Graduate School or Work?

Many students are faced with the dilemma of whether to enroll in graduate school or enter the world of work. This is a decision, which cannot be taken lightly, and unfortunately there are no clear-cut answers for everyone. You may choose to attend graduate school full-time, work full-time, or pursue a combination of study and work. The decision you reach should be based on what is best for you, and not by what everyone else is doing. Graduate school should not be viewed as a way to hide from the "real world" or as a way to "stick around with your friends." It is a serious commitment that will require a great deal of hard work. This guide is designed to help you in your decision; however, it will not provide all the answers. You must be the final judge in deciding what is right for you.

GRADUATE SCHOOL AND CAREERS. Before deciding what to do, investigate the relationship between your career choices and graduate study. Some fields require an advanced degree to enter. In other areas, an advanced degree will over-qualify you for some entry-level professional positions. The Career Center Resource Room has information that identifies training and educational requirements in hundreds of career fields. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, DISCOVER, and a variety of career sourcebooks are available and recommended for your exploration. Also, a video is available for student viewing titled, "Getting Into Graduate School" which gives an excellent overview of steps to take and things to consider when applying to graduate school. Talk with people already employed in the field about their educational backgrounds and whether they recommend graduate study. Read employment listings to see what is required of applicants.

Graduate school emphasizes depth more so than breadth; thus your studies are focused on a specific subject. Often, you actually narrow your career choices by pursuing more education. Before investing your time and money in additional education, be sure you are aware of how graduate school will affect your career plans. You may also investigate how career advancement and graduate study relate. In most fields, a combination of experience and study will determine career promotion. Sometimes an employer will finance graduate school.

CHOOSING A PROGRAM. Contact each school that interests you and request a catalog or literature that describes your program. Consider the following questions:

What is the emphasis of the program? What specializations exist within your general field? Does the program offer the opportunities you want? How demanding is the program? What is the placement record of recent graduates? How long and how flexible is the program? How large is the department? Are faculty members available for assistance? Where is the school located? What are the total costs? What types of financial aid are available? Do the majority of students attend full-time or part-time?

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. Each school has its own admission requirements. Below you will find common items used by schools in determining eligibility for admission.

• GPA. Your undergraduate grade point average is the most common requirement for admission. A 3.0 or higher is recommended. However, if your average is lower, do not be discouraged; try to get a personal interview with the chairperson of the department to show your earnestness in attending graduate school.

• Standardized tests. (Such as GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.) The Boise State Career Center has information regarding the GMAT and the Counseling and Testing Center has information on a variety of other graduate school entry exams.

• Personal references.

• Personal interview.

• Your application and perhaps an essay describing why you want to attend the particular school, and highlighting your skills, experience, and goals. The Career Center has an excellent book that will assist you in writing personal statements.

• Your participation in extracurricular activities.

• Relevant work experience.

FINANCIAL AID. Naturally graduate school is an expensive proposition. However, there are many types of financial aid available. To find out about this aid, you should contact the financial aid offices or the graduate offices at the universities that interest you. It is important to check with the school to find out if it might offer any type of aid that is not listed below. Following are types of aid you might find available:

• Loans and grants - Loans may be available through government sources or financial institutions. Repayment of educational loans usually begins within six months after a degree is granted or study is over. Many times the interest rate is lower than conventional loans. Grants are financial gifts that need not be repaid. The issuing of loans and grants often depends on the state in which the university is located or university policy. The university's financial aid office can supply you with more information.

• Assistantships or fellowships - Fellowships are academic scholarships while assistantships require ten to twenty hours of work per week in return for a stipend and usually tuition reimbursement. Graduate assistants may assist professors in teaching or research, or they may work in a variety of campus offices. The experience gained through graduate assistantships is often valuable in a future job search. Competition for fellowships and assistantships is keen and application (separate from admissions) is required. Fellowships and assistantships are usually offered through individual campus departments. Applying early is a must.

• G.I. Bill - Consult your Veteran's Administration Office for more information about financial assistance available through this source.

• Campus Work-Study - On-campus jobs may be available to graduate students. You receive an hourly wage, but normally there is no tuition reimbursement for these jobs.

• Part-time work - Many graduate students work part-time off campus while completing their studies.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask for assistance in the Boise State Career Center. It is to your advantage to survey all the options before making a final decision. Be honest with yourself...what do you really want to do?