Should I Go To Grad School? What To Consider

If you’ve completed or are working on an undergraduate degree, you’ve probably wondered at some point if graduate school would benefit you. An advanced degree can give you a competitive edge in the job market, after all – not to mention it’s a requirement for some careers.

Before deciding to attend, however, there are many things to consider. If you’re on the fence about attending graduate school, read on for our guide to grad school and whether it’s the right choice for you.

So, what exactly is graduate school?

Usually, a graduate program is a specialized form of higher education that yields an advanced degree. For some careers, a graduate degree is required if you want any chance of getting a job – if you want to be a doctor, for example, you won’t be able to land your dream job with just a bachelor’s degree. There are also various types of graduate degrees, so depending on your field of study, grad school can take you anywhere from 2 – 8 years.

There are three main types of graduate degrees: master’s degrees, specialist degrees and doctoral degrees.

Master’s degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), can earn their recipients benefits, including increased earning potential and better job security. These degrees usually take around 2 years of study to earn.

Specialist degrees, such as Specialist of Education (Ed.S), are often earned after completing a master’s degree. They indicate knowledge of a specific field beyond the master’s level. It typically takes around 2 additional years to earn a specialist degree.

Doctoral degrees, also called doctorates, qualify their recipients to teach their subject at the university level or to practice their subject as a certified professional. Some doctoral degrees, like Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are heavily research-focused while others, such as Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) are considered "professional graduate degrees" and involve work/internship experience in the field as well. It can take 6 – 8 years to earn a doctoral degree.

People go to grad school for a variety of reasons, and those reasons will look different for everyone based on their field of study and background. While there aren’t necessarily good or bad reasons to seek out higher education, graduate school can be a huge (and expensive) commitment. So, before you commit, think about the reasons you might want to attend grad school.

• You want to stand out in the workforce. The more educated you are in your field or subject, the better you look as a job candidate.
• You’re extremely passionate about your field of study. If conducting your own personal research on something you love sounds inspiring and rewarding, grad school might be for you. Contributing to the world’s pool of knowledge can be a huge personal accomplishment.
• You want to make more money. There’s a reason why everyone’s parents want them to be doctors and lawyers – graduate degree holders tend to make thousands more on average per year than their bachelor’s degree holding co-workers.
• You want to land your dream job. If you want to be a doctor, grad school isn’t optional – you’ll need to attend if you dream of being a physician.
• You want resources and connections. Graduate school can connect you with plenty of accomplished people that are just as passionate about your field as you are. It’s important to network in the professional world; you never know when you might find an amazing mentor or opportunity. Grad school can also connect you with resources you may not have access to otherwise, like lab equipment and money for your research.

If you’re not sure about attending graduate school, there are always alternatives. While grad school can be a great opportunity, it’s not the right path for everyone and that’s OK. There are many roads to finding a career that will be rewarding.

If you’re interested in furthering your skills and education but don’t want to attend grad school, there are hundreds of online courses that are either free or low-cost that you can explore. Websites like Class Central house courses from dozens of universities, including Ivy Leagues that you can complete for free. Many such programs offer certificates of completion that are useful for your resume, too.

There is a huge demand for people willing to learn skilled trades, too, if that interests you. If you have the time to learn a skill and pursue an apprenticeship, there are many unique careers out there in the realm of skilled trades, ranging from electricians to cooks and even horticulturists.

Finally, if you’re a Rocket Companies® team member, we provide opportunities to continue your education with tuition reimbursement through Rocket Academy. With Rocket Academy, you can get select degrees free of charge through our in-network programs or choose a program you’re interested in and receive up to $5,250 a year in funding.

Graduate school can be a great opportunity to pursue your dreams of higher education and gain an edge in the competitive job market, but it isn’t for everyone, so be sure to do your research and consider what you want out of grad school before attending.

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