Pursuing a Graduate Degree

For bachelor's students who are quickly approaching graduation day, it can be hard to know whether to return to school for a graduate degree. Especially in more 'arts' driven studies (e.g., business, design, leadership), it's more difficult to evaluate if it will be worth the investment.

Harvard Business Review published an article that explores some of the reasons whether to pursue post-bachelor education. Among the reasons to do so are to increase your salary earning potential, set a career change in motion, and to follow a passion. At the same time however, they warn that the benefits don't necessarily always outweigh the costs.

Before you commit the time and money to a graduate degree, there are a few things to decide.

First, make sure you know what your (broad) career goals are.

Where do you want your career to take you? Adding more education to your credentials may or may not help you achieve these goals. Do some research to see if employers in your field typically prefer graduate school, and–here's the key–whether they pay more for it.

Next, evaluate the costs and benefits of the degree.

Graduate school isn't cheap, and it's not a choice you should make on a whim. How much will it cost? How long will it take? Are there scholarships available? Can you do an accelerated program? Will it interfere with your ability to work full time? Does your employer offer tuition reimbursement? These are all questions you should have clear answers to before making your decision.

Finally, pick the exact degree that fits your unique situation. 

For a long time, I had plans to get an MBA graduate degree with a specific specialization... and I thought it was what I needed and wanted. After I had a few professional opportunities and talked with others in my field, I realized that a different specialization would likely serve me better. Now I plan on getting a few more years of work experience under my belt before returning to school (hopefully, with a much clearer picture of the possible outcomes).

Ultimately, you should do your best to make a fully informed decision about your future academic career. Take every opportunity you can to gather information–speak to professors, peers, coworkers, and managers to get their perspective. These conversations will help you pick the best schools, programs, and arrangements and have the most fulfilling experience in any future academic pursuits.

- JS