Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate School
Should I go?
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that those with a Master's degree can expect to make almost $200,000 more in their lifetime than those with a Bachelor's degree. For someone, with a PhD, the lifetime difference can be over $700,000! But, money isn't everything. There are many more fields that require advanced higher education to be competitive in the job market today!Now or later?
Reasons to go now:- You will finish earlier
- You may have fewer personal commitments now than later
- You want to maintain your academic momentum
- Your field of interest requires further technical training to advance
- You need a rest from academia
- You need time to develop a focused and persuasive application
- Work experience will help determine what degree to pursue
- Experience will make you a stronger applicant for certain programs (MBA)
- Your employer will offer tuition reimbursement
What types of degrees are available?
- Master's Degree (MBA, MFA, MSW): Often 1-3 years to complete, focused on building specific set of skills for a particular profession.
- Professional Degree (JD, DMD, MD): Required to enter certain specialized professions, most common are the JD for law and the MD for medicine.
- Doctoral Degree (PhD, EdD): Highest degree awarded, typically 4-7 years to complete, must complete academic program, comprehensive examination, and a dissertation.
How do I get started?
Research which schools offer programs that are of interest to you, check out Gradschools.com
Visit the graduate school fair, pick up information, and interact with schools of interest!
