Is Graduate School or Professional School Right for Me?
It is important that you take some time to think about why you are considering pursuing a graduate degree. There is not a right or wrong reason in deciding to pursue graduate school, but it is imperative to understand your motivation and know all of the information, facts, finances, and timelines before committing to your decision.
Ask yourself:
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Why do I want to go to graduate school?
- Do you know your short- and long-term goals and how a graduate degree can help you achieve them?
- Do you want to enter a profession that requires an advanced degree (some examples are Medicine, Law, Teaching, Advanced Research)
- Do you want a higher salary? Will a graduate degree do that?
- Are you putting off making a career decision?
- Are you applying to graduate school because "everyone else is doing it" or because you are getting "pressured" into it?
- Are you applying to graduate school because you feel there are no career options for you?
- What will I give up by attending?
- What will I gain by attending?
- Is this the right time for me to pursue graduate school?
Undergraduate and graduate school is very different from one another. In graduate school, you have to be committed, intellectually curious, hard-working, and take initiative. You will get to know your faculty and form stronger relationships with them, yet you will have less of a connection to your peers and the social scene on campus. Your peers will be called upon to help you with ideas, criticism, and collaborative initiatives. Graduate school is meant for individuals who have a passion and devotion to one topic, for you will be researching this area in depth. There will be a lot of writing, research, and intellectual discussion. Whatever you do, do not pursue graduate school because you are unsure of what else to do with your life and career.
Ask Yourself:
- Will you be able to focus on one topic or a narrow range of topics for the next 2-7 years?
- Are you comfortable initiating and carrying out independent research? (Most Ph.D. programs are highly academic and research oriented.)
- Are you willing and able to invest the time, energy, and money associated with going to graduate school? Have you thoroughly investigated these costs?
- Are you prepared to spend the majority of the next 2-7 years studying while living on a limited budget?
- Do you need a break from school?
Consider the options of a master degree versus a doctoral degree. Remember that PhD’s are for those interested in a career of university teaching or advanced research. If your academic background is not as strong as you would like it to be, a master degree might be the best place to start and then to contemplate pursuing a PhD. A master degree is also the best step if you are changing careers or fields of interest to confirm your academics and sincerity on the topic that you are pursuing.
If you are thinking about pursuing a graduate or professional degree, the Career Development Staff can meet with you to discuss your interests and career options. Your advisor can also provide some in depth advice and suggestions based on your current field of study and academic performance. For additional information on professional programs, contact:
Pre-Health (Medicine, Dental, Physicians Assistant, Veterinarian): Professor Jill Rulfs (jrulfs@wpi.edu)
Pre-Law: Professor Kent Rissmiller (kjr@wpi.edu)
MBA: Norm Wilkinson (nwilkins@wpi.edu)
For more information please log into your Job Finder account and access the Graduate School Preparation handouts.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: August 07, 2008 10:10:36