Is Graduate School for you?
A graduate school grants advanced academic degrees to students who have previously earned an undergraduate degree. Degrees awarded to graduate students include:
- Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) an advanced degree in business administration
- Juris Doctor or Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from law school
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from medical school
- Doctor of Philosphy (Ph.D.)
Should you attend graduate school?
There are several excellent motivations for attending graduate school. They include:
- A graduate degree is a pre-requisite for entering certain careers, such as law, medicine, university teaching.
- A graduate degree can help gain you further in-depth knowledge and training either for career advancement or personal satisfaction.
Deciding to attend graduate school is a big decision. It is important to ask yourself several questions about attending graduate school before you start applying.
- What kind of position am I interested in pursuing after graduating? Does it require a graduate degree?
- Are my interests compatible with what I would be doing/studying in a graduate degree program? Do I have motivation to explore a specialty area?
- Am I familiar with positions held by people with advanced degree in my area of interest?
- Do my achievements and academic background reflect the ability to successfully complete a graduate program?