School
Do I need a graduate or professional degree for the career that I plan to pursue?
It’s not always obvious if a graduate or professional school education is required to achieve your career goals or, if it is, when in your career it’s best to pursue one. Career Services recommends the following steps to help you decide if attending a graduate school is appropriate for you:
• What are your career goals? Knowing what you’d like to do with your career makes it much easier to decide if a graduate program is the logical next step. If you need help figuring out the career path that’s best for you, see choosing a career.
• What is the job market demanding? Once you have an idea of what you’d like to do as a career, explore what credentials are usually required for the jobs that interest you. Both Vault (access through F&MConnect) and Wetfeet offer career profiles including information on required credentials. Job postings are another good source of this information for specific positions. Also, check industry publications related to your field of interest.
• What do the experts have to say? Once you’ve done your own research, getting advice from people who are experts in a given field is always a good approach.
Alumni and other professionals in your field of interest can help you get a more nuanced understanding of how a graduate education may relate to their position, organization and industry. See the networking section for advice on approaching professionals for information and advice.
Depending on your field of interest, you may be able to find experts on campus who can offer advice on the following: whether you should consider a graduate program; the institutions that would be a good match for you; and, how to make the best impression when you apply. Obviously, faculty members have firsthand experience from having attended graduate schools, but they also keep abreast of trends within their fields, making them great sources of advice. In addition, Franklin & Marshall has specialized advisers available to meet with students interested in selected professional degrees.
Although you will gain the best results from actively reaching out to professionals, note that from time to time Career Services co-hosts (with academic departments) on-campus career discussions that feature panels of alumni and other experienced professionals. Also, each fall a Graduate and Professional School Fair is held in collaboration with the Central Pennsylvania Consortium. For information on these events, watch for announcements from Career Services, and feel free to contact us if you’re having trouble with any of these steps.
