Are you ready for graduate school?
Before you begin the search and application process (which can be very expensive), you should ask yourself several questions regarding why you have chosen to pursue a graduate degree. These questions are not meant to dissuade you from entering a graduate program, but are instead intended as thought exercises that will help focus your future goals.
Why not go to grad school and determine if it is right for you later? One reason is graduate school is expensive! Pursuing a graduate degree without a firm plan can run your student loans to astronomical levels as well as delay long-range future plans such as family, home-ownership, and even retirement. Another good reason is that if you enter graduate school without some definite goals, there is a greater chance of doing sub-standard work and of performing below required levels. The decision to pursue a graduate degree should be made with care and in consultation with your family, advisors, counselors, and your personal goals.
Questions that you might ask yourself include:
Give yourself time to answer these and other pertinent questions fully and honestly. Talk to others whose opinions and advice you value. Ultimately, however, the decision is yours. If later you discover that you did not choose well, don't panic or lose heart. Remember that on average a person will change careers/career paths 6 - 10 times over their lifetime.
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