Last year, I did something I had previously sworn off: I returned to graduate school. It’s not that I consider grad school to be a poor investment, but after finishing college, I relished in the freedom from academic pressures, assignments, and deadlines. The thought of diving back into a schooling rhythm didn’t exactly align with my plans as I approached my late twenties.
Upon graduating from college, I was left stagnating in my career. I was employed as a reporter for a moderately-sized city newspaper but my ambiguity about future career progression was hitting hard. I was grappling with common existential questions faced at the end of every graduate’s journey: What should my career look like? Am I walking the right path? What is the direction of my life?
Like many recent graduates with no clear career path, I concluded that graduate school seemed like a perfect next step. Hence, year after year, I would apply. My indecisiveness left me repeatedly questioning whether I truly desired to enroll in grad school.
In the first year, I applied to a journalism school, which seemed logical considering my reporter’s position. However, the steep tuition fee of the $90k journalism program at USC was a financial hurdle I couldn’t overcome on my $30,000 reporter’s salary. Pivoting to align with my career shift into PR, I applied to a public relations grad program only to defer enrollment again.
The following year, inspired by my PR work for a law firm, a new ambition fluttered – becoming a lawyer. This dream was short-lived after grappling with the inscrutable LSAT.
It was during this period of career indecision that I was, without realizing it, actually refining my career. It wasn’t until I felt assured, learned my company would cover 75% of my degree expense that I finally committed to pursuing my master’s in public administration.
Through my journey, I’ve identified some cardinal dos and don’ts for considering grad school:
Don’t enroll in grad school as a response to confusion about future direction. Investing significant time and money on a degree that you’re unsure about isn’t a wise choice.
Do consider advancing to grad school if you are almost certain it will progress your career.
Avoid the trap of joining grad school just because your peers are doing so.
Consider returning to school if your company is willing to subsidize a significant portion of your degree expenses.
Avoid rushing to grad school because you’re looking to pivot career fields. Employers often value hands-on experience over qualifications so consider an entry-level position or internship in your desired field before investing in a degree. After all, you might end up disliking it and still be saddled with a degree in the field.
