Grad School: Some Pros and Cons
Are you weighing your options and trying to decide whether to go to grad school? If so, here are some pros and cons for you to consider.
Money
Money is both a pro and a con. The con is that grad school costs a lot of money. Really. Usually, a whole lot of money. On the other hand, once you are done with grad school, you may be able to command a higher salary for the rest of your career. So some questions to ask yourself:
-
If money is your primary purpose for going to graduate school, are you entering a field in which an advanced degree makes a big difference?
-
Do you have enough years between now and retirement to earn back the money you spend on graduate school?
Prestige
People with advanced degrees often automatically receive more respect, both personally and professionally.
Job options
With an advanced degree, you may be able to get a better job, not just in terms of salary but also in terms of working conditions. On the other hand, you may hear that you are 'overqualified' for some jobs.
Learning
Are you a person who loves learning and just wants to immerse yourself in learning all you can about your field? Do you enjoy writing, reading, and research? Then put learning down in the 'pro' column of graduate school for you.
Time
Graduate school costs you in time and energy as well as in money. It takes at least a couple of years to get a master's degree and another couple years for a doctorate - and that's if you're going to school full-time.
If you have a family, you also have to consider the amount of time you are going to spend away from them and the number of special events you might miss.