Considering graduate school but wondering if now is the best, or the right, time to pursue higher education?
When to go to grad school is a personal choice, one we could hardly answer definitively across the board, but below we’ll unpack the options to help you discover when pursuing a graduate degree will be most beneficial for your career and personal development.
The value of graduate school
Undergraduate and graduate education differ in how they prepare students for a career. Undergraduate degrees allow students to qualify for entry-level jobs and serve as a buffer between secondary education and the professional world.
By contrast, graduate study prepares students for career advancement and increases marketability in applying for leadership positions. Additionally, students who hold a graduate degree may find that they earn, overall, a higher salary than peers who only hold an undergraduate degree. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that “the more you learn, the more you earn.”
According to Indeed, the median income for master’s degree holders is “$86,372 per year, and the unemployment rate is 1.9%. Individuals at a master’s degree level earn over twice as much as high school diploma holders and 16% more than those with bachelor’s degrees.” It’s undeniable that graduate school is valuable, but when’s the best time to make this investment?
Undergraduate straight to graduate school
Attending graduate school directly from a bachelor’s program is ideal for some careers. If you’re interested in law school, med school, or an engineering master’s, for example, you may be feverishly sending in applications in your senior year of undergrad. These careers take a long time to build, and if you’re clear on your direction, there’s no reason to delay applying and starting your studies.
This works well for many students, as they continue the organization and study habits built in undergrad without interruption and gain the skills and qualifications needed for their professional careers.
Explore graduate programs at University of Bridgeport.
Graduate programs that require experience
However, some graduate programs are designed for students with professional experience beyond their undergraduate degrees. Spending a few years working in a variety of capacities and roles provides real-world experience that offers direction for graduate school and fuels your professional passions.
In these sorts of programs — business, education, or counseling graduate programs, for example — you need on-the-ground experience to direct you to the right graduate program that will help meet your individual career goals at the right time.
Straight out of undergrad, you don’t know what you don’t know, and you don’t know what you need to know, so going straight to graduate school is unlikely to be as beneficial as possible without weaving in your own experiences, something you can only gain outside the classroom.
Tally your commitments: Graduate school offers flexible options
Figuring out your commitments alongside your career goals will help you find the right program for you.
As you consider graduate school, you may be wondering about your ability to commit to another degree program. Pursuing an undergraduate degree is (or was) a huge time commitment.
Now, as a full-fledged adult, you’re likely balancing graduate school alongside other obligations. Like many, you may plan to work either part-time or full-time while attending graduate school. You may have children to care for. How can you strike a balance between work, school, and life at home?
Luckily, graduate programs, unlike most undergraduate degrees, are built for flexibility. Whether you’re looking at a graduate school of education that accommodates a teacher’s schedule, or a counseling graduate program that allows you to work full-time while completing your required observation hours, there’s something that will fit your unique needs.
Many graduate programs recognize that students are at a new phase of life, and require a balance between their studies and responsibilities outside of school. Depending on your program of interest, you may find flexible scheduling options, accelerated formats, online offerings, and even different start dates throughout the year to accommodate your needs as a grad student.
When to go to graduate school? It’s never too late.
Whether you’re considering a midlife career pivot or ready to get back into the classroom once your at-home family responsibilities have waned a bit, there’s no wrong time to get a graduate degree.
Later in life, a graduate degree can benefit students by allowing them to switch careers or further their career path with another degree. Plus, the graduate degree program you choose benefits greatly from your expertise, as graduate schools are more than students learning from professors; they are a cohort growing together in knowledge from each other and their instructors.
There’s no wrong time to keep learning, follow your curiosities, or pursue leadership opportunities. If you’ve got a passion for something or an idea that needs nurturing, graduate school could be the perfect place to explore and grow.
Ready to take the next step? Learn more or apply today.