Is It Time? 4 Things You Need to Consider When Pursuing Graduate School

Is it time?

You may have been asking yourself this question for a while. Is it time to return to school and earn that coveted master’s degree? If you have been away from school for a few years or are working full time, it’s a difficult question to answer. However, before answering the “Is it time?” question, you need to answer, “Why do I want to pursue a graduate degree?”

There are generally 3 reasons why individuals choose to return to school:

It’s Required. Some industries require individuals to hold a master’s degree in order to be considered for a managerial or advanced position. You know you will be ‘stuck’ if you don’t earn a graduate degree.

New Career Path. Due to personal circumstances, industry changes, or new career goals, you realize that a graduate degree will supplement your knowledge and assist you in pursuing a new career path.

Remain Competitive. Although you’ve been in an industry or field of work for several years, you want to be considered for new opportunities, be up-to-speed on trends, and be prepared to face any challenges in your industry.

Once you are clear on why you are considering graduate school, you can then consider the right program focusing on the appropriate discipline. If you are unsure which academic degree you should be pursuing, talk to others in your field to see what graduate degrees they hold or look at job listings of positions in which you would like to be considered and determine if a specific graduate degree is required. You will also want to consider whether you want to enroll as a full-time or part-time student and if a traditional academic program is best for you or if you’d rather enroll in a hybrid or fully online program.

Contemplating these issues are paramount in deciding if it’s time to return to school, but oftentimes, it’s the matters of life that weigh heavily on prospective students’ minds. So, ask yourself the following:

Do I Have Time? Regardless if you are considering part-time or full-time study, classes take  time. Graduate-level courses require a substantial more reading and writing than an undergraduate degree, so you must determine if you can keep up with the work. Look at your schedule now and see if you have 12 free hours in your week. If you take 2 classes a semester — at a minimum — that’s how much time you will need to dedicate each week to your studies.

Do I Have a Support Network? If you plan to juggle work, school, family and other responsibilities, you need to have friends and family that can provide support when things get hectic (and they will). Determine if you have others who can help you with family or work matters and be your personal cheerleader when you are tight on time and under stress.

Do I Have Employer Support? If you intend to continue working while pursuing a graduate degree, you need to ascertain how much flexibility you have when it comes to your work schedule. Major assignments, research, group projects, comprehensive exams — these are all things that may require time during your traditional work day.

Do I Have The Financial Means? If you have personal savings to cover the cost of graduate school, that's terrific! If not, explore all options for financial support including employer benefits, scholarships, assistantships, and other forms of financial aid. When researching master’s programs, talk to the program chairs about tuition, fees, and book costs and what types of financial support is available.

Being clear on the above will help you get a handle on what will be expected of you as a graduate student. Pursuing a master’s degree can be a rewarding and life-changing experience, but you need to be sure you are ready to get started. Being clear on your personal and professional goals as well as support available will help you determine if you are ready.

So, is it time?