With more students than ever before choosing to attend graduate schools immediately after leaving college, hopeful applicants would be wise to consider the wide variety of factors that can make further studies either a living nightmare or an empowering journey of self-discovery.
Before we get down to the gritty details, there’s just enough time to hash out one of those old clichés everybody loves to use; follow your heart. Until now, you’ve probably endured countless hours of advice from friends, family and even your teachers about the decisions you should make with your future.
True, at 18 years old it’s pretty normal to need a little help when thinking about what you should major in and whether you’re ready to move away from home – nobody has all the answers whilst still shaking off all that teenage angst that’s leftover from high school. By the time you apply to grad school, on the other hand, you’ve probably learnt a huge amount about yourself. So with that in mind, if you know you want to study Art and your parents are telling you to study Economics, now is the time to put your foot down. Grad school is a huge life choice and an even bigger financial commitment – don’t be talked into doing anything other than what you know is right for you.
In this post:
Career
The most important question you need to ask yourself before applying to grad school is this: what course should I study and why? The best way to get a clear-cut answer is by thinking about the kind of career you hope to have and then looking for a subject that will help you get your metaphorical foot in the door of your chosen profession. For example, if you’ve always dreamed of becoming a magazine editor, then do some research to find out what people currently in that position studied when they went to grad school. As a guideline, if you can’t see how a course would be in any way relevant to your dream job, it’s probably not the one you should go for. On a more positive note, choosing a career-specific path can be massively rewarding and, best of all, it’s sure to be a lot of fun. That’s right – people often forget to tell you this – but grad school can be fun!
Location
Another key decision you’ll need to make is where to study. Of course, this might be amazingly simple, for example, if the course you want to study only runs at a handful of grad schools or if you’ve always known you were destined for Harvard. For most, however, the vast array of options can seem a little daunting. Although location shouldn’t be the main reason for choosing any grad school, it will help if you research local areas to find out if it seems like the kind of place you want to live for the next year.
Remember, it’s not uncommon for grad school leavers to stay where they studied for many years afterwards. Ask yourself: can I do the hobbies I love in that area? Will I be able to travel home if there’s an emergency? Is the grad school in the middle of nowhere or can you get to convenience stores without having to use a car?
Networking
Now, this one’s quite a big deal. In recent years a lot has been said about the power of networking and – brace yourself for another cliché – there’s a reason people say “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Grad school is an ideal place to meet the kinds of people you’ll be working with in the future and you’d be surprised how many students team up afterwards to start new business ventures.
Here, you have to be completely honest with yourself about your views. If you know deep down that you’re a little bit of a snob, just admit it. You probably want to go to a grad school that attracts students who think in a similar way to you and who you’ll actually want to spend time with when class is over. That way you get to make valuable friendships and connections whilst you study and you won’t waste a year’s worth of bonding because you really can’t wait to run back home where there are people who ‘get you’.
Cost
Finally, there’s just one last thing you need to think about before you go ahead and make the big step towards grad school applications; cost. Unless you’re one of the lucky few whose parents can pay all of their fees upfront, continuing your education could mean taking out expensive loans and maybe taking up a part-time job whilst you learn. The financial implications of this huge choice need to be worth your while, which is why you should pay close attention to the points above. That said, it’s just as imperative that you don’t let the big bills of grad school prevent you from going at all. If you know you want to go, you know what you want to study and you’re doing it for the right reasons – you can find a way of paying your way through what could be one of the best years of your life.
Once you’ve figured out the answers to all of the questions posed here, there’s absolutely no doubt that you’ll be making the right choice about grad school and that you’ll have an incredible time whilst there. All that’s left to say is a huge good luck to anyone applying in the near future – here’s hoping it will be everything you’ve dreamed of and more.
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