How can I decide which graduate or professional degree to pursue?

Reality Check

Have you talked to your professors to gather information about different graduate programs? They are an excellent resource to tap into because they are inside experts into the various fields you may be considering. It's helpful to balance their opinions against the other information you should be gathering as you assess whether an advanced degree fits with your goals for the future.

Pursuing a graduate or professional degree is a decision you should make in light of your overall career and life goals. To help you determine whether obtaining an advanced degree is the best option for you at this point in time, the Career Center offers several planning resources to guide you through the decision-making process.

Planning Resources
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Planning Resources

More	You can figure out whether pursuing a graduate or professional degree is really worth your while by getting a solid sense of your interests, skills, and personality and how they relate to your future career plans. In evaluating yourself, you are also evaluating the possible courses of action that fit best with your post-graduate motivations and goals.

More	Have you started researching the various jobs and career paths linked to the degree you might pursue? Do you know exactly what discipline you want to study and why? Start off by gaining a clear idea of available graduate degrees. Then consider whether an advanced degree is right for you by analyzing your reasons for going to graduate school. Your research on graduate schools will also help you discover what courses or extracurricular activities you might want to get involved in to become a stronger candidate for an advanced degree program.

More	Another valuable way to help decide on a graduate or professional degree option is to talk to people in your field of interest. Professors, graduate student instructors, researchers, or professionals can give you information about differences among graduate degrees and possible career paths. Attend graduate school fairs to meet graduate and professional school representatives who can answer questions you have about specific schools and programs. Read the Career Center's tips to get the most out of these fairs. All the information you gather will help you better understand the realities of a graduate education and help you figure out which type of program matches your needs.

More	Graduate or professional school will immerse you in a specific discipline, so you may want to gain exposure to that area of study through an internship or by conducting research. This way you can find out before you enter a program whether you can commit to the advanced degree. Even though some graduate or professional degrees are necessary qualifications to enter an occupation, various employers may prefer candidates who have attained work experience before acquiring an advanced degree (for example, see Business Graduate School). You might then benefit more from developing practical experiences prior to your graduate education. Be aware of possibly needing to adjust your timeline to accommodate this plan.

More	Are you wondering how marketable your advanced degree will be? Are you unsure whether your graduate degree will improve or restrict your employment options? Talk with a Career Center counselor who can give you individualized help as you sort through these and other concerns.

More	Deciding upon what degree to pursue includes establishing an appropriate timeline for applying to graduate school. Some professional programs (e.g., medical schools) will specify undergraduate prerequisites that you must satisfy in order to apply. Others may instead emphasize the importance of having a solid background in a discipline before pursuing an advanced degree. Once you have reached a decision about attending graduate school, you will want to identify the programs that are ideal for you. Refer to the Career Center's section on Graduate School to read about how to choose and apply to schools. For information on applying to professional programs, go directly to the sections on business school, law school, or medical and other health professional schools.

More	The Yearly Planner offers tips to help you prepare for your professional or graduate degree as well as information on other career related issues to think about as you finish your undergraduate degree.

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Real World

One graduate admissions assistant on campus suggests making yourself stand out in the admissions process by doing a senior honors thesis, completing an independent study, or conducting research in a relevant discipline. As she points out, such experiences demonstrate your ability and willingness to undertake the kind of work expected of you in grad school. They also can provide a rare opportunity for you to develop a closer relationship with a faculty member who may be a valuable source of advice and write you a strong letter of recommendation.

Assess both your current situation and your future goals to help you determine the appropriate next steps as you approach graduation. Then create your personal timeline to prepare for graduate/professional school applications.

My degree goal is:

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What are the top 5 reasons for me to attend graduate/professional school?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of attending graduate/professional school?
What are possible jobs or career paths associated with my degree goal?
What course or other requirements do I need to fulfill as an undergraduate in preparation for my degree goal?
What factors might affect the timing of when I apply to a program?

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