All our lives, our next step has always been certain. We finish middle school and go straight to high school. After high school, more than half of graduates enroll in a university. The next move is mindless; it’s just what happens. 

But once we walk across the stage and receive our diplomas, the standard rule book by which we have been living is abandoned. Its last chapter closing in on our face, offering no help or advice. The typical expectation is to graduate from college, get a great job, and live happily ever after. 

Well, not quite. With the job market being what it is, the presumed next move is no longer that. There are an overwhelming number of options for your past grad life. Some are getting married, having children. Some are traveling the globe, one country at a time. Others have locked down prestigious positions in their desired fields. 

Others have moved back home and are working at the ice cream shop they’ve been at since high school. Some have found it so difficult to secure a role in their field that they have given up on the job hunt altogether and begun pursuing their passions, starting businesses, and making art. 

Others have chosen to return to school and pursue higher education degrees, like a master’s or a doctoral degree. Whether it’s for personal improvement, professional and career advancement, or a general change of life direction, going back to school has many benefits. If you’re asking yourself, ‘Should I go back to school?’ this might help you decide if you should join the 40 percent of students who have enrolled in graduate school right after their undergraduate graduation.

The Return to School

Going back to school is not a decision made lightly. There are a lot of moving parts surrounding the choice and execution of returning to school. Finances, schedule, workload, other responsibilities that need to be tended to. Not to mention the time commitment that graduate school requires. 

I just gained freedom from midterms and finals. Do I really want to do that again? Should I go back to school? 

Unfortunately- or fortunately- you probably should, yeah. And it’s not a failure to choose to do so, either. 

Going back to school proves significant in progressing one’s career. Gaining new and instrumental information about the field, learning niche skills about the chosen field of study, and broadening your knowledge in your career— these facets are most valuable in growing your foundations and improving your career options. An additional degree under your belt can help land a better-paying job at a more established place of employment; higher earning potential is almost a given when having a master’s degree. 

Those with a master’s degree earn an average of 20 percent more than those with just a bachelor’s degree. They are more likely to advance to higher roles in shorter time frames. They are equipped with a stronger level of expertise in the field than those lacking the extra diploma. 

Graduate school also provides students and professionals with opportunities to network and meet others already prominent in the field. Connecting with professors who have experience in the field can teach you something you wouldn’t otherwise have known. Befriending and chatting with fellow students in the same industry can lead to friendships and relationships that would not have come to fruition otherwise. 

Going to grad school shows you’re passionate about your field to employers and proves your dedication to your craft. Going to grad school is no easy feat; while one might wake up and decide to go, the process of applying and completing the degree is difficult and takes time and effort. 

If you’re exploring a degree in a field different than your original diploma, those connections and conversations can be a gold mine. There is nothing wrong with going back to school. In fact, it might be the push you needed all along. 

The Inevitable Snags

Nothing is 100 percent easy to execute, and grad school is one of them. 

Where undergraduate degrees might see a plethora of financial aid and scholarships, graduate school tuition is typically put on the shoulders of the student, made their responsibility to fund the additional education. 

However, there are grants and federal aid programs made available to those in need and meeting the requirements. Certain fields of study will also offer more financial aid to their students, making the journey to acquire the new diploma a little easier. 

Some companies will also pay for your education. Certain employers in specific fields will pay for your tuition in graduate school, usually in exchange for loyalty and employment through a specified time period. While not every company does this, it’s worth looking into whether your company has such an opportunity. There are parameters to such a benefit, though, like taxes and the legal limit for how much your company can financially assist you, but any aid is worth taking advantage of. 

Time is another consequential aspect of returning to grad school. While undergrad education was easier in terms of time management- we only had school to worry about, it was the focal point of our life- graduate school is much different. Grad school is an addition to our day-to-day, not the main centre around which everything revolves. People who choose to go back to school usually have one or more significant life responsibilities to attend to, like but not limited to, a full-time job, or a family. Time is something that is limited; despite our best efforts, there just isn’t always enough of it. So making do with what we have is crucial at this point in our lives. 

Many graduate school programs have night classes. They understand that our time is valuable and want to help us achieve our goals where they can. Night classes usually begin after 5 p.m., following the end of the workday, and only meet a few times a week, depending on the program and school of study.

Don’t Lose Yourself in Books

It’s important to remember that while graduate school offers many advantages professionally, it can be very stressful and challenging. The social aspect of college isn’t there like it once was, leaving many to feel lonely and sad. 

Make sure that when you’re debating whether or not you should return to school, you’re holding yourself as the priority. University isn’t going anywhere; there is no rush! So, before making a big decision such as this one, ensure you’re ready and that you’re at a spot in your life where you can handle such a feat.

Are you going back to school? Let us know in the comments below!